South Edmonton Location
Prenatal and postnatal physiotherapy in Edmonton
Prenatal and postnatal physiotherapy at our southeast Edmonton clinic covers pelvic girdle and low back pain in pregnancy, then abdominal separation, caesarean scar management and a staged return to exercise after the birth. None of it is something you are expected to put up with.
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What does prenatal and postnatal physiotherapy cover?
In pregnancy it covers pelvic girdle and low back pain, rib and mid-back pain, and preparing the pelvic floor for birth and recovery. Afterwards it covers abdominal separation, caesarean scar management, pelvic floor symptoms such as leaking or heaviness, and a staged return to exercise or running. None of these are things you are expected to put up with because you have had a baby.
During pregnancy
Pelvic girdle pain affects a large share of pregnancies and is not a sign that anything is damaged. It usually responds to changing how you load the pelvis through the day, targeted strength work, and practical adjustments to getting in and out of a car, standing, and sleeping. A support belt helps some people get through demanding days.
Exercise in an uncomplicated pregnancy is recommended rather than merely permitted, and current guidance supports strength work as well as aerobic activity. What changes is the dose and the positions, not the principle. The sacroiliac joint pain page covers that side in more detail.
When to seek medical care rather than book physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is not the right first stop for these. Contact your maternity care provider or attend an emergency department:
- Vaginal bleeding, fluid loss, or regular painful tightenings before term
- Reduced or changed fetal movements
- Severe headache, visual changes, or sudden swelling of the face and hands
- Pain, swelling, warmth or redness in one calf
- Fever, or pain on passing urine
After the birth
Abdominal separation is normal in late pregnancy and narrows for most people over the following months. What matters more than the width of the gap is how well the abdominal wall generates tension, which is what assessment looks at and what the program works on.
Pelvic floor symptoms — leaking with coughing or running, urgency, heaviness or dragging — are common and are treatable. Common is not the same as something to accept.
Caesarean scars are assessed once healed, and desensitisation and scar mobility work are straightforward to teach.
Assessment, and what consent means here
A pelvic health assessment always begins with a conversation. An internal examination gives the clearest picture of pelvic floor function, and it is offered, explained and entirely optional — you can decline it, defer it, or stop partway through, and there is still a great deal that can be assessed and treated without one.
It is performed by a physiotherapist with post-graduate pelvic health training, behind a closed door, with a chaperone if you want one. If any part of that is not made clear to you, ask.
Questions people ask
When can I start running again?
Most guidance suggests not before around twelve weeks postpartum, and then by readiness rather than by date — no leaking or heaviness with load, adequate strength, and a graded build-up. An assessment is the way to find out where you are rather than guessing.
Is leaking after having a baby normal?
It is common, particularly early on. It is not something you have to live with, and it responds well to assessment and a targeted program. If it is still happening months later, that is a reason to be seen rather than to wait longer.
Do I have to have an internal assessment?
No. It is offered because it gives the most information, and it is always your choice. Plenty can be assessed and treated without one, and you can change your mind at any point.
Do I need a referral?
No. In Alberta you can book directly. Some extended health plans ask for a doctor’s referral before reimbursing, so check your plan.
When in pregnancy should I book?
Whenever something is bothering you; there is no trimester that is too early or too late. Many people come in the second trimester for pelvic girdle or low back pain, and again around six to eight weeks after birth for a postpartum check. Tell the front desk you are pregnant when you book so the room and appointment length are set up for it.
Do I need a referral from my OB or midwife?
No. You can book directly at (825) 525-2852. If your midwife or physician has given you specific instructions, bring them and they will be built into the plan.
Can I bring my baby to a postpartum appointment?
Yes. Parents attend with infants regularly, and seeing how you lift, feed and carry is useful to the physiotherapist. There is parking on site at 6958 76 Ave NW.
Book a prenatal or postnatal assessment
Vertex Physiotherapy is at 6958 76 Ave NW #205, Edmonton, AB T6B 2R2. Call (825) 525-2852 or book online. Mention at booking if you would like a pelvic health appointment, so you are seen by a therapist with that training.