Postnatal Physiotherapy is for anyone who has had a baby, either by a vaginal delivery or by c-section. Whether you are 6 weeks postnatal, 6 months, or 6 years, you will always be postnatal. You may have pain:

• Lower or upper back pain from feeding, carrying, and looking after your baby
• Coccyx/Rib pains from pregnancy or delivery
• Wrist and thumb pain from repetitive use when feeding and nursing
• Knee pain from the increased loads of carrying the baby and the constant bending and squatting down to pick up the baby from the floor
• Vaginal or vulval pain
• Pelvic floor weakness can present with:
• Urinary or faecal leakage
• Inability to contract your pelvic floor
• A feeling of vaginal heaviness or a prolapse
• Unable to control wind
• Constipation

You may have a c-section, episiotomy, or scar relating to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th degree tears. These may cause you pain or discomfort. Scars take up to 12 weeks to heal and 2 years to become mature. An adherent or tight scar can restrict movement. A tight perineal or episiotomy scar could cause pain when inserting tampons or during intercourse.

Diastasis recti is the thinning and widening of the connective tissue between your six-pack muscles. It occurs in all pregnancies and is required for your baby to grow. Following delivery, most diastasis recti will recover naturally in the first few months as your body recovers. You are more likely to have ongoing issues if you have carried multiple babies (twins etc.), you had a large bump, and have had multiple pregnancies. If you have a connective tissue disorder such as hypermobility, you may also have ongoing issues.

How do I know if I have diastasis recti?Most women usually notice a doming in the middle of their abdomen when changing position or exercising. Some women experience lower back pain or leaking due to the decreased compression through their abdominals. Others may feel that their stomach is not changing size after delivery despite good nutrition and exercise. It's not about the gap!! Although we will measure your gap in the clinic, treatment is focused on getting tension back into your connective tissue. This is done through a combination of manual therapy, soft tissue work, breathing, and exercises. No exercises are off the table! Your rehabilitation is specific to you and what your abdominal wall can manage. So rehab may include sit-ups and other exercises the internet has told you not to do.

This assessment will assess your:

• Posture
• Breathing
• Pelvic floor muscles
• Abdominal muscles for a diastasis recti
• C-section scar assessment
• Screen for any bladder, bowel, or sexual dysfunction.

Following the assessment, you will be provided with a programme to meet your goals. It's suitable from 6 weeks post delivery onwards!