Pregnancy & Postpartum Care

Why pelvic floor physiotherapy matters after birth

Pregnancy and birth place significant demands on the pelvic floor, through hormonal changes, the growing load of pregnancy, the mechanics of labour, and the physical process of delivery whether vaginal or by caesarean. Early physiotherapy assessment can identify issues before they become chronic, and guide a safe return to the activities you love.

During pregnancy

• Pelvic girdle pain, sacroiliac joint or the joint at the front of your pelvis pain that makes walking, climbing stairs, or turning in bed painful. Highly responsive to physiotherapy.
• Urinary urgency or leakage, common but not inevitable. Early intervention prevents the pattern becoming established.
• Birth preparation, perineal massage guidance, optimal positions for labour, breathing and pushing techniques, and pelvic floor awareness.
• Prolapse symptom management, pressure, heaviness, or bulging that develops during pregnancy can often be managed with targeted physiotherapy.

Postpartum recovery

• Early assessment (6–8 weeks postpartum), evaluation of pelvic floor function, abdominal wall recovery, scar tissue, and readiness to return to activity.
• Abdominal muscle separation, assessment of abdominal wall separation and appropriate rehabilitation to restore function and core support.
• Scar management, for perineal tears, episiotomies, and caesarean scars. Early mobilization of scar tissue reduces long-term discomfort and sensitivity.
• Return to exercise, a staged, evidence-based return to running, lifting, and high-impact sport. We follow current clinical guidelines and tailor progression to your body.
• Prolapse management, postpartum prolapse is common, often improves significantly with physiotherapy and pessary support as needed, and should be assessed before assuming surgical intervention is required.
• Sexual pain or discomfort, painful intercourse postpartum is common and very treatable. It should never be accepted as permanent.