Specialist Pre and Postnatal Physiotherapy at Physio4Life
Pregnancy and childbirth bring significant changes to your body, and it’s not unusual to experience discomfort, muscle weakness or difficulties returning to your usual activities. At Physio4Life, we provide specialist women’s health physiotherapy in Putney, helping women manage pregnancy-related pain, recover following childbirth and regain strength, mobility and confidence.
Our Senior Physiotherapist, Jenny Strachan, has a special interest in pre and postnatal physiotherapy, offering personalised treatment and rehabilitation programmes tailored to your individual needs. Whether you’re experiencing back or pelvic pain during pregnancy, recovering from a Caesarean section or looking for guidance on returning to exercise after having a baby, we’re here to support you.
Our treatments include hands-on physiotherapy, pregnancy massage, Clinical Pilates, pelvic floor exercises and advice on safe, effective rehabilitation.
Prenatal Physiotherapy – Supporting You During Pregnancy
Pregnancy places increasing demands on your muscles, joints and ligaments as your body adapts to accommodate your growing baby. Hormonal changes, alterations in posture and changes to your centre of gravity can all contribute to aches, pains and reduced mobility.
Back pain and pelvic girdle pain are particularly common during pregnancy, sometimes making everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, standing for long periods or turning over in bed uncomfortable.
Our pregnancy physiotherapy services in Putney are designed to help relieve discomfort, improve mobility and support your physical wellbeing throughout pregnancy.
Physiotherapy for Pregnancy-Related Back and Pelvic Pain
At Physio4Life, we take the time to understand your symptoms, assess your movement and identify the factors contributing to your discomfort. Following a thorough assessment, we’ll create an individual treatment programme appropriate for your stage of pregnancy.
Depending on your needs, treatment may include manual therapy to relieve muscle and joint discomfort, pregnancy massage to ease muscular tension, and practical advice on posture, sleeping positions and everyday activities.
We can also introduce gentle strengthening and mobility exercises, including Clinical Pilates and pelvic floor exercises, to help improve stability and support your changing body.
Where clinically appropriate, acupuncture may be considered as an additional pain management option following an assessment of its suitability during pregnancy.
Our aim is to help you remain as comfortable, mobile and active as possible while preparing your body for the demands of childbirth and recovery.
Postnatal Physiotherapy – Helping You Recover After Childbirth
Your body undergoes considerable physical changes during pregnancy and delivery, and recovery can take time. Whether you’ve had a straightforward birth or experienced complications, postnatal physiotherapy can play an important role in restoring strength, improving movement and helping you return to your normal activities.
At Physio4Life, we understand that every woman’s experience of childbirth is different. Some women require support with specific postnatal symptoms, while others simply want reassurance and professional guidance on exercising safely again.
Our postnatal physiotherapy programmes focus on your individual recovery, helping you rebuild strength and confidence at a pace that suits your circumstances.
Recovery After Caesarean Section or Episiotomy
Recovering from a Caesarean section, episiotomy or difficult vaginal delivery may involve discomfort, reduced mobility, muscle weakness and concerns about returning to exercise.
Our physiotherapists can assess your recovery and recommend appropriate exercises and rehabilitation techniques to support healing, restore movement and gradually rebuild abdominal and pelvic strength.
We can also advise on movements and activities that may need to be modified during the early stages of recovery, helping you progress towards your usual activities without placing unnecessary strain on healing tissues.
Diastasis Recti – Abdominal Muscle Separation
Diastasis recti, also known as rectus diastasis, occurs when the two sides of the rectus abdominis muscles move apart as the connective tissue between them stretches during pregnancy.
Although some abdominal separation is a normal part of pregnancy, persistent weakness or difficulty managing abdominal pressure after childbirth may benefit from physiotherapy assessment.
Our postnatal rehabilitation programmes can incorporate targeted abdominal strengthening, breathing techniques and Clinical Pilates exercises to help improve core function and support your return to everyday activities and exercise.
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy and Urinary Incontinence
Pregnancy and childbirth can place considerable strain on the pelvic floor muscles, which help support the bladder, bowel and pelvic organs.
Weakness or reduced coordination of these muscles can contribute to urinary incontinence, including leakage when coughing, sneezing, laughing, running or exercising. Some women may also experience a sense of pelvic heaviness or difficulties controlling their bladder.
Although these symptoms are common after childbirth, they shouldn’t simply be accepted as an inevitable part of becoming a mother.
Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help improve muscle strength, coordination and control, reducing symptoms of urinary leakage and supporting better bladder function.
At Physio4Life, we provide guidance on pelvic floor exercises and individual rehabilitation programmes designed around your symptoms and recovery goals.
By combining pelvic floor training with appropriate core strengthening and advice on everyday activities, we aim to help you feel more comfortable and confident in your body.
Clinical Pilates and Returning to Exercise After Pregnancy
Returning to exercise after having a baby can feel daunting, particularly if you’ve experienced pain, abdominal muscle separation or a difficult delivery.
It’s important to rebuild strength gradually rather than immediately returning to your previous exercise routine. However, with the right guidance, many women can safely work towards their former fitness levels.
Clinical Pilates is a valuable component of our pre and postnatal physiotherapy programmes, helping to improve core strength, movement control, posture and flexibility.
Our physiotherapists can recommend exercises suited to your individual needs, whether your goal is to return to walking comfortably, resume gym workouts or get back into running and other sporting activities.
We focus on helping you develop strength and confidence through a structured programme that progresses as your recovery allows.
Book Women’s Health Physiotherapy in Putney
At Physio4Life, we’re committed to helping women feel stronger, more comfortable and more confident throughout pregnancy and after childbirth.
Whether you’re looking for relief from pregnancy-related back pain, support with postnatal recovery, pelvic floor rehabilitation or professional advice on returning to exercise, our experienced physiotherapy team is here to help.
Our clinic is conveniently located at Putney Medical Centre, 125 Upper Richmond Road, Putney, London SW15 2TL.
Book your women’s health physiotherapy appointment with Physio4Life today, or call our friendly team on 020 8704 5998 to find out more about our pre and postnatal physiotherapy services.