Postpartum physical therapy
Authored by Bodyful PT and Wellness Team
Birthing Folks Deserve Comprehensive Postpartum Care
In this country, if you received surgery on your hip, knee, or any major joint, the assumption would be clear:
you would rehabilitate that recovery.
Why?
Because tissue was cut, muscles may be de-conditioned, scar tissue formed, and without rehabilitation, function would likely be compromised.
Yet when a person gives birth, the expectation is often that they return to “normal” at six weeks postpartum—without rehabilitation.
Even though the pelvic floor, deep core, and pelvic joints have undergone profound change and stress.
Even though tissue may have been cut or torn.
Even though coordination, strength, and abdominal pressure management from postural adaptations have been altered in ways that can contribute to pelvic pain, leaking, or prolapse months or years later.
In many European countries, postpartum pelvic physical therapy is standard care.
In France, for example, every birthing person is automatically offered ten postpartum physical therapy sessions focused on pelvic floor recovery, continence, and prevention of pelvic organ prolapse.
It is not surprising that postpartum care in the U.S. remains limited—particularly for people with vulvas and especially for visibly melanated birthing people. Until systemic change occurs, education and access become essential.
When to Start Postpartum Pelvic Physical Therapy
If you are experiencing pain, reaching out to a pelvic floor physical therapist sooner rather than later can make a difference.
The 2022 APTA Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pelvic Girdle Pain in the Postpartum Population show that SI joint pain and pubic joint pain improve significantly when treatment begins within the first 3 months postpartum.
This includes:
SI joint pain postpartum
Pelvic pain at 3 months postpartum
Difficulty standing, walking, or sitting comfortably
If you are further out postpartum, pelvic PT is still effective. However, when pain has persisted for longer periods, fear of movement and nervous system sensitivity can take more time to unwind.
Scar Care After Birth (Vaginal or Cesarean)
If you had a cesarean delivery or perineal tearing, gentle scar mobilization during the first six months postpartum supports tissue mobility and coordination.
After six months, scar tissue becomes more set—but healing is still possible.
If you are noticing:
Low back or SI joint pain postpartum
Pain with sex
Abdominal pulling or bloating
Pelvic tension
—even years after birth, pelvic physical therapy can still help.
Common Postpartum Symptoms Pelvic PT Treats
If you are at least six weeks postpartum and experiencing any of the following, pelvic PT can help:
Urinary leakage, including leaking while running or jumping
Fecal incontinence
Vaginal heaviness or pelvic organ prolapse sensations (“POP”)
Pain with sex
Tailbone pain
Hip pain or pelvic pain with movement
These symptoms are common—and treatable.
Pelvic physical therapists do not perform internal pelvic floor assessments before six weeks postpartum or without OB-GYN clearance.
However, pelvic PT involves far more than internal work.
What to Expect in Early Postpartum PT Visits
Pelvic physical therapists assess the entire deep core system, including:
Pelvic floor
Abdomen
Diaphragm
Deep spinal stabilizers
Shoulder, hip and pelvic joint coordination
In the early postpartum period, care may include:
Breathing and abdominal pressure management exercises
Gentle scar mobilization
Postural support endurance training for feeding and carrying
Practices to reduce pelvic pain and SI joint strain
Education to prevent worsening leakage or prolapse symptoms
Why Postpartum PT Also Supports Future Pregnancies
Pelvic physical therapy is valuable not only postpartum, but between pregnancies and during future pregnancies.
Early pregnancy introduces subtle postural and coordination changes that can accumulate into pain or dysfunction later.
Learning how to adapt early—through even a few PT visits—can support:
Reduced pelvic and back pain
Improved birth outcomes
Easier postpartum recovery
Many people notice early signs during pregnancy, such as:
Mild low back pain
Occasional urine leakage
Pelvic pressure
These are often dismissed as “normal,” yet research shows that urinary incontinence during pregnancy increases the risk of long-term leakage later in life.
Addressing these signs early can prevent symptoms from worsening postpartum.
You Deserve Comprehensive Postpartum Care
Birth is a profound physical, energetic, and emotional transformative event.
Recovery does not end at six weeks.
Pelvic physical therapy offers education, rehabilitation, and support so you can move, exercise, parent, and live with confidence again.
It is a privilege to support birthing people through this chapter. Healing is stronger in community—and pelvic physical therapists are here to be part of that community.
Interested in working with a pelvic health specialist at Bodyful in Oakland, CA?
Book a discovery call today to learn more about postpartum pelvic physical therapy, in-person or via Telehealth.
