Postpartum Physical Therapy in Los Angeles: When to Start

Dr. Sasha Speer, PT, DPT
Jul 30
11 min read

Bringing Home a Baby Changes Everything—Including Your Body

There are few experiences as life-changing as welcoming a new baby.

In an instant, your world becomes centered around feeding schedules, diaper changes, sleepless nights, and learning the rhythms of a tiny new person. Amid the joy and adjustment, it's easy for your own recovery to quietly move to the bottom of the priority list.

Many new mothers hear a similar message after giving birth:

"Everything looks good. See you in six weeks."

For some, that six-week postpartum visit is reassuring. For others, it's one of the only times their recovery is discussed at all.

Yet in many cases, the appointment focuses on medical healing—whether incisions have closed, bleeding has improved, or there are signs of infection—rather than how a woman is actually functioning in her daily life.

Questions like these often go unanswered:

Why does my core still feel disconnected?
Is it normal to leak urine when I pick up my baby?
Why does my back ache every time I breastfeed?
Why do I feel pressure in my pelvis when I walk?
When is it actually safe to return to exercise?
Will my body ever feel like my own again?

These questions deserve thoughtful answers.

At Auria Pelvic Health, we believe postpartum care shouldn't begin only when something feels seriously wrong. Recovery isn't simply about healing from childbirth—it's about helping your body adapt to one of the most significant physical transitions it will ever experience.

Whether you delivered vaginally or by cesarean section, your muscles, connective tissues, joints, breathing patterns, and nervous system have all spent months adapting to pregnancy. Birth marks the beginning of a new phase of recovery, not the end of the process.

That's why we view postpartum physical therapy as proactive care rather than reactive treatment. Instead of waiting for symptoms to become limiting, we help mothers understand their bodies, rebuild confidence in movement, and create a strong foundation for the months and years ahead.

When Should You Start Postpartum Physical Therapy?

One of the most common questions we hear is:

"Should I wait until my six-week check-up?"

The answer depends on your individual recovery, birth experience, and symptoms—but in many cases, you don't need to wait to begin receiving guidance.

In countries such as France, pelvic floor rehabilitation is considered a routine part of postpartum healthcare. Women are encouraged to receive individualized rehabilitation after childbirth, recognizing that pregnancy and birth affect far more than just the pelvic floor. While postpartum care in the United States has traditionally been less structured, awareness is growing that earlier support can improve recovery and help prevent persistent symptoms.

Early postpartum visits don't focus on returning to intense exercise or "getting your body back." Instead, they provide an opportunity to:

Understand how your body is healing
Learn strategies to support tissue recovery
Improve breathing and pressure management
Address discomfort before it becomes persistent
Build confidence in everyday movements like lifting, carrying, feeding, and getting up from the floor
Create a personalized plan for returning to exercise and activity

Sometimes, the most valuable part of an early visit is simply having the opportunity to ask questions and feel reassured that your recovery is progressing as expected. For mothers experiencing significant pain, urinary leakage, bowel changes, pelvic heaviness, or concerns about healing, earlier assessment may be especially beneficial.

Recovery Looks Different for Everyone

One of the biggest misconceptions about postpartum recovery is that everyone follows the same timeline.

The reality is far more nuanced.

A first-time mother with an uncomplicated vaginal delivery will have different needs than someone recovering from a cesarean birth after a prolonged labor. A competitive athlete returning to high-impact exercise will require different guidance than someone whose primary goal is comfortably carrying twins through the grocery store.

Even factors such as sleep deprivation, breastfeeding, stress, previous injuries, support systems, and daily activity levels influence recovery.

At Auria, we don't compare one mother's recovery to another's.

We compare your recovery to your goals.

That means your treatment plan is built around what matters most to you—whether that's returning to Pilates, hiking with your family, lifting your growing toddler without back pain, or simply feeling confident in your own body again.

And perhaps most importantly, we remind every mother of this:

Your body doesn't need to "bounce back."

It deserves the time, support, and care to move forward.

