What to Expect at a First Postpartum Physical Therapy Visit

Scheduling a visit with a pelvic physical therapist after you have a baby is an amazing way to be proactive about your health and body going forward as a mom. PT can help to speed recovery from the changes brought on by pregnancy and delivery as well as lay the groundwork to prevent problems that might not show up for months or years down the road.

Pregnancy and delivery have an impact on nearly every aspect of your life — from core strength and posture to bladder, bowel, and sexual function. Taking the first step toward recovery can be encouraging and empowering as we recognize the amazing task your body has just accomplished! At Fundamental Physical Therapy, we prioritize making your first postpartum physical therapy visit as informative, comfortable and stress-free as possible.

🩺Pelvic Physical Therapy Visits: Postpartum Edition

Your first PT visit after birth usually includes a combination of conversation, observation, and gentle assessments. Here’s a detailed look at what you can expect:

1. Initial Discussion: Your Story Matters

We begin with a relaxed conversation about how you are doing. I want to hear all about your pregnancy, your labor, your delivery, and how you and baby are doing in these early weeks and months. I want to hear about your struggles and how you are coping with the myriad of changes that come with parenting a newborn. And we will talk about your goals (for now and for the future).

This may include some short term goals like:

• Reduce pelvic pain from stitches or tearing

• Improve back and shoulder discomfort from nursing, feeding, and holding a little one

• Return to light exercise or daily activities without discomfort

• Address c-section scars

• Improve bladder or bowel function

As well as some longer term goals like:

• Enjoying pain-free intercourse

• Getting back to Boot Camp or running marathons

• Closing your diastasis recti

• Feeling like yourself again

Your goals help guide every part of the evaluation and treatment, and together we’ll develop a roadmap to help you achieve them.

PT evaluations always start with a conversation about your personal experiences.

2. External Assessment: Observing How Your Body Moves

Next, we assess how your body is functioning as a whole. This includes:

• Posture and movement analysis in multiple positions

• Gentle palpation of muscles around your pelvis, hips, and abdomen (think gluteals, hamstrings, inner thighs, abdominals)

• Evaluation of core strength and stability, checking for diastasis recti

• Observation of breathing patterns and coordination between the diaphragm, core, and pelvic floor

We spend extra time looking at your core (the ribcage and abdomen) to see how the muscles are functioning and how well they can manage pressure and create stability. We can address c-section scars, looking for fascial restrictions that may impair muscle or bladder function.

This step is non-invasive and provides crucial insight into how your muscles, fascia, and joints are working together. We gently treat and instruct as we go, so not only do you get insight into your body's needs, but you also get the first steps to recover strength and confidence.

3. Optional Internal Assessment: Understanding Muscle Function

Depending on how far you are postpartum, we can consider an internal pelvic floor assessment to identify any weakness, injury, or spasms in the pelvic floor. Muscle damage or weakness is often painless, so not having discomfort is not a good indicator that pelvic muscles are functioning well. Unknown weakness, if not addressed, can show up as leakage or prolapse in a few years or with a subsequent pregnancy. So, if we feel it is appropriate and with your consent, we may include an internal pelvic muscle evaluation. There’s no speculum, no stirrups — just a gentle, hands-on assessment designed to determine how these important muscles are recovering. Often, patients will prefer to have this pelvic floor assessment prior to resuming intercourse to help them prepare for any changes that they may experience.

We talk you through every step of this assessment and explain what we are seeing, feeling or looking for. During this part of the assessment, we evaluate:

• Skin changes, soft tissue restrictions, or scars: Do they affect movement or comfort?

• Muscle tone: Are your muscles tight, weak, or overactive?

• Muscle function: How well do your muscles contract, lift, and relax?

• Endurance: How many repetitions or how long can the muscles maintain contraction?

• Pelvic organs and structures: How well do they respond to activity, breath, or pelvic muscle activation?

The internal assessment is optional, and you are always in full control. If you’re not ready for this step, we can defer it to a future visit without impacting your overall treatment plan.

A pelvic PT can guide you through an assessment of the pelvic floor muscles to determine how well they are functioning.

🛋 Comfort and Privacy Are Key

Your comfort is our top priority. Here’s how we strive to make your first postpartum physical therapy visit as relaxing as possible:

• You’ll have the clinic to yourself during your appointment (unless you need to bring newborns with you!)

• We can adjust lighting, music, and temperature for your comfort

• Pillows and supports are available to make positions easier

• If any step is uncomfortable, we pause or modify it — there is no need to push through pain or discomfort

• You can skip or postpone any part of the assessment at any time

We also provide a judgment-free space for questions. Your body is experiencing a whole new world of demands - ask away! We don't have all the answers but for what we don't know, we will certainly get you pointed toward some great resources.

🌼 Why This First Postpartum PT Visit Matters

The first pelvic PT session is foundational. It helps you:

• Understand how your pelvic floor functions

• Gain insight into how your body has adapted to pregnancy and childbirth

• Begin building awareness and control of muscles you may have lost connection to

• Create a roadmap for your individualized treatment plan

Every evaluation is designed with your goals in mind, and every step respects your comfort, boundaries, and readiness.

By the end of your session, you should leave with:

• A clear understanding of your pelvic muscles, posture, and movement patterns

• Knowledge of what challenges your postpartum body may be facing and how to prevent any long-term problems

• A personalized home plan of exercises and strategies you can start right away with an understanding of any red flags to pay attention to as you return to full activity

• Answers to your questions about your body, your results, and next steps

Your first visit is not just an assessment — it’s the start of your journey toward claiming your stronger, more comfortable, and more confident body.

🌷 Take the First Step Toward Relief

Pelvic physical therapy can make a profound difference in your quality of life. A postpartum visit can be a safe, informative, and empowering experience — the first step toward lasting comfort, strength, and confidence.