Postpartum Exercise Physiology

When you book, we may ask you to complete an intake form about your pregnancy, birth, general health, current symptoms and exercise history. This helps us understand your situation before you arrive and gives you space to share information that may be difficult to remember during the appointment.

You do not need to improve your fitness or wait until you feel “ready” before attending. Come as you are. Wear clothing that allows you to move comfortably and bring anything you or your baby may need during the appointment.

We begin with a conversation about your pregnancy, birth experience and postpartum recovery. You can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable discussing.

We may ask about your energy, sleep, feeding positions, pain or discomfort, previous exercise, current activity and the physical demands of caring for your baby. We will also discuss any medical advice, birth-related considerations or recommendations from your GP, obstetric team, midwife or physiotherapist.

This is a non-judgemental conversation. There is no expectation that you should have recovered, returned to exercise or achieved particular milestones by a certain time.

Your goals do not need to revolve around weight, appearance or returning to your pre-pregnancy body.

You may want to feel more comfortable lifting your baby, rebuild strength after a caesarean or vaginal birth, reduce discomfort during everyday activities, feel more confident going for walks, return to the gym, prepare to run again or simply have more energy for family life.

We will help you identify goals that feel meaningful, achievable and relevant to your life—not goals based on pressure or comparison.

Your assessment may include gentle checks of your movement, mobility, balance, breathing, strength and exercise tolerance. The activities chosen will depend on your stage of recovery, symptoms, goals and how you are feeling that day.

This is not a pass-or-fail assessment, and you will never be pushed through pain or pressured to complete something that does not feel right.

Exercise Physiology does not involve an internal pelvic-floor examination. If your symptoms indicate that a specialised pelvic-health assessment may be helpful, we can discuss referral to a women’s-health or pelvic-health physiotherapist.

We use the information from your discussion and assessment to develop an individualised plan that is appropriate for your body, recovery and current circumstances.

Your plan might include short exercises that can be completed at home, supported clinic sessions, strategies for gradually increasing activity, or preparation for returning to a specific activity such as gym training, running or sport.

We consider the realities of feeding, disrupted sleep, childcare, work, other children and changing energy levels. The goal is not to give you an unrealistic program. It is to find manageable ways to build movement and strength into the life you already have.

Postpartum care often works best when health professionals collaborate.

With your consent, we can communicate with your GP, midwife, obstetric team, pelvic-health physiotherapist or other treating professionals. This helps ensure that your exercise program reflects relevant medical advice and complements the care you are already receiving.

If something is outside our professional scope or requires further assessment, we will explain this and help connect you with the appropriate provider.

Postpartum recovery is rarely a straight line. Your sleep, feeding demands, symptoms, energy and available time may change from week to week.

Follow-up appointments allow us to review how you are feeling, adjust exercises, respond to new concerns and gradually progress your program. On difficult weeks, progression may mean maintaining movement, modifying expectations or reducing the load—not always doing more.

There is no fixed timeline you must follow. We support you to progress at a pace that feels safe, sustainable and connected to the activities you want to return to.