Pelvic Floor Healing & Postpartum Massage in the North East: A Biomechanical and Holistic Approach for Mothers
Pelvic floor dysfunction and the pain associated in the back, hips and shoulders is a big problem for women living in the UK
Motherhood changes the body in profound ways. It also changes who you are. I went from highly focused, career orientated to mother of two with an allotment by the Northumberland coast!
For many women, the first year after birth brings unexpected symptoms:
• Pelvic floor heaviness
• Pelvic girdle pain
• Hip and lower back discomfort
• A feeling of instability or weakness
• Deep exhaustion and depletion
While these symptoms are often dismissed as “normal after birth,” they are signs from the body asking for support. At my 6 week check with a male doctor I asked quite shyly as I was putting on my coat if heaviness when running was normal at this stage. The reply? “Yes all normal it will improve with time.”
As a specialist in postnatal movement and healing, any heaviness in the pelvic floor is a sign to me that we need to work on the biomechanics of the body (movement), we need to support your nervous system (regulation - that could look like journaling, breath work, guided meditation)and offer massage to allow muscles to soften. I provide all of this work in Northumberland and have supported many families across the North East of England as they navigate through pregnancy and into postpartum with these holistic practices.
Why Pelvic Floor Pain Is Rarely Just the Pelvic Floor
One of the most common things I see in postpartum women is heaviness in the pelvic floor.
Many mothers assume this means weakness.
In reality, heaviness is often due to a misalignment in the body.
During pregnancy and birth:
• The ribcage changes position
• The pelvis opens up at the top and then at the bottom and the ligaments that hold the structure are less stable as a result of the hormone relaxin.
• The glute muscle often becomes tighter (which in many women it was already tight before pregnancy)
• Breathing patterns change. Partly because we teach belly breathing to manage pain through labour. But this will actually make your pelvic floor heaviness, hip and back pain worse!
• The nervous system moves into protective states. Which causes all muscles to tighten. (including the pelvic floor!)
If we only focus on squeezing the pelvic floor muscles, we miss the bigger picture.
True pelvic floor healing requires looking at:
• Ribcage alignment
• Foot pressure and gait
• Glute strength and stability
• Breath mechanics
• Emotional and nervous system safety
This is where biomechanics and holistic massage work together.
Postpartum Massage in Northumberland
Many mothers are depleted, not just physically but emotionally.
Holistic postnatal massage supports:
• Nervous system regulation
• Circulation and lymphatic flow - draining away the hormones or medication left after birth
• Fascia release through the abdomen, hips and ribcage
• Restoration of parasympathetic tone - This is crucial for a pelvic floor that responds to pressure
• A deep sense of safety in the body
Massage is not just relaxation.
It creates the foundation for movement to become effective.
When the nervous system feels safe, the pelvic floor often relaxes which in turn allows for better posture and management of pressure.
Yoga & Movement for Pelvic Girdle Pain in Northumberland
Pregnancy yoga Postnatal yoga should not just be stretching.
In my classes in Morpeth, Northumberland and 1:1 sessions online, we focus on:
• Load transfer through the pelvis
• Breath-led stability
• Glute integration
• Reducing asymmetry
• Supporting second-time mothers preparing for another birth
This approach is especially powerful for women who experienced:
• A challenging first birth
• Ongoing pelvic girdle pain
• Unresolved postpartum symptoms
• Pelvic floor heaviness or dysfunction
Healing does not mean pushing harder.
It means understanding how your body is organising itself.
Supporting Mothers in Morpeth, Ashington, Alnwick and surrounding areas.
If you are based in the North East of England and looking for:
• Postpartum massage
• Pelvic floor healing
• Biomechanically informed exercise
• Support after a difficult birth
• Preparation for a second pregnancy
You are not alone.
There is a way to approach healing that blends movement, nervous system awareness and whole-body integration.
Your body is not broken.
It is communicating.
And when we listen carefully, it responds.
I have created a short course that holds you through a guided reset of your body. It covers the basic princiapls behind easing your pain in short videos that you can watch along side your baby or child. Click hear to read more about the self paced course.
