Should I Get Postpartum Pelvic Floor Therapy After Giving Birth?
- Nicole Cozean
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
In an ideal world, every person would receive pelvic floor physical therapy after giving birth. Pregnancy and delivery — whether vaginal or C-section — place enormous strain on the body. Postpartum pelvic floor therapy helps restore strength, prevent long-term issues, and support a full recovery beyond the standard six-week checkup.
Introduction
Most people seek pelvic floor therapy after giving birth because they’re experiencing symptoms — leaking urine, painful intercourse, prolapse, low back pain, or a general feeling of being “off.”
But here’s the truth: postpartum care should be proactive, not reactive.
Pregnancy and childbirth represent one of the most dramatic physical transformations the human body can undergo. In this article, we’ll explore whether you should get postpartum pelvic floor therapy after giving birth, what the six-week clearance really means, and what optimal recovery should look like.
Why Pregnancy and Birth Place Enormous Stress on the Pelvic Floor
Pregnancy alone creates daily structural and hormonal changes. Your abdominal muscles lengthen, your rib cage shifts, your breathing changes, and your pelvic floor supports increasing weight for nine straight months.
Then comes delivery — a marathon event whether vaginal or surgical.
Consider the statistics:
~80% of women experience postpartum low back pain
50% experience diastasis recti
50% have urinary incontinence
Nearly 40% report painful intercourse
25–30% deliver via C-section (major abdominal surgery)
We would never send someone home after ACL surgery without rehab. Yet postpartum recovery is often reduced to a single six-week check.
Why the Six-Week Postpartum Clearance Isn’t Enough
Your OB’s six-week appointment serves an important purpose — checking for infection, healing, and medical stability.
But it is not a functional assessment.
There is no:
Movement screening
Core strength testing
Pelvic floor muscle evaluation
Return-to-exercise progression plan
Being “cleared” simply means you’re medically stable — not that your body has fully recovered.
What Postpartum Pelvic Floor Therapy Actually Addresses
Pelvic floor physical therapy after giving birth may include:
External and internal pelvic floor assessment (when appropriate)
Core rehabilitation and diastasis recti care
C-section scar mobility
Prolapse management
Bladder and bowel function
Return-to-running and exercise progression
Postural retraining
Lifting mechanics for carrying your baby
It also addresses the common but rarely discussed feeling of being disconnected from your body.
Is It Ever Too Late to Start Postpartum Pelvic Floor Therapy?
Absolutely not.
Two weeks postpartum? Yes.
Six months postpartum? Yes.
Ten years later? Still yes.
Postpartum is not a six-week window. It is a long-term adaptation. Many symptoms don’t appear until returning to exercise or lifting a toddler.
It is never too late to restore strength and function.
Postpartum Pelvic Floor Therapy in Orange County
At PelvicSanity in Laguna Hills, we specialize exclusively in pelvic health. Our pregnancy and postpartum program includes:
One-hour, one-on-one sessions
Full orthopedic and pelvic floor evaluation
Internal and external treatment
Return-to-activity planning
Long-term resilience building
If you’re in Orange County or Southern California, we would love to support your recovery.
👉 Request an Appointment to begin working with our pelvic health specialists.
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Who are We at PelvicSanity?
At PelvicSanity, it's our mission to support patients with pelvic pain and pelvic floor symptoms, regardless of where you live. We can help with:
In-person treatment for those in Southern California at the PelvicSanity clinic
Immersive Out-of-Town program for those able to travel
Remote Consultations to get you expert 1:1 help, advice and an action plan
Online patient courses on Interstitial Cystitis and Movement for Pelvic Health
A Facebook support group for patients called Finding Pelvic Sanity.
Dr. Nicole Cozean is the founder of PelvicSanity Physical Therapy in Orange County, CA. PelvicSanity treats patients from all over the world with remote consultations and the Immersive Out of Town Program. She also runs Pelvic PT Rising, training other pelvic PTs to better serve patients.
Named Physical Therapist of the Year, Dr. Nicole is author of the award-winning book The Interstitial Cystitis Solution and the first PT to serve on the ICA Board of Directors, Her passion is helping those with pelvic health issues - regardless of where they live - find lasting relief.
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