Pregnancy & Postpartum

At Peak Flo Physio, we support women through every stage of pregnancy and the postnatal period, helping manage pelvic floor and musculoskeletal changes that commonly occur. Whether you’re looking to prevent discomfort, prepare for birth, or recover after delivery, our physiotherapy assessments provide valuable guidance and personalised care.

Pregnancy Physiotherapy

During pregnancy, your body goes through significant changes that can affect the pelvic floor, abdominal muscles, and musculoskeletal system. Our team treats a wide range of conditions to help you stay comfortable and active throughout pregnancy, including:

  • Pelvic girdle pain

  • Lower back pain

  • Neck and thoracic pain

  • Rib pain

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome

  • Pelvic floor symptoms, such as incontinence, constipation, and pelvic pain

  • Birth preparation and pelvic floor risk screening.

Postpartum Physiotherapy

Around 4-6 weeks after birth, we recommend that all women have a postnatal assessment to check how their pelvic floor and abdominals are recovering and to plan a safe return to exercise. We treat a range of postnatal conditions, but an assessment is suitable even if you don’t have specific concerns—preventative care is highly beneficial!

Conditions We Commonly Treat Postpartum:

  • Diastasis Recti (abdominal separation)

  • Leakage with coughing or sneezing

  • Vaginal heaviness and prolapse

  • Lower back pain

  • Pain during intercourse

  • Urinary incontinence

  • Fecal incontinence

  • Return to exercise

  • Mastitis and breast care

At Peak Flo Physio, we offer a range of services beyond physiotherapy to support you through your pregnancy journey. Our holistic approach ensures you have access to the care and resources you need for a comfortable and empowered experience.

Remedial Pregnancy Massage

Our remedial pregnancy massage is designed to relieve tension and discomfort common during pregnancy. Using a specially designed pregnancy pillow, you can lie comfortably face down, allowing for a deeper, more relaxing treatment without any pressure on your belly. This safe, nurturing massage supports circulation, reduces muscle tension, and provides much-needed relaxation during all stages of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Pilates Classes

Our Bumps and Core classes are tailored to strengthen the core, pelvic floor, and supporting muscles, preparing your body for labor and postnatal recovery. These classes are low-impact, safe, and guided by our Pelvic Floor Physios or Exercise Physiologists to suit your stage of pregnancy, ensuring you build strength and endurance in a way that feels supportive and empowering.

At Peak Flo Physio, we’re here to support you with a comprehensive team and services that help you thrive through pregnancy and beyond.

Therapeutic Ultrasound for Mastitis and Engorgement

Mastitis is a painful and common concern for mums in the postpartum period, and if left untreated can esculate quickly! Therapeutic ultrasound is an effective treatment for engorgement and mastitis. Improvement in pain and symptoms is often seen in as little as 1-3 sessions.

Dietitian Support

Nutritional needs change significantly during pregnancy, and our dietitian is here to help you navigate these changes. Whether you need support with healthy weight gain, managing morning sickness, or optimizing your energy levels, our dietitian provides personalized guidance tailored to your needs and goals.

Counselling Services

Pregnancy can be an emotionally complex time, and our counselor offers a compassionate, safe space for you to discuss any worries, fears, or mental health challenges you may face. Counseling can help you process these experiences, build resilience, and foster a positive mental outlook, supporting both you and your baby’s well-being.

Pregnancy and Postnatal Pelvic Floor Pathway

When you're expecting, there’s so much to think about, and one of the most common questions we hear is, “When should I see a Pelvic Floor Physio?” At Peak Flo Physio, we’ve created a simple pathway to guide you through the key stages of pregnancy and postnatal recovery, so you can stay ahead of your pelvic health every step of the way.

Initial Assessment (Week 13-25)

Your first visit can happen at any point during your pregnancy, but we recommend booking in after your first trimester, ideally around 13 weeks. This session is likely your first-ever pelvic floor evaluation, where we assess your movement patterns, strength, and baseline pelvic floor function. By understanding where you’re starting from, we can create a tailored exercise and pelvic floor plan that supports you throughout your pregnancy. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, this is an essential step to help ensure a smooth recovery after birth.

