Mummy MOT in Hammersmith: Your Complete Guide to Postnatal Recovery

The Complete Guide to the Mummy MOT: Everything You Need to Know After Pregnancy

Bringing a baby into the world is one of life’s most remarkable experiences, but pregnancy and childbirth place significant demands on your body. While your baby will receive regular health checks during those first few weeks, many women are surprised to find that their own recovery often receives very little attention.

For some, the standard six-week GP check provides reassurance that everything is healing well. However, many women continue to experience symptoms such as back pain, pelvic discomfort, abdominal weakness or bladder leakage long after this appointment.

A Mummy MOT offers a far more comprehensive assessment of your postnatal recovery, helping you better understand how your body has adapted to pregnancy and childbirth, and what you can do to support your recovery moving forward.

At Family Osteopathy Hammersmith, we believe every woman deserves the opportunity to recover with confidence, whether you’ve recently given birth or your youngest child is now at school.

What Is a Mummy MOT?

A Mummy MOT is a specialist postnatal assessment designed to evaluate how your body has recovered following pregnancy and childbirth.

Unlike a routine postnatal check, a Mummy MOT focuses on how your muscles, joints, posture and movement patterns are functioning, identifying areas that may benefit from rehabilitation or further support.

A comprehensive assessment may include:

• Assessment of abdominal muscle separation (diastasis recti)

• Pelvic floor assessment (where appropriate and with your informed consent)

• Core muscle function

• Posture and movement analysis

• Breathing mechanics

• Hip and pelvic mobility

• Spinal assessment

• Functional movement testing

• Guidance on returning to exercise

• Personalised rehabilitation advice

Every assessment is tailored to your individual symptoms, goals and stage of recovery.

Why Is a Mummy MOT Important?

Pregnancy changes almost every part of your body.

Your centre of gravity shifts, your posture adapts, your abdominal wall stretches, your pelvic floor works harder and your joints become more mobile in preparation for birth.

These changes are completely normal, but they don’t always resolve automatically after delivery.

Many women assume symptoms are simply part of becoming a mum, including:

• Lower back pain

• Pelvic girdle pain

• Hip pain

• Neck and shoulder pain

• Bladder leakage

• Core weakness

• Persistent abdominal separation

• Pain during exercise

• Poor posture

• Difficulty returning to running or the gym

Although these symptoms are common, they shouldn’t simply be accepted as “normal.”

A Mummy MOT helps identify what’s contributing to these problems and provides a personalised plan to support your recovery.

When Should You Have a Mummy MOT?

Many women choose to have a Mummy MOT from around six weeks after giving birth, once they’ve been medically cleared following delivery.

However, it’s never too late.

Whether your baby is:

• Six weeks old

• Six months old

• Six years old

a Mummy MOT can still provide valuable information about your recovery.

We regularly see women who wish they’d known about a Mummy MOT much earlier.

What Happens During a Mummy MOT?

At Family Osteopathy Hammersmith, your appointment begins with a detailed discussion about your pregnancy, birth experience, current symptoms and personal goals.

Your assessment may include:

• Your medical and pregnancy history

• Standing posture

• Walking pattern

• Core muscle function

• Abdominal assessment

• Hip and pelvic movement

• Spinal mobility

• Functional movement testing

• Pelvic floor assessment where appropriate and with your consent

Following your assessment, we’ll explain our findings in clear, easy-to-understand language before discussing your personalised treatment and rehabilitation plan.

Can a Mummy MOT Help After a Caesarean Section?

Absolutely.

Recovery following a Caesarean section involves much more than healing the skin.

The abdominal wall, fascia, muscles and scar tissue all play an important role in how your body moves after surgery.

Some women experience:

• Tightness around the scar

• Reduced abdominal strength

• Altered posture

• Lower back pain

• Hip discomfort

• Difficulty returning to exercise

A Mummy MOT allows us to assess these areas and provide guidance to support your recovery safely.

Can Osteopathy Help After Pregnancy?

Osteopathy takes a whole-body approach to recovery.

Rather than focusing solely on the area where you feel pain, we assess how your body is moving as a whole.

Changes affecting your:

• Pelvis

• Spine

• Rib cage

• Breathing

• Core muscles

• Pelvic floor

can all influence one another.

Depending on your assessment, treatment may include gentle hands-on techniques to improve movement, reduce muscular tension and help your body move more comfortably.

Treatment is always combined with education, rehabilitation advice and practical guidance to help you feel confident returning to everyday activities.

Returning to Exercise After Pregnancy

One of the most common questions we hear is:

“When can I start exercising again?”

The answer is different for every woman.

Rather than following a generic timeline found online, a Mummy MOT provides personalised advice based on your own recovery, symptoms and goals.

Whether you’d like to return to:

• Walking

• Pilates

• Yoga

• Strength training

• Running

• Competitive sport

we’ll help you understand how your body is recovering and what steps you can take to return safely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Mummy MOT only for first-time mums?

No. Every pregnancy places different demands on your body, so many women choose to have a Mummy MOT following each pregnancy.

Can I have a Mummy MOT years after giving birth?

Yes. Many women seek assessment months or even years later because they’ve continued to experience symptoms that never fully resolved.

Will I receive exercises?

Yes.

Where appropriate, you’ll receive personalised rehabilitation exercises designed to support your recovery and complement any hands-on treatment.

Is a pelvic floor assessment compulsory?

No.

If a pelvic floor assessment is appropriate, it will only ever be performed with your informed consent. We’ll always explain what the assessment involves, and you’re free to decline at any stage.

Do I need a GP referral?

No.

You can book directly with us without needing a referral from your GP.

Why Choose Family Osteopathy Hammersmith?

At Family Osteopathy Hammersmith, we understand that every woman’s pregnancy and recovery journey is unique.

Our approach combines detailed assessment, hands-on osteopathic care, personalised rehabilitation and practical advice to help you feel supported throughout your recovery.

We believe in taking the time to listen, explain our findings clearly and create treatment plans that are tailored to your goals.

Whether you’re experiencing ongoing pain, preparing to return to exercise or simply want reassurance that your body is recovering well, we’re here to help.

Book Your Mummy MOT in Hammersmith

Recovering after pregnancy isn’t about “bouncing back.”

It’s about helping your body recover well.

If you’ve recently had a baby—or your pregnancy was several years ago—and you’re experiencing pelvic pain, back pain, abdominal weakness, bladder leakage or simply don’t feel quite like yourself physically, a Mummy MOT could help you better understand what’s happening and how to move forward.

At Family Osteopathy Hammersmith, we’re proud to provide personalised, evidence-informed postnatal care for women across Hammersmith, Fulham, Chiswick, Shepherd’s Bush, Kensington and the surrounding areas.

Book your Mummy MOT today and take the first step towards feeling stronger, moving more comfortably and returning to the activities you love with confidence.