Do I Need a Postnatal Physiotherapy Assessment After a C-Section?

After having a C-section, most women attend a routine 6-week postnatal check-up with their obstetrician, GP or midwife. This appointment typically includes a wound check, discussion of pain relief, contraception advice and a general health review.

While these appointments are important, there is often limited time to discuss C-section recovery, scar care, abdominal rehabilitation and returning to exercise.

This is why many women choose to access physiotherapy support after their C-section.

But do you actually need a postnatal physiotherapy assessment after a C-section?

What Does a Women's Health Physiotherapist Do After a C-Section?

Women's Health Physiotherapists have specialised training in pregnancy, birth and postnatal recovery. A postnatal physiotherapy assessment aims to identify any issues related to your recovery and provide advice, treatment and rehabilitation specific to your needs.

A postnatal physiotherapy consultation after a C-section may include:

• Advice on movement and recovery after surgery
• Assessment of abdominal muscle separation (diastasis recti)
• Pelvic floor muscle assessment
• Assessment of back, pelvic or abdominal pain
• Guidance on returning to exercise safely
• Advice about C-section scar healing and scar massage
• Individualised rehabilitation exercises

What Problems Can Occur After a C-Section?

While many women recover well after a C-section, some experience ongoing symptoms that may benefit from additional support and treatment.

These can include:

• Low back pain
• Pelvic pain
• C-section scar pain, sensitivity, numbness or itching
• Tightness around the scar or a C-section overhang
• Urinary incontinence
• Pain during intercourse
• Painful periods
• Abdominal weakness
• Pelvic floor weakness
• Difficulty returning to exercise

Sometimes these issues develop months or even years after having a C-section.

Should I See a Women's Health Physiotherapist After a C-Section?

Every woman deserves access to physiotherapy support after a C-section.

An in-person Women's Health Physiotherapy assessment may be particularly beneficial if you:

• Have ongoing pain or discomfort
• Are experiencing bladder or pelvic floor symptoms
• Have concerns about abdominal muscle separation
• Are struggling to return to exercise
• Have significant scar tightness, sensitivity or mobility issues
• Would like an individualised assessment and treatment plan

For many women, access to evidence-based education, rehabilitation and recovery guidance can provide the support they need to recover confidently after a C-section.

How Can an Online C-Section Recovery Program Help?

Our physiotherapist-led Complete C-section Recovery Program is designed to complement, not replace, in-person physiotherapy care. It provides evidence-based guidance on:

• C-section recovery and healing timelines
• Scar care and scar massage
• Core and abdominal rehabilitation
• Pelvic floor recovery
• Returning to exercise safely
• Managing scar tightness and sensitivity
• Building strength and confidence after a C-section

Many women find that an online program provides the education and rehabilitation support they need, while others choose to combine it with an in-person Women's Health Physiotherapy assessment for more individualised care.  Learn how to recover from your C-section with our onlibe Complete C-section Recovery Program here. 

The Bottom Line

Every woman deserves access to physiotherapy support after a C-section.

For some women, this may include an in-person assessment with a Women's Health Physiotherapist to address specific concerns such as pain, pelvic floor symptoms or individual rehabilitation needs. For others, evidence-based education and a structured recovery program may provide the support and guidance they need to recover with confidence.

The most important thing is that women have access to information, rehabilitation and support throughout their C-section recovery journey, rather than being expected to simply "wait and see" how they recover.