How soon after giving birth can I see a physiotherapist?

You can see a physiotherapist at any point after giving birth. For straightforward vaginal deliveries, many women benefit from an assessment at around 6 weeks postnatal, once the initial recovery period has passed. For caesarean births, we'd typically suggest waiting until your 6-week GP check, though earlier gentle guidance is absolutely fine if needed. If you're experiencing pelvic girdle pain, incontinence, or significant abdominal separation (diastasis recti), earlier assessment is often helpful. There's no too late either. We regularly see women months or even years after birth who are still experiencing symptoms.

What is pelvic girdle pain and will it go away after pregnancy?

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP), sometimes called SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction), is pain around the pelvis, often at the front (pubic symphysis), the back (sacroiliac joints), or both. It's caused by a combination of hormonal ligament laxity, postural changes, and the increased mechanical load of pregnancy. For most women it does improve after birth, but it doesn't always resolve on its own. Targeted physiotherapy focusing on pelvic stability, graduated strengthening, and movement modification can significantly speed up recovery and prevent it becoming a long-term issue.

When can I start running again after having a baby?

Current guidelines suggest waiting at least 12 weeks postpartum before returning to running, and ideally completing a return-to-running screening first. Running places significant demands on the pelvic floor and abdominal wall, and starting too early before these structures have recovered can cause or worsen problems like stress incontinence or prolapse. We can assess your readiness to run using a structured screening protocol, then give you a graded return plan that builds up safely. Every recovery is different, so the right time to start depends on your individual progress rather than a fixed number of weeks.

Is it normal to leak urine after having a baby?

It's common, but it's not something you should accept as your new normal. Stress urinary incontinence (leaking with coughing, sneezing, jumping, or running) affects many postnatal women, but it's very treatable with the right pelvic floor rehabilitation. Simply doing Kegel exercises from a leaflet isn't always enough. A physiotherapy assessment can identify whether your pelvic floor needs strengthening, better coordination, or actually needs to learn to relax (overactive pelvic floors can cause similar symptoms). If leaking is affecting your confidence or activity levels, it's absolutely worth getting assessed.

What is diastasis recti and does it need treatment?

Diastasis recti is a separation of the two halves of the rectus abdominis (your six-pack muscle) along the midline of the abdomen. Some degree of separation is normal during pregnancy to accommodate the growing baby, and for many women it resolves naturally in the first few months postpartum. Treatment is recommended when the gap is wide enough to affect the function of your core, causing symptoms like a visible doming or bulging of the midline during sit-up type movements, lower back pain, or a feeling of abdominal weakness. Physiotherapy focuses on gradually retraining the deep core muscles to restore tension across the midline.

Can I exercise normally after a caesarean section?

Yes, but with a gradual build-up. A caesarean is major abdominal surgery, and the tissues need time to heal properly. Gentle walking is fine from very early on. Core and pelvic floor exercises can usually begin around 6 weeks, once your GP has given the all-clear. Higher-impact activities like running, jumping, and heavy lifting are best delayed until 12 weeks at the earliest, and ideally after a physiotherapy assessment confirms your abdominal wall and pelvic floor are ready. We'll help you progress safely through each stage so you can get back to full activity with confidence.

Pelvic Girdle Pain & Post-Natal Rehabilitation in Exeter – Expert Care for Mothers

Are You Struggling with Pelvic Girdle Pain or Recovering Post-Natally?

Pregnancy and childbirth can take a significant toll on the body, and many women experience pelvic girdle pain (PGP) during pregnancy or struggle with recovery after giving birth. These issues can cause discomfort, pain, and frustration, affecting your ability to move, exercise, and care for your baby. At Quay Kinetics Physio, we provide specialised treatment for pelvic girdle pain and post-natal rehabilitation to help you regain your strength and confidence.

You Might Be Asking Yourself:

Why do I feel pain in my lower back, hips, or pelvis during pregnancy?
Why is my pelvic pain worse when I walk, stand, or roll over in bed?
How can I safely exercise after giving birth to regain my strength?
Can physiotherapy help me recover from childbirth and prevent long-term issues?

