Who Needs an MOT for Mums?
Up to half of all women experience weakness in both the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor muscles after pregnancy and up to a third still have a tummy gap at eight weeks post-birth. This can cause instability or poor core strength leading to women developing pelvic or back pain or bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction. These conditions should not be something you should just put up with as a result of having a baby.
Accurate diagnosis is key to enable an effective treatment plan. We use gold standard physiotherapy practices including internal vaginal examination to assess the strength of the pelvic floor. We also use the latest real time ultra-sound equipment assess the extent of your diastasis recti. We then provide specialist Pilates exercises to aim to safely restore muscle strength and ‘bridge the gap’.
It’s recommended that women have an MOT for Mums around 4 to 6 weeks after birth, but we also treat women who gave birth years ago that may still have a tummy gap or other related pelvic floor issues; see Pregnancy and Post-Pregnancy Related Problems page.
The MOT for Mum’s appointment usually includes:
Pelvic Floor Assessment: A vaginal examination which evaluates muscle tone, strength, and function to prevent or manage incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
Abdominal Examination: Measures any gapping or separation in the tummy muscles and evaluates core stability.
Postural Screen: Identifies muscle imbalances or alignment issues that may cause lower back or pelvic girdle pain.
Symptom Screening: Checks for any bladder, bowel, or sexual dysfunction.
Bespoke Recovery Plan: Provides a tailored rehabilitation program with safe, targeted exercises to aid healing and return to fitness.
Read More on The Mummy MOT website
More information on pregnancy and the trimesters
