Post-natal check

A post-natal check up with a women’s health physiotherapist is vital to ensure comprehensive advice surrounding your recovery after having a baby, regardless of whether you have had a vaginal or Caesarean delivery.

So many women we see have the common misconception that the body is technically recovered at 6 weeks post-natal.

It may surprise you to know that the pelvic floor does not recover until at least the 4-6month mark, and a caesarean section scar has only reached 50% of it tensile strength at 6 weeks post birth.

It takes up to 6months to regain ~90% of the tensile strength again!

A post-natal check with a women’s health physiotherapist can be conducted anytime from 6 weeks post-natal.

It involves a taking a comprehensive pregnancy and delivery history, as well as determining any specific goals you may have moving forward. For some that is returning to leisurely walking or gym classes, for others it is returning to triathlons!

Everyone’s goals are different, and treatment absolutely has to be tailored depending on this. A post-natal check involves an abdominal wall examination, checking for any diastasis rectus abdominus (abdominal separation), as well as a pelvic floor check – usually done by real-time ultrasound as well as a vaginal exam to check the strength of the pelvic floor.

We can also assess for any prolapse (dropping of one or more of the pelvic organs – bladder, bowel, uterus).

You may be interested to know that some women do not have any symptoms of prolapse, stress urinary incontinence, sexual pain or loss of bowel/wind control at the 6 week mark.

However, specific measurements and tests that a women’s health physiotherapist can perform during your post-natal check are able to determine your risk of any of these from developing – we want you to still be symptom free for years to come!

The most important thing you can do is to address any concerns you have at present, as well as put into place measures to protect and prevent against future issues.

Whilst a post-natal check is ideally conducted at 6 weeks post birth, it can also be performed at anytime, it is never too late!

Give us a call or book online today!