Women's Health Physiotherapy
Having a baby changes your body in ways no one fully prepares you for. Whether you had a vaginal birth or a caesarean, weeks or months ago, your core and pelvic floor have been through a lot. Postpartum physiotherapy helps you recover strength safely, so everyday movement and, when you are ready, exercise, feel possible again.
Rest alone rarely rebuilds the deep muscles that pregnancy and delivery stretch and weaken. Many new mothers are told to simply give it time, then feel let down when problems linger. Guided recovery gives your body the specific support it needs, at the right pace, around the reality of caring for a newborn.
Postpartum physiotherapy can help if you notice:
During pregnancy, your abdominal muscles stretch and your pelvic floor carries the growing weight of your baby. Pregnancy hormones soften ligaments to prepare for birth, which leaves joints more mobile for a while. A caesarean adds a healing incision through the abdominal wall. All of this is normal, and all of it is recoverable with the right approach.
Your first visit is a full assessment, not guesswork. We usually:
We check your core, your pelvic floor, any abdominal separation, your posture, and your caesarean scar if relevant.
We start with breathing and deep core reconnection, then build strength step by step.
Simple changes for feeding, lifting, and carrying that reduce strain.
Gentle techniques to ease a healed caesarean scar.
Clear guidance on when and how to go back to running, the gym, or your usual activity.
Once any bleeding has settled and you feel ready, these gentle steps are a common starting point. They are general guidance, not a substitute for an assessment, so start slowly, stop anything that causes pain, and get checked first if you had a complicated or caesarean birth.
Breathe into your ribs and let your tummy and pelvic floor relax, then gently draw them up as you breathe out.
Lying with your knees bent, gently rock your pelvis to wake up the deep core.
Gently lift the pelvic floor, then fully relax it, learning both the squeeze and the release.
Sit tall to feed, and breathe out as you bend your knees to lift your baby.
If you notice pain, heaviness, or worsening leakage, ease back and speak to a physiotherapist.
A stronger, more connected core. Less back and pelvic discomfort. Better bladder control. And the confidence to lift your baby, move, and eventually exercise without worrying that something is wrong.
Most postpartum recovery is well suited to physiotherapy. Some situations also need your doctor, for example a very large abdominal separation, a suspected prolapse, a wound that is not healing, or heavy bleeding. We will always tell you honestly if something is outside our scope and help you reach the right care.
Every recovery is different, and it depends on your delivery, how long ago it was, and how your body responds. Some women feel real improvement within a few weeks, while a full return to strenuous exercise usually takes longer. After your first assessment, we will give you a realistic picture rather than a fixed promise.
A few habits help protect your recovery:
When to seek help sooner. Contact your doctor or midwife promptly for heavy bleeding, severe pain, signs of infection, or if you feel persistently low, anxious, or overwhelmed. Your emotional wellbeing matters as much as your physical recovery, and support is available.
Questions
For many women, gentle work can begin in the early weeks, and it is never too late to start even if your baby is older. If you had complications or a caesarean, we tailor the timing to your healing.
Yes, and it is often helpful. We work gently around your incision and only progress once healing allows.
Yes to both. The home programme is designed to fit around a newborn, and the exercises are safe while breastfeeding.
This is one of the most common questions, and the honest answer is that it depends on your recovery. We will guide you back safely rather than give you a one-size-fits-all date.
Yes, and it is never too late. Many women see us months or even years after birth and still benefit from rebuilding core and pelvic floor strength.
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You do not have to simply put up with how your body feels after childbirth. A single assessment is often enough to understand what is going on and see a clear way forward.