Postnatal physio Auckland: recovery after birth

You can book a postnatal assessment from around six weeks, once any bleeding has settled, and it is never too late. We see people in their first months postpartum and others years down the track who were never told this kind of help existed. Either way, an assessment is worthwhile.

A thorough one-hour assessment: how your pelvic floor is activating (using real-time ultrasound, and an internal exam only ever with your consent), any abdominal separation, your breathing and posture, and any scar tissue. You leave with a clear plan and a take-home guide, not a generic exercise sheet.

Some separation of the tummy muscles is normal in pregnancy, and for many it improves on its own. When it does not, the right loading and breathing strategy makes a real difference. We assess the gap properly and build the plan around it, rather than handing you generic core exercises that can sometimes make it worse.

Leaking when you cough, laugh or run, a heavy or dragging feeling, or urgency you cannot hold are common after birth, and they usually improve with the right plan. These are treatable. You do not have to live with them, and contracting your pelvic floor too hard too early can actually slow healing, which is why an assessment first matters.

Going back to running or the gym too soon, or with a pelvic floor that is not ready, is a common cause of leaks and pain. We guide a staged return, usually building over about twelve weeks, so you get back to what you love without setbacks.

Since 1 October 2022, ACC covers a range of maternal birth injuries, and we lodge the claim for you. If your birth involved a tear, prolapse or other covered injury, your treatment may be funded. Give us a call and we will tell you what is covered.