Prenatal and Postnatal Physiotherapy

Treat your body and enjoy your pregnancy and beyond

Huge physical body changes occur during pregnancy, labour and in the post natal stage too. As many as 1 in 5 experience discomfort in the pelvic area, making every day tasks more difficult.

Physiotherapy treatment can help you to manage pregnancy related musculoskeletal symptoms, whether this is pain or weakness allowing you to enjoy every trimester.

In the important fourth trimester after your delivery, physiotherapy rehabilitation supports a return to sexual intimacy, sporting hobbies and everyday motherhood tasks. Our Mummy MOT can get you started.

Prenatal and postnatal Physiotherapy can help with

  • Pregnancy related musculoskeletal pain including pelvic girdle pain, sciatica, rib pain, upper back and neck/shoulder pain.

  • Wrist/thumb pain and carpal tunnel syndrome

  • Abdominal and pelvic floor weakness

  • Rectus Diastasis “abdominal muscle separation”

  • Vulval/vaginal/perineum pain secondary to your delivery type

  • Bladder and bowel symptoms including urine/faecal leaking, an increase in frequency and or urgency to get to the toilet and bowel constipation.

  • Pelvic organ prolapse - Front or back vaginal wall prolapse or uterine prolapse

  • Wound and scar management after a c-section or vaginal delivery.

  • Returning to exercise and sexual activities.

Treatment options include

Prenatal:

  • Advice on optimal movement patterns and use of walking aids, pelvic belts or tape to improve pain on every day tasks

  • Soft tissue and joint mobilisation

  • Pelvic floor/perineum preparation for pregnancy and labour

  • Exercise advice and specific exercise programmes tailored to your stage of pregnancy

Postnatal:

  • Individualised Pelvic floor rehabilitation programmes following an internal/external vaginal or rectal examination. This may include internal or external manual therapy techniques, pelvic muscle rehabilitation or advice regarding pelvic floor muscle trainers

  • Wound care and scar management advice including scar massage and desensitisation techniques

  • Individualised exercise programmes to allow a safe and paced return to exercise and sexual intercourse following pregnancy

  • Bladder and bowel retraining techniques including lifestyle advice

MUMMY MOT

Find a time ( from 6 weeks after your delivery) for a thorough post natal check to optimise your recovery and allow you to return to the things you love doing.

This includes:

  • A full postural screen

  • Pelvic floor muscle assessment (there is an option for an external or internal vaginal examination)

  • Abdominal muscle examination to check for any separation.

  • Screening for bladder, bowel or sexual dysfunction

  • Education and advice on carrying out daily tasks safely in the post natal period.

  • Goal setting with an individualised rehabilitation programme aimed to achieve these

“Physiotherapy treatment enabled me to manage my pelvic girdle pain to the end of pregnancy. At 6 weeks after my delivery I saw Emma for a “Mummy MOT” check. I wish I had done the same after my first delivery. I didn’t realised the importance of pelvic floor rehabilitation at this stage. I am already in a much better place.”

— PERINATAL CLIENT