Postnatal Physiotherapy is a key part of our Women’s Health Physiotherapy services and is designed to help new mothers restore strength, function, and confidence in the weeks and months following delivery. Postnatal physiotherapy (also known as postpartum physiotherapy) focuses on rehabilitating the body after pregnancy & childbirth – addressing issues like pelvic floor weakness, abdominal muscle separation, back pain, and other post-birth aches or injuries. Our warm and experienced team of women’s health physiotherapists provides evidence-based care tailored to each woman’s needs, helping you safely return to exercise and daily activities. We combine a friendly, understanding approach with expert knowledge to ensure you feel comfortable and supported throughout your postnatal recovery journey.
What Is Postnatal Physiotherapy?
Postnatal physiotherapy is a specialised branch of physiotherapy focused on helping women heal and regain strength after giving birth. It involves the assessment and treatment of postpartum conditions to improve your physical well-being after pregnancy. This may include gentle exercises, manual therapy, education, and personalised rehabilitation programs targeting the changes a woman’s body undergoes during pregnancy and childbirth. Our therapist may compliment exercises you may have been given from your physio while pregnant.
Evidence-based research highlights that pelvic health physical therapy is a vital part of recovery in the postpartum period – it aids in restoring muscle control, supporting tissue repair, and even helps with healing of cesarean section scars apta.org. In practice, postnatal physio encompasses pelvic floor rehabilitation, core (abdominal) re-strengthening, posture correction, and guidance on safe movements or return to fitness.
At Advantage Healthcare, our postnatal physiotherapy program is delivered by accredited women’s health physiotherapists who understand the unique needs of new mothers. We work one-on-one with you to address any pain or dysfunction, expedite your recovery, and prevent long-term issues. In short, postnatal physiotherapy is about helping your body recover from pregnancy and birth so you can enjoy motherhood in optimal health.
Why Is Postnatal Physiotherapy Important?
Pregnancy and childbirth bring tremendous changes to a woman’s body. Muscles stretch and ligaments soften (especially in the abdomen and pelvic region), which increases the risk of bladder or bowel problems after delivery. In fact, approximately one in three women experience urinary incontinence (leakage) after childbirth, and many also develop abdominal muscle separation or ongoing back pain.
Postnatal physiotherapy is important because it directly addresses these issues and helps prevent small problems from becoming long-term concerns. By engaging in postpartum rehab, women can strengthen weakened muscles, alleviate pain, and improve their quality of life as a new mum. Health organizations like the UK’s NHS recommend starting pelvic floor and deep abdominal exercises soon after birth, as regular pelvic floor and core exercises can reduce the separation of abdominal muscles and improve pelvic support nhs.uk. Likewise, comprehensive studies support the widespread recommendation that pelvic floor muscle training is an effective first-line treatment for postpartum incontinencepubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
In short, postnatal physiotherapy gives your body the targeted care it needs to recover properly – helping you heal faster, regain bladder and bowel control, rebuild core strength, and even improve prolapse symptoms or sexual comfort. It’s an investment in your long-term health after having a baby.
Common Postnatal Issues Addressed by Physiotherapy
Postnatal physiotherapy can treat a wide range of conditions and post-pregnancy concerns. Every woman’s experience is different, but some of the common postnatal issues we address at our Brisbane clinic include:
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Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: This encompasses problems such as urinary incontinence (leaking urine when you cough, sneeze or exercise), fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse (a feeling of heaviness or bulge in the vagina), and pelvic pain. These issues are very common after birth due to the strain of pregnancy and delivery on the pelvic floor muscles. For example, one large review found about 33% of new mothers have some urinary leakage postpartumpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Pelvic floor physiotherapy focuses on strengthening these muscles to restore bladder and bowel control, improve support for pelvic organs, and reduce pain. It’s proven to be highly effective – guided pelvic floor exercise programs significantly reduce the likelihood of postpartum urine leakage and are recommended by specialists worldwideaustralian.physio.
