PT specialists can assist you in improving your core / lower abdominal strength during and after pregnancy. The benefits of a strong core include: reducing back pain, allowing for easier pushing during labor (although not faster labor,) and a quicker post-partum recovery.  A PT  also  address such post-pregnancy conditions as rectus diastasis which is a separation of the rectus abdominis muscle resulting in a bulge that forms anywhere just above or at the belly button area when the muscles are strained.