In the sections below, you can find information about how Physiotherapy can help you during your pregnancy, labour, birth and in the Post Natal period.
For translated documents into languages other than English, please refer to our Reference Centre section.
Pregnancy Care
During pregnancy, your body needs to adapt to allow for your baby (or babies) to grow and develop, this means your body will change and some aches and pains can occur.
To learn more about the changes in your body during pregnancy and how to care for it, we have put together a video with some useful information.
Keeping active during pregnancy is also very important and some exercises become especially important during this time, like the pelvic floor, deep abdominal and pelvic tilting exercises or circulation exercises.
We recommend trying relaxation, and other forms of mindfulness to help you better manage all the changes. Follow this video to practice a relaxation session.
External Resources
NHS Highland Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Information Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v731EXFR2k4
Reproduced with permission of Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (pogp.csp.org.uk) and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (csp.org.uk).
Labour and Birth
Before the time comes for labour and birth, it will be useful to check out our Reference Centre for information about relaxation, positions and breathing for labour. We recommend you try this ahead of time and with your birthing partner so you can be more comfortable and in control on the day.
If you are having a caesarean birth here are some useful videos about a planned caesarean birth journey and advice on management for the days following birth.
External Resources
Information about pregnancy, labour and birth and early parenthood – Ready Steady Baby!
Information about pain relief options – Labour Pains UK
Relaxation for Labour Demo Video – BabyCentre UK
Breathing for Labour Video – BabyCentre UK
Positions for Labour Video – BabyCentre UK
Massage of Labour Video – New Life Classes Ltd
Reproduced with permission of LabourPains.com, NHS inform – Ready Steady Baby!, BabyCentre, New Life Classes and Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (pogp.csp.org.uk)
Post Natal Care
After pregnancy and birth it is important to look after yourself. We have put together some advice and information to help your postnatal recovery. Click the link for a range of useful resources reference centre.
If you would like to refer to Physiotherapy with a muscle or joint problem (for example back pain, pelvic pain, hand pain), and it has been less than 6 weeks since you had your baby, please complete the self-referral form.
If it has been more than 6 weeks since you had your baby please self-refer to the MSK Physiotherapy Department.
If you are having problems with bladder or bowel control, prolapse or issues with your pelvic floor muscles or tummy muscles and had your baby less than 6 months ago, please use this self-referral form.
If it has been more than 6 months please see your GP who will be able to refer you into the right service.