Postpartum Physiotherapy in Surrey, BC

What it feels like

• A gap or doming down the middle of the abdomen when you sit up (diastasis recti)
• Low back, pelvic or hip pain made worse by lifting and carrying your baby
• Leaking, heaviness or a core that feels "disconnected" when you try to exercise again

Why it happens

Pregnancy stretches the abdominal wall and pelvic floor, shifts your posture and loads the back and hips for months on end; birth — vaginal or caesarean — adds its own recovery. Then, with almost no rest, you start lifting a baby dozens of times a day, often one-handed and sleep-deprived. It is no surprise that back pain, wrist pain, abdominal separation and pelvic floor symptoms are so common in the first year. They are also very responsive to the right rehab.

How we can help

A postpartum assessment looks at your abdominal wall and any separation, how your pelvic floor and deep core are recovering, your posture and the way you lift and feed, and anything else that is bothering you — wrists, neck and upper back included. Your physiotherapist then builds a graded plan that restores core control first and progresses toward the running, lifting or classes you actually want to return to, at a pace your tissues can handle. If you have a caesarean scar, we can help with that too. Babies are welcome at appointments.

Related reading: Pelvic floor dysfunction

Common questions

When can I start postpartum physio?

Many people come in around six weeks, after their medical check, but there is no rule — if something is painful or worrying you earlier, call us. Equally, it is never too late: we regularly help people whose "postpartum" was five or ten years ago.

Will diastasis recti close on its own?

The gap often narrows in the first months, but how well the tissue between the muscles regains tension matters more than the width. A targeted program improves function and control in most cases; your physiotherapist will be honest if your presentation needs a surgical opinion.