Follow-Up Assessment (Week 20+)

After your 20-week morphology scan, it’s time to check in with your Pelvic Floor Physio again. This mid-pregnancy appointment helps us monitor how your pelvic floor is holding up as your body continues to change. We’ll also evaluate your overall musculoskeletal health to prevent issues like back, hip, or pelvic pain from developing.

During this session, we’ll explain the pelvic floor’s role in birth preparation, focusing on relaxation techniques if you’re planning a vaginal delivery. We’ll also provide personalised advice on preventing things like prolapse and perineal tearing, address any new aches or pains, and guide you on safe exercises to carry you through the rest of your pregnancy.

Birth Preparation #1 (32-34 Weeks)

At around 32-34 weeks, we start preparing your body and mind for birth. This session covers:

  • Birth Preferences & Intervention Choices: We’ll discuss your birth preferences, focusing on key interventions like forceps, vacuum delivery, episiotomy, epidural, and induction. We’ll help you understand the potential pros and cons of each, from a pelvic floor perspective, so you can make informed decisions. We encourage you to bring in a birth plan/preferences if you have one written down!

  • Active Birthing Positions: We’ll go over a range of active birthing positions that can help open the pelvic cavity and facilitate a smoother delivery. A handout will be provided for easy reference, and we’ll also explore pain management options like using a TENS machine, water, movement, and the birth comb technique. At Peak Flo Physio, we also offer Obstetric TENS machines for hire to help you manage pain during labor.

  • Perineal Massage: We’ll discuss perineal massage techniques, whether you prefer to do it yourself (with a wand or Epino) or involve a partner. We’ll demonstrate the methods and provide a handout for you to take home.

  • Breathwork & Pelvic Mobility: We’ll guide you through belly breathing and pelvic floor relaxation techniques, essential for labor. You’ll receive a demonstration in the session, along with video resources on Physitrack for further practice at home. We’ll also cover pelvic mobility exercises to help prepare your body for birth.

Birth Preparation #2 (34-36+ Weeks)

As your due date approaches, we focus on refining your birth techniques and ensuring your pelvic floor is as prepared as possible:

  • Trans-Perineal Ultrasound: We may use ultrasound to assess your pushing technique and the positioning of your pelvic organs prior to labour. This can help with correcting pushing technique and also help guide postpartum recovery.

  • Pelvic Floor Measurement: We’ll measure your GH and PB to check how your pelvic floor is functioning. If there is tightness, discomfort with perineal massage, or dyssynergia, we may recommend weekly perineal massage or release sessions with ultrasound feedback to help prepare your pelvic floor for birth.

  • Postnatal Rehab Discussion: We’ll go over what to expect postpartum, providing you with a postnatal rehab guide that covers topics like bowel function, healing, and early recovery exercises. We’ll also measure and fit you for SRC recovery shorts or Tubigrip, as needed, to support your postnatal recovery journey.

Postnatal Physiotherapy (3-6 weeks Postpartum)

We recommend all new mums check in with us between 3-6 weeks after birth. During this crucial visit, we’ll assess your pelvic floor, abdominal muscles, and any scar tissue from a C-section, episiotomy, or perineal tear. These evaluations help ensure your bladder and bowel function is on track, and we’ll provide guidance on safely returning to exercise, as well as intimacy when you're ready.

Therapeutic Ultrasound for Mastitis and Engorgement

Mastitis is a painful and common concern for mums in the postpartum period, and if left untreated can esculate quickly! Therapeutic ultrasound is an effective treatment for engorgement and mastitis. Improvement in pain and symptoms is often seen in as little as 1-3 sessions.

What is Engorgement and Mastitis?

