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Whether pelvic pain is making it harder to walk, you’re unsure how to adapt your workouts, or you’d like help preparing for birth, our team at Surf Coast Physiotherapy & Pilates can help.

We see you at any stage of pregnancy. Your first appointment is a thorough assessment. We’ll talk through what’s bothering you, what you’d like to keep doing and what might make day-to-day movement more comfortable. From there, we’ll plan the right support for you through the rest of your pregnancy and into recovery after birth.

What can pregnancy physio help with?

- Pelvic girdle pain, including pain at the front of the pelvis or around the sacroiliac joints at the back. You might notice it when walking, climbing stairs or rolling over in bed.

- Pelvic floor symptoms, including bladder leakage, vaginal heaviness or pelvic discomfort.

- Back and neck pain, including headaches related to neck tension and discomfort when sitting or sleeping.

- Wrist and hand symptoms, including thumb-side wrist pain and carpal tunnel symptoms such as tingling or numbness.

Mama Physio: hands-on care for pregnancy aches and pains

Many people know us for pelvic floor physiotherapy. We also offer Mama Physio, our one-to-one hands-on physiotherapy for pregnancy and postpartum. If back, pelvic, hip, neck or wrist pain is making pregnancy harder, Mama Physio combines hands-on treatment with exercises and practical strategies to help you stay comfortable and keep moving. Learn more about Mama Physio

Exercise during pregnancy

Staying active during an uncomplicated pregnancy can help you maintain strength and fitness. As your pregnancy progresses, you may need to adjust some exercises based on how you’re feeling, your symptoms and the advice of your maternity team.

We can help you work out what to keep doing, what to adapt and where to start if you’re new to exercise. We can put together a program for you to do at home, or work through it with you in supervised sessions.

Pilates during pregnancy

Pilates is a low-impact option that can be adapted throughout pregnancy. You can join our clinical Pilates classes, which are small groups of up to four people, each following an individual program designed by your physio. If you’d prefer one-to-one sessions, those are available too. Your program is tailored to your stage of pregnancy, your experience and how you’re feeling on the day, with a focus on building strength, keeping mobile and finding comfortable ways to move.

Pelvic floor and birth preparation

A pelvic floor assessment can help you understand how well your muscles contract and relax. We can guide you through exercises suited to your symptoms and help you practise relaxing your pelvic floor, using your breathing and trying positions you may find comfortable during labour.

Perineal massage

Perineal massage is an optional way to prepare for vaginal birth. Research suggests that antenatal perineal massage can reduce the likelihood of needing an episiotomy and of having a severe perineal tear, particularly if you haven’t given birth vaginally before. It’s something we’re really keen to support.

If it’s suitable for you, perineal massage usually starts from around 34 weeks. Your physio will let you know the best time to begin.

If you haven’t already had a pelvic floor assessment with us, book that first. Otherwise you can book a perineal massage appointment. Your physio will talk you through the technique so you can do it at home. You’re welcome to bring your partner so you can both learn together.

We also offer short perineal massage appointments if you’d like us to help. We usually suggest weekly appointments in the weeks leading up to birth, but this depends on your circumstances and how much massage you’d like to do at home. You can come in for guidance and do the massage at home, or see one of our physios regularly and let us do it for you.

Getting ready for after birth

First 6 Weeks Postpartum online program. The early weeks after birth can be a lot to navigate. Our First 6 Weeks Postpartum program guides you through early recovery at home, covering what’s normal, what to look out for and how to start moving again. Many people find it helpful to have it ready before the baby arrives.

Postnatal assessment. We recommend booking a postnatal assessment after birth so we can check how you’re recovering and plan your next steps.

You can come in from a few weeks after birth. Read about postnatal physiotherapy