Specialist Postnatal Physio Check

Postnatal Physio & Recovery Check in Axminster

The six-week check with your GP is an important milestone, but it is rarely enough to fully evaluate how your body is healing after pregnancy and birth. While your doctor ensures you are medically stable, a specialist postnatal physiotherapist looks closely at your structural recovery, muscle function, and physical strength.

Whether you gave birth six weeks ago or six years ago, and whether you had a vaginal delivery or a C-section, your body deserves a proper assessment. I’m here to help you rebuild your foundation, eliminate discomfort, and safely return to the activities you love.

Woman holding baby, pre and postnatal physio check

How a Postnatal Recovery Check Can Help You

Every woman’s postpartum recovery journey is completely unique, but the goal is always the same: to feel strong, comfortable, and confident in your own body again.

Investing in a specialised postnatal check-up provides clear, practical benefits that go far beyond a standard medical check:

  • Regain Pelvic Floor Confidence: Learn exactly how your pelvic floor is functioning. I help you address and eliminate common issues like urinary leaking when you cough, sneeze or exercise, sudden urgency, or feelings of pelvic heaviness, or pain.

  • Rebuild a Functional Core: If you are experiencing diastasis recti (stomach muscle separation), I assess the deep tension of your abdominal wall and give you targeted exercises to safely improve the gap and restore your core strength.

  • Lift and Move Without Pain: From carrying a heavy car seat to bending over a cot, motherhood places massive physical demands on your body. I help resolve the upper back, hip, and pelvic aches that often trigger during daily mum-life.

  • Enjoy a Safe Return to Fitness: Don’t guess whether your body is ready for high-impact running, gym classes, or lifting weights. I provide a clear, phased roadmap tailored to your specific sport or fitness goals so you can train without risking injury.

  • Optimise Scar Healing: Whether you had a C-section or perineal tearing, I assess your scar tissue and teach you desensitisation and mobilisation techniques to prevent long-term tightness, pulling, or discomfort.

Who this Post Natal Physio Check for?

The short answer is: any woman who has ever given birth, regardless of whether your baby is six weeks old or six years old.

I see women at completely different stages of their motherhood and recovery journeys. This assessment is specifically designed for you if:

  • You are at the 6-week mark and want real clarity: You have had your standard GP check, but you want me to look deeply at your specific muscle recovery, tissue healing, and structural alignment before you resume normal daily pressures.

  • You want to return to fitness safely: If you love running, weightlifting, CrossFit, or high-impact sports, I use this check to screen your “impact readiness” so you can return to the training you love without risking long-term damage or injury.

  • You had a C-section or a complex delivery: Even if you didn’t have a vaginal birth, your core and pelvic floor carried your pregnancy for nine months. If you have a C-section or perineal scar, I can help ensure that tissue heals flexibly without causing pulling or lower back aches.

  • You are experiencing “nagging” symptoms: If you are noticing a heavy or dragging sensation, occasional leaking when you laugh or run, or a tummy gap that doesn’t seem to be improving, I can help you understand why it’s happening and how to fix it.

  • You feel completely fine but want peace of mind: You do not need to be in pain or experiencing symptoms to see me. Proactive care is incredibly powerful, and I can give you the “green light” to move forward with absolute confidence.

What does the Postnatal Recovery Check include?

A bespoke approach

A comprehensive, head-to-toe evaluation of your postnatal body, this is an in-depth, 1-on-1 assessment tailored specifically to the physical demands of motherhood and exercise. It is designed to give you complete peace of mind about how your body is healing and provide a clear, safe plan for the future.

During the session

Although your session will be tailored around you and your specific needs, I follow a similar process for each:
  • Detailed Abdominal Wall Assessment: I physically assess your tummy muscles to check for any gap (diastasis recti) and evaluate how well your deep core muscles are functioning.

  • 360° Breathing & Core Pressure Assessment: I assess how your ribcage, diaphragm, abdominal wall, and pelvic floor work together during your breath. This helps identify any gripping, breath‑holding, or pressure patterns that may be contributing to doming, discomfort, or pelvic floor symptoms, and guides us toward restoring smooth, coordinated core function.
  • Internal Pelvic Floor Evaluation: A detailed assessment of your pelvic floor muscle strength, endurance, timing and relaxation capability, alongside checking any scar tissue healing.

  • Postural & Musculoskeletal Screening: I analyse your posture, pelvis alignment, and movement patterns to see how your body is adapting to carrying and lifting your growing baby.

  • Personalised Return-to-Fitness Roadmap: Whether your goal is walking without leaking, getting back to local fitness classes, or returning to high-impact running and lifting, I design a safe, phased exercise plan to get you there.

Areas Covered

The clinic supports women from:

  • Axminster
  • Lyme Regis
  • Charmouth 
  • Chard
  • Crewkerne
  • Ilminster
  • Bridport
  • West Bay
  • Beaminster
  • Dorchester
  • Honiton
  • Seaton
  • Sidmouth
  • East Devon
  • West Dorset
  • South Somerset

If you are looking for a pre & postnatal physio check near Axminster, or specialist pelvic health support in the surrounding area, you are very welcome to get in touch.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I book a postnatal physio check?

Many women choose to book once they feel ready for a specialist recovery check, especially if they have symptoms such as leakage, heaviness, abdominal weakness, pain or uncertainty about returning to exercise. Others book simply for reassurance and guidance.

Can I come even if I am not sure something is wrong?

Absolutely. Many women book because they want reassurance, education and a clearer recovery plan rather than because of one specific symptom.

Can I book during pregnancy?

Yes. Pregnancy is a great time to get support for pelvic pain, back pain, pelvic floor symptoms and preparation for recovery after birth.

Do I need a postnatal physio check if I had a C-section

Yes — a C-section still affects your abdominal wall, scar tissue, breathing, movement and recovery. A specialist assessment can help you understand how your body is healing and what support may help.

Can this appointment help with bladder leakage after birth?

Yes. Bladder leakage is one of the most common reasons women seek postnatal pelvic health support, and your assessment can explore what may be contributing and what treatment may help.

Can you help me return to exercise safely?

Yes. If you want to return to walking, gym work, classes or running after birth, your assessment can help guide this more safely and confidently.

Take Control of Your Postnatal Recovery

Book your postnatal physio check today

You took amazing care of yourself during pregnancy—now it’s time to look after the body that brought your baby into the world. Rebuild your strength from the inside out.