The Mummy MOT
What postnatal care are you missing?
Did you have a baby and all the support and attention you were given through the pregnancy suddenly disappeared once your little one arrived?
The Mummy MOT is a full body postnatal assessment. We check your posture, muscle strength, breathing, abdominal muscles, scar tissue (caesarean or vaginal) and pelvic floor. It is based on the French model of care where all women that have had a baby receive 10-12 sessions of physiotherapy afterwards to help them recover. You deserve the same care.
Who can come for a Mummy MOT?
Anyone can come for a Mummy MOT at any time whether its 6 weeks or 6 years after delivery! However, if you are struggling to reach that 6 week milestone then you can be seen sooner. Sometimes we need support to get through the first 6 weeks of the postnatal period.
Signs that you may need help:
- If you have any issues with leaking urine, even a small leak can be addressed. It is not normal to leak at all and often the sooner you deal with it the easier it is to treat. It is better to try and nip symptoms in the bud rather than let them slowly deteriorate.
- A weak pelvic floor also affects our bowels. This can be following a difficult delivery or having a large baby. The symptoms can be mild for example difficulty controlling wind from your bowels or leaking stool. This can be treated and it better to address it early on.
- If you have the sensation of heaviness or something coming down inside the vagina then that can be a sign of prolapse and it is worth having it checked.
- The Mummy MOT includes looking at scar tissue. Vaginal scar tissue can be external (perineal) or internal and can be treated successfully. If your scar feels, tight or lumpy and you are experiencing painful sex, this is something that can be treated and that you do not need to live with.
Why is it important?
It is important that we recover well from pregnancy and childbirth. If you do not fully recover from the effects of pregnancy and childbirth then it can lead to problems later on. Of course we all want to make sure we are fit and healthy to look after our new babies so The Mummy MOT is here to aid with this.
Fitness: So many women want to return to exercise and fitness, but if your body has not recovered from pregnancy and birth then that journey can be hard and fraught with injury.
Abdominal muscle separation: Many women have abdominal muscle separation (rectus diastasis) during pregnancy. This causes the tummy to dome during certain movements. This needs to fully recover or can lead to back pain and instability. Following a careful exercise plan can help you to recover so that you can return to exercise safely.
Scar tissue: C-section scars can cause adhesions which leads to tightness. It can cause pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen. But can also affect low back pain and the pelvic floor. Vaginal scar tissue can cause pain during walking or certain movements or be painful during sex.
Pelvic floor weakness: Weakness can lead to prolapse, incontinence and instability. No-one wants to have to put up with any of these issues.
The Mummy MOT gives you a chance to treat any symptoms you may have. Many women feel confident after receiving treatment to move on with the next phase of their life. If you would like any further information on the Mummy MOT please send me an email as I am more than happy to help. You can also book online here for your Mummy MOT appointment.
