Recovery doesn't end when the pregnancy does.
Postpartum is the post-pregnancy part of a woman's journey through motherhood, and while it's easy to think the transformation is over once a woman gives birth, it's really just another stage in that transformation. Throughout pregnancy, regular checkups guide an expectant mother through the changes her body is going through, all the way up to delivery, with her obstetrician leading the way. After birth, many people assume the transformation is complete, but for a new mother, this is only the beginning of the road to recovery, and physical therapy is a key part of building a proper foundation.
A new mom should make it a priority to schedule a postpartum check-up with a women's health physical therapist for a full-body evaluation of posture, alignment, the abdominal wall, the pelvic floor, and their function, the same way vaccines are a priority for a newborn's care.
Schedule it early, and expect it around six weeks.
Ideally, an expectant mom should schedule her postpartum check-up before childbirth, so it happens shortly after her obstetrician checkup, generally around six weeks postpartum. That way, once the baby arrives and understandably becomes the priority, mom is still taking care of herself too. When childbirth is complicated, certain physical conditions need to be addressed as soon as possible for a faster, more complete recovery.
It starts with a full history and current assessment.
The check-up begins with an overall history to understand the current condition of the woman's body, covering everything from pregnancy and delivery to childbirth and the present. This includes pelvic floor, childbirth, and sexual function history, along with any issues from previous childbirths if this isn't a first pregnancy.
From there, the physical therapist assesses current symptoms: posture, pelvic alignment, muscle strength, and full mobility, along with muscle control, coordination, and functional movement. Issues like urine leakage, diastasis recti, or painful sex are explored and, once identified, addressed directly.
Abdominal and scar evaluation, if needed.
If a cesarean surgery was performed, the patient receives a thorough evaluation of the scar and begins a scar mobilization protocol. The therapist tests the strength and activation of the core muscles to check for abdominal separation, or diastasis recti, along with breathing patterns and any pain or discomfort related to posture and alignment. A few position checks and exercises may be advised and administered by a registered women's health physical therapist to help ensure a proper, safe recovery and return to an active lifestyle.
Treatment is built around what the evaluation finds.
Once the initial evaluation is complete, the physical therapist makes treatment recommendations based on the findings. These often include breathing retraining exercises, diastasis recti correction exercises, postural correction exercises, and pelvic floor neuromuscular re-education exercises, along with guidance to gradually build back into strength training and cardiovascular activity.
A postpartum physical therapy check-up is highly recommended, though it's not always emphasized enough in the United States. Just as anyone recovering from orthopedic surgery is expected to go through physical therapy rehabilitation, the same logic should apply after a C-section or a traumatic labor with tearing. Some countries, like France, make it a priority to help mothers recover so they, in turn, can help their children grow. Proper guidance and supervision make a real difference in recovering from one of the most life-changing events in a woman's life.