Breast engorgement occurs when the breasts become overly full, leading to swelling, discomfort, and sometimes pain. If not managed properly, this can progress to mastitis, a painful infection of the breast tissue that requires immediate care.

How We Can Help

At Peak Flo Physio we offer a holistic approach to treating engorgement and mastitis, ensuring you feel supported every step of the way.

  • Therapeutic Ultrasound: We use therapeutic ultrasound to help reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and encourage milk flow, speeding up the healing process and providing immediate relief from pain.

  • Feeding Position Optimisation: Sometimes, small adjustments to how you position your baby during feeding can significantly relieve pressure and discomfort. We'll work with you to find positions that enhance milk flow and prevent further blockages.

  • Comfort Measures & Manual Therapy: Through gentle massage and manual lymphatic drainage techniques, we help reduce swelling and tenderness. We also provide advice on heat and cold therapies to relieve discomfort and speed recovery.

  • Education on Self-Care: We’ll guide you through effective strategies to prevent engorgement from developing into mastitis, including how to manage your feeding routine, hand expression techniques, and ways to keep the breast tissue healthy.

Book your appointment today or give us a call on 0421170699 if you have any further questions.

FAQs

  • If you have any specific concerns you can see us at any stage of your pregnancy, however we recommend starting your physiotherapy journey after week 13 of pregnancy, aligning with our comprehensive pathway.

    Initial Assessment (Weeks 13-25)
    This session includes a baseline pelvic floor evaluation and a tailored exercise plan to support your pregnancy and prepare for postpartum recovery.

    Follow-Up Assessment (Week 20+)
    Scheduled after your 20-week morphology scan to monitor changes, address any pain, and provide guidance on pelvic floor relaxation and exercise.

    Birth Preparation #1 (32-34 Weeks)
    Focused on birth preparation, discussing birth preferences, active birthing positions, perineal massage, and pelvic mobility techniques.

    Birth Preparation #2 (34-36+ Weeks)
    Refines your birth techniques with pelvic floor measurement, ultrasound assessments, and a postnatal recovery guide.

    Postnatal Physiotherapy (3-6 Weeks Postpartum)
    A postpartum check-up to assess recovery, plan a safe return to exercise, and support long-term well-being.ve a creative project to share with the world.

  • No referral is required to see a physiotherapist for pregnancy or postpartum care. You can book directly with us! If you’re claiming through insurance, it is always a good idea to check your coverage. Use code 500 and 505 for physio and 506 for our pilates classes!

  • A postnatal assessment is a thorough check of your pelvic floor, abdominal muscles and general musculoskeletal recovery following birth. We recommend booking one around 4-6 weeks postpartum, though you’re welcome to come sooner if you’re experiencing discomfort. This assessment helps guide your return to activity and exercise safely.

  • Physiotherapy can help with a variety of pregnancy related issues, including pelvic girdle pain, lower back pain, rib pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, and pelvic floor symptoms like incontinence and constipation. We also offer birth preparation and pelvic floor screening.

  • During your first postpartum session, we’ll discuss your pregnancy, birth experience, and recovery. We’ll assess your pelvic floor, abdominal separation (if applicable), and any musculoskeletal concerns. Based on this, we’ll provide a personalized recovery plan, which may include pelvic floor exercises, guidance on returning to activity, and education on managing any symptoms.

  • You can generally enjoy a remedial massage whenever you feel comfortable, as long as your body is healing well. For a cesarean birth, we typically recommend waiting until your incisions have fully healed (around 6 weeks).

  • Yes, physiotherapy is highly effective for addressing pelvic floor concerns such as incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and discomfort during intercourse. We use targeted exercises, manual therapy, and education to help strengthen and restore pelvic floor function, reduce symptoms, and prevent future issues.

  • In addition to physiotherapy, we offer remedial pregnancy massage (with a face-down pregnancy pillow), nutritional support with our dietitian, counseling services, and specialized Pregnancy Pilates classes. Each service is tailored to support your physical and emotional health during pregnancy and recovery.