Postnatal Physiotherapy Education

Welcome! You have been sent this link for a virtual Postnatal Physiotherapy Class at the Women’s.

Please watch the short video series in our Postnatal Physiotherapy Class playlist on YouTube (approx. 45 min).

The topics in the series are:

Good bladder habits after birth
Good bowel habits after birth
DRAM (abdominal separation)
Pelvic floor exercises
Perineal care after birth
Returning to sport
Returning to intimacy
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

We are here to help!

After watching these videos if you have any questions, or wish to speak with a physiotherapist please do not hesitate to contact us on (03) 8345 3160.

Listed below are information sheets for you to read before your class.

Downloads and Related Topics

Emptying your bladder after birth
If you have difficulty emptying your bladder after birth or have no sensation to pass urine then you may develop urinary retention. If the bladder is not emptying properly then the urine that is left behind can build up over time, this is known as urinary retention.
- (English) PDF (126 KB)
- (Arabic) PDF (228 KB)
- (Chinese) PDF (344 KB)
- (Somali) PDF (233 KB)
- (Urdu) PDF (413 KB)
- (Vietnamese) PDF (268 KB)
Normal bowel function
The pelvic floor is made up of a network of muscles and nerves which control both bladder and bowel function. Good bowel habits help to protect these muscles and minimise the risk of both bladder and bowel incontinence. This fact sheet is now called Preventing constipation.
- (English) PDF (219 KB)
- (Greek) PDF (97 KB)
- (Italian) PDF (93 KB)
- (Turkish) PDF (88 KB)
- (Vietnamese) PDF (98 KB)
Pelvic floor exercises
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and ligaments which support the bladder, uterus (womb) and bowel. It is important that all women exercise their pelvic floor muscles everyday throughout life, to prevent weakness or improve strength.
- (English) PDF (655 KB)
- (Amharic) PDF (559 KB)
- (Arabic) PDF (476 KB)
- (Chinese) PDF (592 KB)
- (Farsi) PDF (490 KB)
- (Greek) PDF (471 KB)
- (Hindi) PDF (501 KB)
- (Italian) PDF (509 KB)
- (Oromo) PDF (484 KB)
- (Somali) PDF (483 KB)
- (Turkish) PDF (457 KB)
- (Urdu) PDF (597 KB)
- (Vietnamese) PDF (473 KB)
Physiotherapy advice - How to avoid lifting and straining
Your doctor has recommended you avoid lifting for medical reasons. This can be difficult if you have small children to look after, but it is possible. The key to managing your lifting restrictions is to plan ahead. You need to re-think all of the types of lifting you do, even those that seem normal or routine.
- (English) PDF (560 KB)
Abdominal muscle separation
An Abdominal Muscle Separation is the separation of the long muscles of the abdomen during pregnancy. It is also known as a 'Diastasis'. This information explains why it occurs and tips on how to care for yourself.
- (English) PDF (397 KB)