At Quay Kinetics Physio, we understand how challenging pregnancy and post-natal recovery can be. Our goal is to provide you with the expert care and support you need to manage your pain, restore your strength, and get back to doing the activities you love.

Specialised Training for Women’s Health

Our lead physiotherapist, Jennifer, has undergone specialised training in women’s health, including completing Antony Lo’s 'The Female Athlete' course and becoming a qualified 'FitBack & Bumps' Ante and Post-Natal Instructor. This advanced training enables us to offer evidence-based treatment and guidance for women experiencing pelvic girdle pain or seeking post-natal rehabilitation. Whether you're currently pregnant, have just given birth, or are years post-natal, we tailor our approach to meet your unique needs.

Common Conditions We Treat:

Pelvic girdle pain and post-natal issues can vary in severity, but we commonly help women experiencing:

Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP): Discomfort in the lower back, hips, pubic area, or groin, often worsened by walking, standing, or rolling over in bed. This condition is common during pregnancy but can also persist post-natally.
Diastasis Recti (Abdominal Separation): Separation of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy.
Pelvic Floor Weakness: Many women experience pelvic floor weakness following childbirth, leading to incontinence, discomfort, and reduced support for the pelvic organs.
Post-Natal Back and Hip Pain: Postural changes, weakened muscles, and the demands of caring for a newborn can lead to ongoing back, hip, and pelvic pain after childbirth.
C-Section Recovery: Recovering from a caesarean section requires specialised care to promote healing, restore strength, and improve scar mobility.

Why Choose Quay Kinetics Physio for Pelvic Girdle Pain and Post-Natal Rehab?

At Quay Kinetics Physio, we believe that every woman deserves expert care during and after pregnancy. Our team of Chartered Physiotherapists is dedicated to providing personalised, evidence-based treatment to help women recover safely and effectively.

Our approach is tailored to your stage of pregnancy or recovery, ensuring you receive the appropriate support and guidance at every step. We focus on improving your strength, stability, and mobility while helping to relieve pain and prevent long-term issues. Whether you're experiencing pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy or seeking post-natal rehabilitation to regain your strength and confidence, we’re here to help.

Our Comprehensive Approach Includes:

Accurate Assessment: We begin with a thorough assessment to understand your symptoms and develop a tailored treatment plan.
Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques to relieve pain, improve joint mobility, and address imbalances in the pelvis, hips, and back.
Pelvic Floor Strengthening: Targeted exercises to improve pelvic floor function, prevent incontinence, and support recovery post-natally.
Core Stability and Diastasis Recti Rehab: Safe exercises to restore core strength and address abdominal separation after childbirth.
Movement Optimisation: Teaching you how to move safely and efficiently during pregnancy and post-natally, reducing strain on your body.
Exercise Therapy: Tailored exercises to strengthen your muscles, improve flexibility, and support long-term recovery.
Post-Natal Care: Whether you’ve had a natural birth or caesarean section, we provide ongoing support to help you recover and regain confidence in your body.

Please note; we do not provide internal examinations. That is the remit of a Specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapist. We provide the musculoskeletal physiotherapy for everything else.

Take Control of Your Recovery with Expert Support

Pregnancy and post-natal recovery can bring unique challenges, but with the right care, you can manage pain, regain strength, and feel confident in your body again. At Quay Kinetics Physio, we are here to support you through every stage of your journey, providing expert treatment for pelvic girdle pain and post-natal rehabilitation.

Book your consultation today and let us help you take the first step toward a stronger, healthier you.

