Postpartum Check-Ups: Essential Care for Your Recovery After Birth
Your body goes through significant physical and emotional changes in the postpartum period as it heals from pregnancy and childbirth. A thorough postpartum check-up helps detect any emerging problems early and supports your transition into life with a new baby.
In Brisbane (and Australia in general), many women don’t receive the level of follow-up care they need after birth. At Pelvic Prime & Physiotherapy, we focus on complete postpartum care, including women’s health physiotherapy and pelvic floor rehabilitation, to support your recovery.
Why Postpartum Check-Ups Matter
The Importance of Professional Monitoring
Postpartum check-ups allow your healthcare team to assess how you’re healing physically and emotionally.
Regular monitoring means issues can be picked up early and managed before they become more serious. Your postpartum care may involve your GP, obstetrician, gynaecologist and a pelvic floor physiotherapist working together.
Timeline for Postpartum Care
Many women benefit from:
- An initial check-up around 6 weeks after delivery
Individual circumstances may mean you need more frequent reviews. The first six weeks are also an ideal time to begin a pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment. This allows your physio to check healing, identify any pelvic floor dysfunction early and start gentle treatment to prevent symptoms from worsening. Postpartum pelvic floor exercise could be prescribed before your delivery by your pelvic floor physiotherapist.
Common Postpartum Health Pelvic Floor Issues
The pelvic floor can be heavily strained during pregnancy and childbirth. This can lead to:
- Urinary incontinence
- Faecal incontinence
- Pelvic pain
- Sexual discomfort or pain
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Abdominal separation (diastasis recti)
A pelvic floor assessment with one of our physiotherapists helps identify issues early. From there, your physio can create a tailored exercise and rehabilitation plan to support healing and reduce the risk of long-term problems.
During pregnancy, the abdominal muscles stretch to make room for your baby. For some women this results in diastasis recti (abdominal separation) that persists after birth.
Your physiotherapist can:
- Assess your abdominal muscle function
- Check for separation
- Guide you on safe exercise progression
We often integrate core-focused rehab, clinical Pilates and pelvic floor exercises to help rebuild strength and support your return to daily activity, work and exercise.
Identifying concerns early gives you and your family the best chance for a smoother recovery.
What to Expect During Postpartum Check-Ups
During your postpartum check-up your healthcare team may:
- Review your birth and pregnancy history
- Check wound and perineal healing (if applicable)
- Assess pelvic floor function with or without internal vaginal examination
- Assess abdominal separation / diastasis recti
- Talk about contraception, sexual health and returning to intimacy
- Review your physical activity and recovery goals
At Pelvic Prime & Physiotherapy, your postpartum physiotherapy consultation is tailored to your needs. We work closely with your wider healthcare team to ensure nothing important is missed.
Specialised Postpartum Physiotherapy in Brisbane
Pelvic Prime & Physiotherapy Clinic specialises in postpartum check-ups and rehabilitation for women at all stages after birth. Our pelvic floor physiotherapists have extensive experience helping women:
- Recover from vaginal birth and caesarean birth
- Manage pelvic floor symptoms
- Rebuild strength and confidence
- Return to exercise safely
You can learn more about our broader physiotherapy services in Brisbane and women’s health physiotherapy before your visit.
Ready to Prioritise Your Postpartum Recovery?
Call us on 07 3366 0480 or contact our team online to schedule your postpartum check-up. You can also leave a comment or question if you’re unsure where to start. You can also meet our pelvic floor physiotherapists and view our service fees to help you plan your care.