Why Every Woman Should Book a Postpartum Physiotherapy Check
Pregnancy and birth place significant demands on the body, yet postnatal care often ends after the standard 6-week GP check. A postpartum physiotherapy check provides a thorough assessment of how your body is recovering and helps support long-term physical and mental wellbeing.
Often compared to a Mummy MOT, this type of assessment offers women reassurance, education, and a personalised recovery plan following childbirth.
Postpartum Physiotherapy Check vs Mummy MOT
A Mummy MOT is a recognised postnatal assessment focusing on pelvic floor function, abdominal separation, and posture. A postpartum physiotherapy check includes these core elements and expands on them with clinical expertise and tailored treatment.
Led by a women’s health physiotherapist, the assessment looks not only at healing, but also at how your body functions in daily life and exercise.
What’s Included in a Postpartum Physiotherapy Check?
A typical assessment may include:
Pelvic floor assessment to check strength, coordination, and symptoms such as bladder leakage or heaviness
Abdominal and core assessment, including diastasis recti
Posture and movement analysis, especially for lifting, feeding, and carrying your baby
Scar assessment following a C-section or perineal trauma
Guidance on safe return to exercise, including walking, gym training, or running
A personalised rehabilitation plan based on your goals and lifestyle
Physical Recovery, Mental Health & Postpartum Depression
Physical recovery after birth is closely linked to emotional wellbeing. Ongoing pain, pelvic floor issues, or feeling disconnected from your body can increase stress and contribute to postpartum depression or anxiety.
A postpartum physiotherapy check offers a supportive space where women feel listened to and reassured. While physiotherapists do not diagnose mental health conditions, they play an important role in identifying concerns and encouraging appropriate support.
Why Every Woman Should Have a Postpartum Check
Many postnatal issues are dismissed as “normal after having a baby,” but symptoms such as pain, bladder leakage, or core weakness should not be ignored. Early assessment helps prevent long-term problems and builds confidence in your body.
Whether you had a vaginal birth or C-section, complications or none at all, every woman can benefit from a postpartum physiotherapy check.
When Should You Book?
A postpartum check can be done from 6 weeks after birth and at any stage afterward — even months or years later. It’s especially valuable before returning to higher-impact exercise or if you have ongoing symptoms.
Final Thoughts
A postpartum physiotherapy check, much like a Mummy MOT, should be a standard part of postnatal care. It supports recovery, confidence, and long-term health — because caring for mothers matters too.
