Services

What is a Mummy MOT®?

The Mummy MOT® is a detailed postnatal assessment carried out by a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist. It is recommended from around 6–8 weeks postnatal, but it is never too late to benefit from an assessment and is appropriate following both vaginal delivery and c-section.

Whether you’ve had a straightforward delivery or a more complex birth experience, we provide individualised advice and treatment to address issues such as back pain, pelvic discomfort, separation of tummy muscles, and incontinence.

Mums need to bend, lift, squat and twist, and it is important to prioritise your recovery so that you can look after your baby.

What does the assessment involve?

Your appointment is up to 90 minutes where we will take an in-depth look at:

• • Your posture, movement, and overall strength
  • Your abdominal muscles, including any separation — tummy gap
  • Your pelvic floor function, with an internal assessment offered where appropriate and with consent
  • Your breathing and core coordination
  • Any concerns with bladder, bowel, or sexual function
  • How your body manages everyday activities such as lifting, bending, and carrying your baby

What will you gain from your session?

Following your assessment, you will receive:

• • A clear explanation of how your body is recovering
  • A personalised rehabilitation programme tailored to your lifestyle and goals
  • Practical advice for daily activities like lifting and carrying
  • Guidance on returning to exercise safely and confidently

Being a new Mum is demanding and can feel overwhelming at times.

I offer extended appointments so that we have time to discuss all your concerns, and we can focus on education as well as treatment.There is no pressure to “bounce back” and it is important to prioritise your recovery so that you can look after your baby. 

Specialist support for prolapse and bladder symptoms 

A pessary is a small, soft silicone device that sits inside the vagina to provide support for pelvic organ prolapse and, in some cases, stress urinary incontinence. For many people, a pessary can significantly reduce feelings of heaviness, bulging or discomfort, helping you feel more confident during day-to-day activities or exercise without the need for surgery. 

Pessary fitting requires a specialist assessment to determine suitability, comfort and the most appropriate option for you. 

Who might benefit from a pessary? 

• • • If you experience a vaginal bulge or feeling of heaviness 
    • If prolapse symptoms are affecting daily life or exercise 
    • If you are looking for a non-surgical management option 
    • If you would like additional support alongside pelvic floor rehabilitation

What does a pessary assessment involve? 

Your appointment may include: 

• • • A discussion about your symptoms, lifestyle and daily activities 
    • A detailed pelvic health assessment, usually including a vaginal examination 
    • Exploration of different pessary options 
    • Pessary fitting
    • Education around pessary use, with the option to learn self-management if you wish 

Appointments are carried out sensitively and at your pace, with clear explanations throughout. 

What to expect at your appointment 

Pessary fitting is not a “one-size-fits-all” process. Everyone’s anatomy, symptoms and lifestyle are different, which is why appointments are thorough and individualised.

Your appointment will begin with time to talk through your symptoms, concerns and goals. If appropriate, this will be followed by a vaginal assessment to understand the type and degree of prolapse and how your pelvic floor muscles are working. From there, we can trial different pessary shapes and sizes to find an option that feels comfortable and supportive for you.

Once a pessary is in place, we’ll check how it feels while you’re upright and moving, including walking, standing and gentle functional movements. We want to make sure it remains comfortable and effective during everyday life. The correct pessary will then be ordered for you. 

If you would prefer to self-manage your pessary, you will be shown how to remove, insert and care for it yourself, allowing you to manage it confidently and independently. However, self-management is not essential, and pessary care can also be provided for you at Embody Physiotherapy as part of follow-up appointments. 

Pessaries often work best alongside pelvic floor physiotherapy. Treatment may also include personalised pelvic floor exercises, guidance on movement and breathing, bladder and bowel advice, and support with returning to activities you enjoy.

Ongoing support 

Whether you choose to manage your pessary yourself or not, it is important to attend a Pessary Check appointment every 4–6 months. These appointments help ensure the pessary continues to fit well, remains effective and allows monitoring of vaginal tissue health. 

At each follow-up appointment, we will: 

• • • Check the fitting of the pessary 
    • Assess the health of the vaginal tissues (including a speculum examination where appropriate) 
    • Clean your pessary using an ultrasonic bath 

Assessment and treatment for pain, injury, and movement problems 

Musculoskeletal physiotherapy focuses on conditions affecting muscles, joints, and movement. This includes both new injuries and longer-standing chronic issues that may be limiting daily life or activity. 

What can musculoskeletal physiotherapy help with? 

• • • Neck and back pain (acute or persistent) 
    • Sciatica and nerve-related pain 
    • Shoulder pain and stiffness (including rotator cuff and frozen shoulder) 
    • Elbow, wrist and hand pain 
    • Hip and groin pain 
    • Pelvic or sacroiliac joint pain 
    • Knee pain (including ligament, meniscal and patellofemoral pain) 
    • Ankle and foot pain (including plantar heel pain) 
    • Muscle strains and tendon pain 
    • Sports and exercise-related injuries 
    • Workstation, posture or repetitive strain-related 
    • Persistent or recurring pain 

Your appointment 

Each session includes assessment, hands-on treatment where appropriate, exercise guidance, and education to support recovery and reduce recurrence. 

Appointment length & quality of care

For musculoskeletal follow-up appointments, I don't reduce the duration of the session and work only with 60 minute appointments. This allows enough time for a full review, hands-on treatment where appropriate, exercise progression and discussion without rushing or compromising the quality of your care.