“You’re cleared to return to normal activity.”

If you’ve ever heard this at your 6-week postpartum visit, you’re not alone. It’s the standard phrase used by well-meaning providers to mark the end of a chapter. But for so many women, that appointment doesn’t reflect how they actually feel.

At just 6 weeks, your body is still in a major transition. Muscles have shifted, your core system has been stretched and weakened, and your movement patterns have changed in ways you might not even realize. Being told you’re “cleared” often feels premature—especially when:

• You still feel off in your belly or core
• You leak when you sneeze, cough, or jump
• You have lingering low back or hip pain
• You want to get back to lifting or running, but your body doesn’t feel quite ready

These are signs that your body may still need focused support to reconnect, rebuild, and restore.

A New Standard for Postpartum Recovery

Healing postpartum isn’t just about the passage of time—it’s about reconnection.

At Pinnacle Women’s Therapeutics, we believe that all postpartum women deserve a true physical therapy evaluation to understand how their core, pelvic floor, breath, and hip muscles are working together. Whether it’s been 6 weeks, 6 months, or 6 years—it’s never too late.

We see postpartum as a spectrum of recovery—not a set timeline. There’s no expiration date on healing. If your body is still sending signals that something’s off, it’s worth listening.

What a Postpartum Pelvic PT Evaluation Looks Like

When you come in for a postpartum pelvic PT evaluation, we assess:

• Your breathing patterns
• Diastasis recti or abdominal separation
• Pelvic floor muscle tone and coordination
• Hip and glute strength
• Core engagement during movement
• Body mechanics with everyday tasks like lifting, bending, and squatting

We also take time to understand your goals—whether that’s running a 5K, lifting your toddler with ease, returning to Pilates, or simply feeling like yourself again.

Many women are surprised to find out that things like back pain, bladder leaks, or “feeling off” in their body can be linked to issues in their deep core system. These are often fixable with the right plan and some consistent support.

We also look at lifestyle factors like:

• Sleep (or the lack of it!)
• Hydration and nutrition
• Daily stress load
• Ergonomics while feeding, carrying, or holding your baby

Your body has gone through a major transformation. The support it needs should match that transformation—not be limited to a 6-week visit.

3 Signs Your Body Still Needs Postpartum Rehab

1. You Have Bladder Leaks or Urgency
Leaking with a sneeze, cough, or workout is never normal—no matter how common it is. These leaks are often due to pressure mismanagement in the core and pelvic floor muscles. With the right rehab, you can retrain your system to support you better and stop relying on pads or crossing your legs every time you sneeze.

You may also feel a sense of urgency or frequency when needing to pee. These symptoms are red flags that your bladder and pelvic floor aren’t working together optimally—and they’re very treatable with a pelvic PT.

2. You Have Persistent Back Pain or Hip Tightness
If your low back, hips, or pelvis feel stiff, achy, or tense—especially when lifting, standing, or chasing toddlers—it may be due to compensation patterns in your body. When your deep core isn’t doing its job, your back and hips take over, often leading to tension and pain.

We often see moms who feel like they’ve aged 10 years after having a baby. But the truth is: these patterns can be rewired. Your body wants to heal—you just need the right roadmap.

3. You Feel Disconnected from Your Core
Maybe you can’t quite engage your abs the way you used to. Maybe you’ve noticed a gap or bulge in your midsection. Or maybe you’re just not sure how to safely get back to exercise. These are all signs your core system could use guidance.

Feeling unsure, unsteady, or like something’s “off” is a message—not a failure. Our job is to help you rebuild that foundation, so you feel grounded and strong in your movements again.

Why the 4 Pillars of Core and Pelvic Health Matter

At our clinic, we don’t just hand out a list of exercises. We help you understand and build from what we call the 4 Pillars of Core and Pelvic Health:

1. Breath – Your diaphragm plays a key role in core support. We’ll help you retrain how you breathe so your whole system can work together.
2. Alignment – The way you stand, sit, and move affects how your muscles engage. Small changes here can lead to big results.
3. Coordination – Core and pelvic floor muscles need to work together, especially during functional movement. We teach you how to sync them in real life.
4. Strength – We rebuild the deep core and glutes to handle the physical demands of motherhood—from squatting down to lift a baby to carrying groceries or returning to your favorite workouts.

Most postpartum patients begin by working on one or two pillars and eventually progress to integrating all four. This allows for a personalized, progressive path to true healing.

Recovery Is Still Possible (And You Deserve It)

The truth is, many women never receive the kind of personalized support they need after having a baby. We’re sent off into motherhood with very little rehab, expected to bounce back, and left wondering if the discomfort or disconnect we feel is just “our new normal.”

But healing is absolutely possible.

With the right approach, you can:

• Reconnect with your breath and core
• Move with confidence and strength
• Return to lifting, running, or fitness with better mechanics
• Eliminate bladder leaks and reduce tension
• Feel more at home in your body again

Whether it’s been weeks or years since you gave birth, you deserve to feel strong, capable, and whole.

Ready for a Full-Body Postpartum Evaluation?

You don’t need to wait for things to get worse. You don’t need to accept nagging pain or bladder leaks as “normal.” And you don’t have to figure this out on your own.

We’re here to support you every step of the way. At Pinnacle Women’s Therapeutics, we specialize in helping women recover fully from birth—no matter how long it’s been.

👉 Contact us today to schedule your postpartum evaluation

Let’s get you back to feeling your best.

Postpartum Pelvic PT: Frequently Asked Questions

When should I see a pelvic physical therapist after having a baby?
Ideally, all women should have a pelvic PT evaluation around 4–6 weeks postpartum, or as soon as they feel ready. That said, it’s never too late to seek care. Whether you’re newly postpartum or it’s been several years, pelvic physical therapy can still help.

Do I need to have something seriously wrong to go to pelvic PT?
Not at all. Pelvic PT is for every postpartum woman—whether you have symptoms or just want to make sure everything is functioning well. We support recovery, prevent issues before they become bigger problems, and help you get back to what you love.

What other issues do pelvic PTs treat in postpartum women?
We address:

• Pain with sex
• Pelvic organ prolapse or pelvic heaviness (especially after being on your feet or lifting)
• Urinary urgency or frequency
• Tailbone pain
• Constipation
• Diastasis recti (abdominal separation)
• Core weakness or poor coordination

Do I need a referral from my doctor?
Not in Washington state! We are a direct access state, which means you can see a pelvic PT without a referral. If your insurance requires one, we can help guide you through the process.

Have another question? Don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help!