Having a baby is a significant physical and emotional journey, and your body goes through many changes during pregnancy, birth, and the early months of motherhood.
A Postnatal MOT is a specialist physiotherapy assessment designed to help you understand how your body is recovering and provide personalised advice to support your ongoing health and wellbeing.
Many women are unsure what is “normal” after having a baby, or they may be experiencing symptoms they have been told to simply accept as part of motherhood. However, issues such as bladder leakage, pelvic discomfort, abdominal weakness, pain during intimacy, or difficulty returning to exercise are common but not something you have to put up with.
Pregnancy and childbirth place significant demands on the body. The abdominal muscles, pelvic floor, pelvic joints, spine, and surrounding tissues all adapt during pregnancy to support your growing baby and prepare for birth.
Recovery varies greatly between individuals and depends on factors such as:
A Postnatal MOT can be useful whether you are experiencing symptoms or simply want reassurance that your body is ready for the next stage of recovery.
It provides the opportunity to discuss your concerns, assess your recovery, and create an individual plan to help you feel stronger, more confident, and supported.
Your assessment will begin with a detailed discussion about your pregnancy, birth experience, recovery, lifestyle, and any concerns you may have.
Your pelvic health physiotherapist may assess:
The pelvic floor muscles play an important role in bladder and bowel control, pelvic organ support, sexual function, and overall core stability.
Your physiotherapist can assess whether your pelvic floor muscles are:
An assessment may identify whether you need pelvic floor strengthening, relaxation strategies, or a combination of both.
Pregnancy naturally stretches the abdominal wall. Some women experience a separation between the two sides of the abdominal muscles, known as diastasis recti. – link to this page
Your physiotherapist can assess:
The focus is not simply on the size of any separation, but on how well your abdominal muscles function and support your body.
If you have had a caesarean section, episiotomy, or perineal tear, your scar may be assessed if you have concerns such as:
Your physiotherapist can provide advice on scar healing and appropriate scar management – link to scar page techniques.
Many women are keen to return to exercise after pregnancy but are unsure when and how to progress safely.
A Postnatal MOT can provide guidance on returning to:
Your rehabilitation plan will be tailored to your goals, whether that is simply feeling comfortable day-to-day or returning to a specific fitness activity.
A postnatal physiotherapy assessment may be helpful if you are experiencing:
Pelvic health physiotherapy takes a personalised approach to postnatal recovery. Rather than providing a generic exercise programme, your physiotherapist will assess your individual needs and guide you through the appropriate stages of rehabilitation.
Treatment may include:
The aim is to help you understand your body, manage symptoms, and gradually rebuild strength and confidence.
Many women choose to have a Postnatal MOT around 6–12 weeks after birth, although it can be beneficial at any stage after having a baby.
You do not need to wait until symptoms become severe. Early assessment can provide reassurance, identify any areas needing attention, and help prevent small issues from becoming ongoing problems.
A Postnatal MOT can also be valuable months or even years after childbirth if you are experiencing symptoms or preparing to return to exercise.