Pregnancy Changes More Than Your Pelvic Floor

When most people think about postpartum recovery, they picture the pelvic floor—and for good reason. Those muscles play an important role in supporting your bladder, bowel, and pelvic organs, while also contributing to core stability and sexual function.

But pregnancy and birth affect far more than one group of muscles.

Over the course of nine months, your body adapts in extraordinary ways to support your growing baby.

Your rib cage expands to make room for your lungs and uterus. Your breathing mechanics shift. Your abdominal wall stretches. Hormones increase the flexibility of ligaments and connective tissue.

Your posture changes as your center of gravity moves forward, and the demands placed on your hips, spine, feet, and shoulders evolve with each trimester.

Then, almost overnight, your body begins adapting again.

Now you're lifting a car seat dozens of times a day. Feeding a newborn for hours.

Carrying your baby on one hip. Sleeping in shorter stretches. Reaching, bending, rocking, and walking in ways you've never done before.

Your postpartum body isn't just recovering from birth—it's adapting to an entirely new way of moving through the world.

That's one of the reasons we take such a comprehensive approach at Auria Pelvic Health.

When someone comes to us with urinary leakage, low back pain, pelvic pressure, or abdominal weakness, we don't assume the pelvic floor is the only place we need to look.

We ask questions like:

How are you breathing?
How are you lifting your baby?
What positions are you spending the most time in each day?
How is your body responding to sleep deprivation and stress?
Are your hips moving well?
Is your core coordinating with your breath?
What activities are most important for you to get back to?
These questions help us understand not only what you're experiencing, but why.

Common Postpartum Concerns That Shouldn't Be Ignored

Every postpartum recovery is unique, but there are several symptoms we hear about regularly.

Some improve naturally with time. Others benefit from early guidance and individualized rehabilitation.

Urinary Leakage

Whether you're leaking while sneezing, laughing, running, or simply trying to pick up your baby, urinary leakage deserves attention.

It doesn't necessarily mean your pelvic floor is weak. In many cases, it reflects changes in coordination, pressure management, or timing between your breathing, abdominal muscles, and pelvic floor.

Understanding the cause is much more helpful than assuming every symptom requires the same exercise.

A Feeling of Core Weakness

Many mothers describe their abdomen as feeling "disconnected."

Simple tasks like rolling over in bed, getting off the floor, lifting a stroller, or carrying groceries suddenly feel much harder than they expected.

This sensation isn't always about strength. Pregnancy changes how the abdominal wall, diaphragm, pelvic floor, and deep core muscles work together. Rebuilding that coordination often comes before rebuilding strength.

That's why we focus on helping patients reconnect with movement rather than rushing

into high-intensity exercise.

Pelvic Pressure or Heaviness

Some women notice a heaviness in their pelvis after standing for long periods, taking walks, or returning to exercise.

While this sensation can feel alarming, it doesn't automatically mean something is seriously wrong.

Pressure can have many contributing factors, including tissue healing, muscle coordination, breathing strategies, activity levels, and changes in support structures after pregnancy.

One of the most reassuring moments for many patients is simply understanding why they're experiencing these sensations—and learning practical strategies that help them move with greater confidence.

Back, Hip, and Shoulder Pain

One symptom that surprises many new mothers is pain outside the pelvis.

Hours spent feeding, rocking, carrying, lifting, and pushing a stroller place new demands on the body.

Your shoulders may round forward while nursing.

Your hips may become stiff from prolonged sitting.

Your lower back may compensate for a core that is still relearning how to function efficiently.

Rather than treating these areas separately, we view them as part of the same movement system. Improving how your body breathes, stabilizes, and transfers load often reduces strain throughout the entire body—not just the pelvic floor.

Healing Is Physical—But It's Emotional, Too

There is another aspect of postpartum recovery that deserves more attention.

Becoming a parent is one of life's biggest transitions.

Even when pregnancy and birth go exactly as planned, the postpartum period can bring enormous physical, emotional, and psychological adjustments.

Many mothers feel pressure to recover quickly.

To keep up.

