Mummy MOT Blog Post
By Kate Wilsmore
This weekend was spent doing what us physios love doing most – learning! This time the spotlight was on Pelvic Health physiotherapy and I was training to become a Mummy MOT practitioner.
The Mummy MOT is a fabulous post-natal service, the brain child of the equally as fabulous, Maria Elliot. Maria is an incredibly experienced pelvic health specialist, who, 7 years ago, decided it was time to make a change to the current level of post-natal care available to mums. You may have even spotted her on the television, in the newspapers and on the Instagram pages of celebrities.
Unless you are already a mum, you may not know that within NHS guidelines, all mums should be offered a 6 week check with their GP. This service is essential to screen mums and babies for any worries or concerns after birth, to check for signs of post-natal depression, check your healing of c-section, episiotomy or tears and, crucially, to check for any signs of pelvic floor dysfunction.
Symptoms at this stage may include incontinence of wee, wind or poo, bladder urgency, pain during sex, constipation, pelvic pain, low back pain, feelings of heaviness or feeling a bulge in the vagina. Equally, some mums may have none of these symptoms.
The problem with these 6 week checks are that the standards can vary hugely across the country, and COVID has certainly not made this any easier. Some mums may have a great experience of seeing their GP in person, feeling listened to and given fantastic advice, whereas others can find a brief telephone call can leave them feeling none the wiser about what to expect at this stage.
Maria decided that our mums deserved more and she needed to take action. Supported by other key members of the pelvic health physio community, she established the Mummy MOT.
The Mummy MOT is a predominantly physiotherapy lead service which aims to provide a comprehensive screening of any mum postnatally. This includes new mums at 6-8 weeks post-partum, or mums who had children 10 years ago or more! It includes: a thorough screening questionnaire looking at past medical history, birth history and current health; posture and movement assessment; tummy muscle assessment and pelvic floor assessment. Following this, your Mummy MOT practitioner will then work with you to create a rehab plan to allow you to achieve your goals, whether that is doing the school run without leaking or returning to running marathons.
The sad truth is that for many years mums have been made to feel by society, health care professionals and even from the experience of other mums, that living with these symptoms postnatally, is simply the reality of having children, and this is just not the case. Yes, childbirth can explain the reason why they might have these symptoms, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything they can do about them. These symptoms are very common but they are not normal and you do not have to put up with them.
At Wilsmore Physiotherapy, our aim in any work that we do is to empower you with the right information and tools to help you to achieve your goals, whatever they may be. We love the Mummy MOT because it gives the power back to mums, to take control of their bodies and get back to what they love.
If you would like to book a Mummy MOT with Kate at Wilsmore Physiotherapy, contact us via our enquiry box on the website or email us at physio@mikewilsmorephysiotherapy.co.uk.
Why not take advantage of the fact that the Mummy MOT can be brought to you from the comfort of your own home with our home visit service?
For more information on the Mummy MOT, please visit the Mummy MOT website.
FAQs
How long after birth can I have a Mummy MOT?
Our postnatal checks can be completed any time from 6 weeks postpartum. Even mums who had a baby many years ago can benefit from a Mummy MOT, with or without symptoms, to help to treat any problems but also keep you injury free.
Do I have to have any symptoms to have a Mummy MOT?
No! If you are lucky enough to be feeling like you don’t have any issues postnatally, you can still benefit from a Mummy MOT screen. This can help to prevent problems occurring later on and help you to safely return to exercise and sport.
What does a pelvic floor assessment involve?
As well as looking externally at your posture, breathing, tummy muscles and pelvic floor movement, the best way to assess your pelvic floor is internally. Your pelvic floor can be easily accessed via a gloved, one finger, vaginal examination where we can fully assess how well the muscle is working.
Where do you do the Mummy MOT?
Currently, we are offering home visits for our mums and also hope to be able to offer this service at a clinic in the near future. We also have video consultation options.
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