How Can Postnatal Physiotherapy Help with C- section Recovery?

Postnatal physiotherapy can be incredibly helpful for C-section recovery—both physically and emotionally. A Caesarean is major abdominal surgery, and physiotherapy can support your healing in ways that go way beyond just scar care.

Here’s how postnatal physio can help:

1. Core & Pelvic Floor Muscle Rehab

Being pregnant and C-section surgery effects your pelvic floor and core muscles. A physiotherapist can:

• Assess and guide safe core reactivation (especially helpful with Diastasis Recti)

  
  

• Help retrain the pelvic floor muscles to prevent or treat leakage, heaviness, or pain

  
  

• Teach YOU how to breathe and move properly to protect your core when lifting, feeding, or standing

2. Scar Tissue Healing & Mobility

Your C-section scar might feel:

• Numb or sensitive

  
  

• Tight or "stuck"

  
  

• Achy when stretched or touched

  
  

A physiotherapist can:

• Teach you how to massage your scar to reduce tightness and improve circulation

  
  

• Help break up adhesions (internal scar tissue that can tug on other organs/muscles)

  
  

• Reduce pain or pulling sensations during movement or intimacy

3. Posture & Alignment Reset

Caring for a newborn can really affect your posture—hunching over to feed, holding baby on one side, or sitting in awkward positions.

A physiotherapist can:

• Assess your posture and alignment

  
  

• Use therapies such as massage, ultrasound and more to release tight muscles

  
  

• Give gentle exercises to release tight areas (like neck, shoulders, hips)

  
  

• Show you ergonomic ways to carry, feed, and lift without stressing your healing core

4. Pain Relief & Gentle Strengthening

If you have:

• Lower back pain

  
  

• Hip discomfort

  
  

• Shoulder / neck tightness

Your physiotherapist will assess you and create an individualised treatment plan to:

• Ease pain with manual therapy, stretches, and exercises

  
  

• Build strength safely—especially in the core, glutes, and back

5. Emotional & Mental Support

C-section recovery can be emotional—especially if it wasn’t your planned birth experience.

As trained postnatal physiotherapist we will:

• Hold space for what you’re feeling

  
  

• Empower you with knowledge about your body

  
  

• Help you regain confidence in movement and connection with your body again

  
  

• Work with other allied health professionals such as counsellors to help you through any difficult emotional times

  
  

When to Start?

We recommend starting Physiotherapy with us at around 6 weeks post-op. I saying this please do come in sooner to learning how to move, breathe, and rest properly.

Please do not start deep abdominal and core work any sooner than 12 weeks to allow for C-section scar healing.

Please book in with us @physiomaters or DM us @physiomatters for further guidance and support.

Physiomatters Team – Danielle, Claire and Xan