The Mummy MOT
What is a Mummy MOT?
The Mummy MOT is a specialised physiotherapy assessment designed specifically for new mums, providing a comprehensive check-up of your physical health after childbirth. Whether you’ve had a vaginal delivery or a C-section, this assessment is key to ensuring your body is healing well and ready to return to normal activities.
What does it cover?
A Mummy MOT covers these main 4 areas:
- 1. Pelvic Floor Function:
We assess the strength, function, and control of your pelvic floor muscles, which are crucial for bladder and bowel control and overall pelvic health.
- 2. Core Stability:
We check the health of your core muscles, which are often weakened during pregnancy. This is vital for preventing back pain, improving posture, and building strength.
- 3. Postural Alignment:
Pregnancy and childbirth can change your posture. I’ll assess how your posture is affecting your body and provide strategies to help you regain balance.
- 4. Abdominal Separation (Diastasis Recti):
We assess whether the separation of your abdominal muscles (a common postpartum issue) is healing properly and offer exercises to aid recovery.
The Mummy MOT typically takes
60 minutes. This allows enough time for a thorough assessment, tailored advice, and targeted exercises to get you feeling stronger and more confident.
Why does every mum need a Mummy MOT?
- Postpartum recovery: The Mummy MOT ensures you’re recovering properly after childbirth, helping you heal faster and more effectively.
- Prevent long-term issues: It helps identify any pelvic health or musculoskeletal problems that could lead to discomfort or long-term issues if left unchecked.
- Regain strength and confidence: Whether you’re lifting your baby, returning to exercise, or just navigating your daily routine, the Mummy MOT gives you the foundation to do it all safely.
What Does the Mummy MOT Include?
The Mummy MOT includes a
comprehensive assessment and a
tailored plan for your recovery, including:
- Pelvic floor exercises and techniques
- Core stability training exercises
- Posture correction strategies
- Abdominal exercises
- How to modify your current exercise routine to your current fitness level
Will I have to have an internal pelvic exam?
An internal examination of the pelvic floor is
optional. If you’re comfortable, we can assess the strength and function of the muscles more directly, but this step is not a requirement and you can opt for an external assessment instead. Internal assessments in physiotherapy aren't painful but we understand they can also be triggering for mums who have suffered birth trauma.
Why choose MT Physiotherapy for your Mummy MOT?
- As well as an experienced women's health physiotherapist with 16 years of NHS experience, Milena is also a scar therapist, so she incorporates skilled C-section scar assessment and treatment for her C -section mums during a Mummy MOT.
- Milena is also highly experienced in treating third and fourth degree obstetric tears. She is trained in anore-rectal examinations and can test for external anal sphyncter strength. She can therefore assess and treat ano-rectal dysfunction following childbirth (painful or difficult defecation, incomplete bowel emptying, faecal urgency and incontinence, incontinence of flatus). Milena is especially passionate about helping mums who have suffered obstetric trauma.
- Additionally Milena is also a qualified NatalStength coach, meaning that she can confidently help you return to strength training and weight lifting.
- Saturdays and Sunday appointments can make it easier for many busy mums to get childcare for their baby and be able to attend an appointment.