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Abdominal Muscle Separation (Diastasis Recti): During pregnancy, it’s normal for the two halves of your abdominal muscles to stretch apart to accommodate your growing baby. In fact, up to 66–100% of women will experience some degree of abdominal separation by the end of pregnancy. After childbirth, these muscles may remain separated (a condition known as diastasis recti), leading to a weakened core, a persistent “pooch” appearance of the tummy, and potential back pain or poor posture. Postnatal physiotherapy assesses the extent of any diastasis and guides you through safe exercises to close the gap and restore core strength. Research shows that targeted deep stomach muscle exercises can help reduce the separation and rebuild muscle tone in the abdomen. Our physios will teach you gentle activation of your transverse abdominis (deep core) and progress you through appropriate abdominal workouts as you heal, so you can regain a strong, functional core.
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Back Pain and Pelvic Girdle Pain: Carrying a baby for nine months, followed by the physical demands of lifting and caring for a newborn, can take a toll on your back, hips, and pelvic joints. Many women experience lower back pain or pelvic girdle pain (in the hips or pubic bone area) during pregnancy and continuing into the postnatal period. These pains can result from altered posture, weakened core muscles, or residual ligament laxity after birth. Postnatal physiotherapy can relieve back and pelvic pain through a combination of targeted exercises (to strengthen core and gluteal muscles), hands-on techniques, and posture education. By improving core stability and pelvic alignment, we help ease strain on your spine and joints. Physiotherapy after you’ve had your baby can help you regain strength and fitness and address issues like back pain and pelvic floor weakness allowing you to move more comfortably and care for your baby without constant pain.
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Postnatal Pelvic Trauma & Scar Recovery: Childbirth (especially vaginal delivery) can sometimes result in perineal trauma such as tears or an episiotomy, which may lead to scar tissue and tenderness. Likewise, if you delivered by Caesarean section, you will have an abdominal surgical scar and deeper tissue healing. Our postnatal physiotherapy includes techniques to promote proper healing of scars and injured tissues. We perform gentle scar mobilisation massage and stretches to improve flexibility and reduce pain around C-section scars or perineal scars. We also help desensitise any painful areas and ensure that scar tissue doesn’t restrict muscle function. Pelvic health physio can aid in tissue repair and even help internal healing of C-section scarsapta.org, speeding up your recovery. By caring for these scars and the surrounding muscles, we alleviate discomfort with activities (like sitting or intercourse) and help you feel more like yourself again.
Beyond these specific conditions, postnatal physiotherapy can assist with general postpartum reconditioning, posture improvement, and safe resumption of exercise or sport. Even issues like wrist pain (e.g. “baby wrist” or carpal tunnel syndrome from baby care tasks) can be managed with physiotherapy, though our main focus is on the core and pelvic health areas. The key takeaway is that you don’t need to “just live with” postpartum body changes or discomfort – most common postnatal issues can be improved significantly with proper physiotherapy carepregnancybirthbaby.org.au.
Pelvic Floor and Core Rehabilitation
Rehabilitating the pelvic floor and core is at the heart of postnatal physiotherapy. Pregnancy and delivery (even a C-section) put tremendous strain on the pelvic floor muscles – the hammock of muscles that support your bladder, uterus, and bowel. These muscles can be stretched or injured, leading to weakness. It’s no surprise that pelvic floor weakness shows up as leakage, prolapse, or decreased sexual sensation for many women after birth. The good news is that, with guided training, the pelvic floor can recover its strength and function.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation with our physios starts with a thorough assessment of your pelvic floor muscle tone, strength, and coordination. We may use internal examination (with your consent) or non-invasive methods like real-time ultrasound to check how well you can contract and relax these muscles. Based on what we find, we teach you tailored pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises and beyond) and ensure you’re doing them correctly. This is important because performing exercises with the right technique is key to seeing improvement – our team provides feedback and adjustments so you truly engage the right muscles. Over a series of sessions, we will progress your pelvic floor strengthening program.
The goal is to restore support to your pelvic organs, eliminate any urine leakage, and rebuild your confidence in daily activities. Pelvic floor rehab also has other benefits: it can reduce the feeling of vaginal heaviness from mild prolapse and even help improve sexual function by increasing muscle tone and blood flow (many women find intercourse more comfortable and enjoyable as pelvic strength returns)nhs.uk. Major health bodies like the NHS, Australian Physiotherapy Association, and American Physical Therapy Association all recommend pelvic floor muscle training during the postnatal periodaustralian.physioapta.org – it’s a cornerstone of recovery that we prioritise in your treatment plan.