Related conditions we treat

Back Pain · Sciatica · Hip Pain ·

Frequently Asked Questions About Postnatal Physio in Exeter

You can see a physiotherapist at any point after giving birth. For straightforward vaginal deliveries, many women benefit from an assessment at around 6 weeks postnatal, once the initial recovery period has passed. For caesarean births, we'd typically suggest waiting until your 6-week GP check, though earlier gentle guidance is absolutely fine if needed. If you're experiencing pelvic girdle pain, incontinence, or significant abdominal separation (diastasis recti), earlier assessment is often helpful. There's no "too late" either. We regularly see women months or even years after birth who are still experiencing symptoms.
Pelvic girdle pain (PGP), sometimes called SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction), is pain around the pelvis, often at the front (pubic symphysis), the back (sacroiliac joints), or both. It's caused by a combination of hormonal ligament laxity, postural changes, and the increased mechanical load of pregnancy. For most women it does improve after birth, but it doesn't always resolve on its own. Targeted physiotherapy focusing on pelvic stability, graduated strengthening, and movement modification can significantly speed up recovery and prevent it becoming a long-term issue.
Current guidelines suggest waiting at least 12 weeks postpartum before returning to running, and ideally completing a return-to-running screening first. Running places significant demands on the pelvic floor and abdominal wall, and starting too early before these structures have recovered can cause or worsen problems like stress incontinence or prolapse. We can assess your readiness to run using a structured screening protocol, then give you a graded return plan that builds up safely. Every recovery is different, so the right time to start depends on your individual progress rather than a fixed number of weeks.

It's common, but it's not something you should accept as your new normal. Stress urinary incontinence (leaking with coughing, sneezing, jumping, or running) affects many postnatal women, but it's very treatable with the right pelvic floor rehabilitation. Simply doing Kegel exercises from a leaflet isn't always enough. A physiotherapy assessment can identify whether your pelvic floor needs strengthening, better coordination, or actually needs to learn to relax (overactive pelvic floors can cause similar symptoms). If leaking is affecting your confidence or activity levels, it's absolutely worth getting assessed.
Diastasis recti is a separation of the two halves of the rectus abdominis (your "six-pack" muscle) along the midline of the abdomen. Some degree of separation is normal during pregnancy to accommodate the growing baby, and for many women it resolves naturally in the first few months postpartum. Treatment is recommended when the gap is wide enough to affect the function of your core, causing symptoms like a visible doming or bulging of the midline during sit-up type movements, lower back pain, or a feeling of abdominal weakness. Physiotherapy focuses on gradually retraining the deep core muscles to restore tension across the midline.
Yes, but with a gradual build-up. A caesarean is major abdominal surgery, and the tissues need time to heal properly. Gentle walking is fine from very early on. Core and pelvic floor exercises can usually begin around 6 weeks, once your GP has given the all-clear. Higher-impact activities like running, jumping, and heavy lifting are best delayed until 12 weeks at the earliest, and ideally after a physiotherapy assessment confirms your abdominal wall and pelvic floor are ready. We'll help you progress safely through each stage so you can get back to full activity with confidence.

Pelvic Girdle Pain & Post-Natal Rehabilitation in Exeter – Expert Care for Mothers

Are You Struggling with Pelvic Girdle Pain or Recovering Post-Natally?

Why do I feel pain in my lower back, hips, or pelvis during pregnancy?

Why is my pelvic pain worse when I walk, stand, or roll over in bed?

How can I safely exercise after giving birth to regain my strength?

Can physiotherapy help me recover from childbirth and prevent long-term issues?

Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP): Discomfort in the lower back, hips, pubic area, or groin, often worsened by walking, standing, or rolling over in bed. This condition is common during pregnancy but can also persist post-natally.

Diastasis Recti (Abdominal Separation): Separation of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy.

Pelvic Floor Weakness: Many women experience pelvic floor weakness following childbirth, leading to incontinence, discomfort, and reduced support for the pelvic organs.

Post-Natal Back and Hip Pain: Postural changes, weakened muscles, and the demands of caring for a newborn can lead to ongoing back, hip, and pelvic pain after childbirth.

C-Section Recovery: Recovering from a caesarean section requires specialised care to promote healing, restore strength, and improve scar mobility.

Why Choose Quay Kinetics Physio for Pelvic Girdle Pain and Post-Natal Rehab?

Please note; we do not provide internal examinations. That is the remit of a Specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapist. We provide the musculoskeletal physiotherapy for everything else.

Book your consultation today and let us help you take the first step toward a stronger, healthier you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Postnatal Physio in Exeter

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