To smile through exhaustion.

To "have it all together."

Unfortunately, that pressure can make it difficult to acknowledge when recovery feels harder than expected.

At Auria Pelvic Health, we believe healing happens best when people feel safe enough to be honest.

That means creating a space where it's okay to say:

"I'm overwhelmed."

"My body doesn't feel like mine."

"I'm afraid to exercise again."

"I don't know what's normal anymore."

These conversations matter.

They're not separate from physical therapy—they're part of understanding the whole person sitting in front of us.

When people feel heard, they often become more confident in their bodies, more engaged in their recovery, and better equipped to navigate the challenges of new parenthood.

That sense of safety isn't just something we value.

It's something we intentionally create.

Recovery Is More Than Returning to Exercise

Many postpartum conversations focus on one question:

"When can I work out again?"

We think there's a better question.

"What does your body need in order to move confidently again?"

For one mother, that might mean returning to marathon training.

For another, it might mean comfortably carrying her baby through the airport.

For someone else, it might simply mean getting up off the floor without pain.

Recovery isn't measured by how quickly you return to a previous version of yourself. It's measured by how confidently you move forward into the next season of your life. That's why every rehabilitation plan at Auria is built around your goals—not someone else's timeline.

What Does a Postpartum Physical Therapy Evaluation Look Like?

Many new mothers aren't sure what to expect during their first pelvic floor physical therapy appointment. Some worry they'll be expected to perform exercises they're not ready for. Others assume every visit includes an internal examination. Many simply wonder if it's "too soon" to come in.

At Auria Pelvic Health, our first priority is helping you feel comfortable.

Your initial visit begins with something that is surprisingly uncommon in healthcare today—we take the time to listen.We'll ask about your pregnancy, your birth experience, your recovery so far, and what life looks like now. We'll talk about your goals, your concerns, your daily routines, and the activities that matter most to you.

Maybe you're hoping to get back to running.

Maybe you're struggling to pick up your baby without back pain.

Maybe you're preparing to return to work.

Or maybe you simply want reassurance that your body is healing the way it should.

There is no "right" reason to seek care. Once we've had that conversation, we'll perform an individualized assessment based on your needs.

Depending on where you are in your recovery, this may include evaluating:

Your breathing mechanics
Core coordination
Posture and movement patterns
Hip and spinal mobility
Balance and strength
Scar mobility after a cesarean birth or perineal tear
Pressure management during lifting and daily activities
Functional movements like squatting, carrying, reaching, and getting up from the floor

An internal pelvic floor examination may be appropriate for some patients, but it is never required. We explain every step of the evaluation, answer your questions, and ensure you feel informed before making any decisions about your care.

One of our core values at Auria is that you remain an active participant in your healthcare. Consent isn't simply something we ask for once—it's something we honor throughout every visit.

Because feeling safe is part of healing.

Returning to Exercise: It's About More Than Being "Cleared"

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding postpartum recovery is the idea that being "cleared" at six weeks means your body is fully prepared for every activity you enjoyed before pregnancy.

Medical clearance is an important milestone, but it doesn't always reflect how your muscles, joints, connective tissues, or movement patterns are functioning.

Think about it this way.

If someone had knee surgery, we wouldn't expect them to immediately return to running simply because the incision had healed. The same principle applies postpartum.

Healing tissues and restored function are not always the same thing.

At Auria Pelvic Health, we help patients gradually rebuild the strength, coordination, endurance, and confidence needed for the activities they love.

Whether your goal is:

Walking comfortably with your family
Returning to yoga or Pilates
Strength training
Hiking
Running
CrossFit
Tennis
Cycling
Chasing toddlers around the playground

—we want to help you get there safely and confidently.

Our goal isn't simply to tell you when you can exercise.

It's to help you understand how your body is responding to exercise so you can continue progressing long after physical therapy has ended. Because confidence is one of the most valuable outcomes of rehabilitation.

Education Is One of the Greatest Gifts We Can Give New Mothers

There is so much information available during pregnancy and postpartum that it's easy to feel overwhelmed.