When Should You Seek Postnatal Physiotherapy?
When is the right time to see a postnatal physiotherapist? The simple answer is: if you’ve recently had a baby (weeks, months, or even years ago) and you have concerns about your pelvic floor, abdominal strength, or any musculoskeletal pain, it’s worth seeking care. Many women schedule a check-up with a women’s health physio around 6 to 8 weeks postpartum (after their doctor’s clearance at the postnatal check-up). This timing is ideal because it allows initial healing to occur, and a physio can then assess things like pelvic floor strength, bladder control, and abdominal muscle recovery early on.
However, you don’t have to wait until 6 weeks if you’re struggling with something sooner – for example, severe pelvic pain, mastitis-related issues, or very bothersome incontinence can be addressed earlier on a case-by-case basis with gentle treatments. On the other hand, it’s also never too late. Even if you are 6 months postpartum, a year, or several years after having children, and you’re still experiencing issues (like leakage or unresolved back pain), physiotherapy can still help improve your function and quality of life.
In general, consider booking a postnatal physio appointment if you notice any of the following: persistent urinary or fecal leakage, a feeling of pelvic heaviness or bulge (possible prolapse), difficulty activating your core or a visible tummy bulge that isn’t improving (diastasis recti), pelvic or lower back pain that hasn’t resolved, pain with sex postpartum, or any other lingering pain or weakness related to pregnancy and delivery.
Even without obvious symptoms, many women choose to see a physiotherapist postpartum as a proactive step – much like you would visit your GP for a 6-week check, a postnatal physio check-up can identify hidden weaknesses or risk factors and give you a personalised exercise plan to prevent problems down the track.
Remember, many women often assume that a certain amount of discomfort or leakage after having a baby is “normal” and something they just have to put up with, but that’s not true – targeted physiotherapy can dramatically reduce these symptoms and improve your comfort and mobilitypregnancybirthbaby.org.au. If something doesn’t feel right to you, or you simply want guidance on safe postpartum exercises, that’s a good reason to seek care.
Our Wynnum women’s health physiotherapists are here to assess your recovery, answer your questions, and provide reassurance and effective solutions. We recommend not delaying if you’re struggling – the sooner we address an issue, the faster you can feel better. That said, it’s never too late to start; even women many years postpartum have seen great improvements with pelvic floor and core rehab, so there is always hope for recovery.
Our Postnatal Physiotherapy Services at Advantage Healthcare
At Advantage Healthcare & Physiotherapy in Wynnum, we have a dedicated team of women’s health physios to help Brisbane mothers in their postpartum recovery. We take a holistic and gentle approach, always tailoring treatment to your comfort level and goals. When you come in for postnatal physiotherapy, here are some of the key services and techniques we utilise:
- Pelvic Floor Assessments (Internal & External)
- Real-Time Ultrasound Imaging
- Clinical Pilates for Postnatal Recovery
- Pessary Fitting and Support (If Needed)
Your Recovery, Our Support – Book an Appointment Today
Postnatal physiotherapy can be a game-changer in your recovery after having a baby. It’s about giving back to your body – helping muscles and joints heal, restoring function, and preventing future problems so you can focus on life with your new addition. At Advantage Healthcare & Physiotherapy, we are passionate about supporting mums in the Wynnum and greater Brisbane community through this journey.
Our approach is compassionate, private, and always backed by the latest research and techniques in women’s health. We take the time to listen to your story and concerns, then work together on a plan to get you feeling strong, pain-free, and confident from the inside out. Whether you gave birth weeks ago or years ago, it’s never too late to seek help – every woman deserves to live without leaking when she laughs or enduring daily backaches! By investing in your health now, you set yourself up for an active, joyful motherhood and beyond.
Ready to get started? We invite you to book a postnatal physiotherapy appointment at our Wynnum clinic today. Contact us to schedule your comprehensive postnatal assessment with one of our friendly women’s health physiotherapists. We’ll answer any questions you have and guide you through the first steps of your personalised rehab program. Don’t let treatable issues hold you back from enjoying this special time – our team at Advantage Healthcare is here to help you recover, rebuild, and thrive. We look forward to supporting you on your post-baby health journey!