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Separation of the tummy muscles

As your baby grows your tummy muscles need to stretch in order to make more room for a growing baby. In some women the muscles of the abdominal wall will separate. Most women will experience some form of separation during pregnancy. It is important to correct this separation after the birth of your baby so that your back and pelvis are well supported in order to prevent back pain.

Bladder Weakness (Urinary Incontinence)

One in three women who have had a baby will suffer from incontinence, whether the delivery was vaginal or by caesarean section. During pregnancy your pelvic floor muscles need to work harder than normal due to the growing weight of the baby, placenta and increased fluid levels. This increased weight can make it more difficult to tighten your pelvic floor muscles and may result in pelvic floor muscle weakness. For some women this muscle weakness can lead to incontinence, especially with coughing, sneezing, lifting or during exercise. Having a vaginal birth can also weaken these muscles, particularly if you have had a large baby (over 4kg), a long pushing phase (greater than 2 hours), a tear or an episiotomy (cut) or an assisted delivery (forceps or vacuum).

It is important to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor after the birth of your baby so you can return to your everyday activities without worrying about leaking urine. It is also important that these muscles are strong in order to prevent a prolapse from happening.

If you are considering returning to exercise or sport after the birth of your baby we can provide you with a thorough assessment of your pelvic floor muscles to ensure the muscles are strong enough so you are not at risk of a prolapse or leaking urine.

What can I expect from a physiotherapy treatment program?


At Winmalee Women’s Health Physiotherapy, we have clinical expertise in the assessment and treatment of conditions affecting women in the pregnancy and postnatal period. Our treatment programs are individually tailored to your condition and are based on current research. We are aware of the demands of motherhood and will work with you to provide a realistic and achievable treatment program.