Friends offer advice.

Social media offers advice.

Family members offer advice.

Sometimes those messages are helpful.

Sometimes they're contradictory.

And sometimes they leave new mothers feeling like they're doing everything wrong.

At Auria, we believe education should reduce anxiety—not create more of it.

That means helping you understand what is happening in your body, what changes are expected during recovery, and which symptoms deserve further evaluation.

We'll explain how breathing affects your pelvic floor.

Why pressure management matters when lifting your baby.

How to modify movements during recovery without avoiding activity altogether.

How your posture while feeding your baby can influence your neck, shoulders, and core.

Why healing is rarely a straight line.

Most importantly, we'll help you understand that recovery isn't about achieving perfection.

It's about learning to trust your body again.

Knowledge creates confidence.

Confidence creates freedom.

And that freedom allows you to enjoy this season of life with less fear and more joy.

Our Philosophy: Recovery Is About Supporting the Whole Person

At Auria Pelvic Health, we don't measure success solely by symptom reduction.

Of course, we celebrate when leakage improves, pain decreases, or strength returns. But we also celebrate the mother who feels confident enough to sign up for her first fitness class.

The woman who enjoys intimacy again without fear.

The parent who can comfortably lift their growing toddler.

The runner who crosses her first finish line postpartum.

The grandmother who picks up her grandchild without back pain.

Those moments matter because they represent something much bigger than physical recovery.

They represent returning to the life you want to live.

That's why we approach every patient with curiosity instead of assumptions.

We ask questions.

We listen carefully.

We educate generously.

And we build treatment plans that reflect your goals—not someone else's expectations.

Healing isn't about returning to the person you were before pregnancy.

It's about becoming stronger, more resilient, and more connected to the person you are today.

Continue Learning

Postpartum recovery looks different for every individual, but one thing remains true: many symptoms that are considered "normal" after childbirth are actually treatable.

If you enjoyed this article, we also recommend reading:

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Symptoms Women Often Ignore

In that article, we explore some of the most commonly overlooked symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction—including urinary leakage, pelvic pressure, constipation, pain with intimacy, and persistent hip or back pain—and explain why they deserve attention rather than dismissal.

Together, these resources are designed to help you better understand your body and make informed decisions about your health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it too early to see a pelvic floor physical therapist before six weeks postpartum?

Not necessarily. While every recovery is different, many women benefit from education, movement guidance, breathing strategies, and individualized support before the traditional six-week postpartum visit. If you've experienced a complicated delivery, significant pain, or simply have questions about your recovery, early guidance can be incredibly valuable.

I had a cesarean birth. Can pelvic floor physical therapy still help me?

Absolutely. Cesarean births involve significant abdominal surgery and can affect breathing mechanics, core coordination, scar mobility, posture, movement patterns, and pelvic floor function. Pelvic floor physical therapy can support recovery after both vaginal and cesarean deliveries.

Do I need symptoms to benefit from postpartum physical therapy?

No. Many women choose postpartum physical therapy as a proactive way to better understand their bodies, improve movement, rebuild confidence, and reduce the likelihood of future problems. You don't have to wait until something feels "wrong" to invest in your recovery.

Your Recovery Matters, Too

The weeks and months after childbirth are filled with caring for someone else.

It's easy to forget that your body is healing, adapting, and working incredibly hard, too.

At Auria Pelvic Health, we believe postpartum care should extend beyond a single follow-up appointment.

You deserve time to ask questions. You deserve evidence-based guidance. You deserve care that recognizes your physical recovery, your emotional experience, and your individual goals.

Most importantly, you deserve to feel supported—not just as a new parent, but as a whole person.

Wherever you are in your postpartum journey, know that you don't have to navigate recovery alone.

Sometimes the most powerful step toward healing isn't finding all the answers.

It's finding someone willing to ask the right questions alongside you.

Auria Pelvic Health

8929 S Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 412

Los Angeles, CA 90045

Phone: 310-505-6096

Website: www.theaurialife.com