Your health

During this changing time in your life, Maternity Physiotherapy can help you understand the changes to your body and help you manage them to prevent pain, as well as help you manage any aches or pains, if they arise. Your maternity physiotherapist can also help you find useful resources for care during pregnancy, labour, birth and post-natal care.

In the sections below, you can find information about how Physiotherapy can help you during your pregnancy, labour and birth and in the Post Natal period, through different useful resources.

For translated documents into languages other than English, please refer to our Reference Centre section.

We’re a team of highly skilled physiotherapists who specialise in maternity physiotherapy, that is, in the assessment and treatment of people during and after their pregnancy.

We provide ante natal and post natal appointments for:

• Muscle and joint issues such as: Low back pain, Pregnancy related Pelvic Girdle Pain (PPGP), Diastasis Rectus Abdominus Muscles (DRAM), Coccydynia (tailbone pain), Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, DeQuervains Synovitis (thumb pain).
• Bladder, bowel and pelvic floor issues such as difficulty controlling or emptying the bladder or bowel, prolapse symptoms and pelvic pain.

Helpful resources

How to Access the Obstetrics Physiotherapy Department

Please contact your GP urgently or NHS24 on 111 if you have recently or suddenly developed any of the following:

• Difficulty passing urine or controlling bladder or bowel.
• Numbness or tingling around your back or front passage.

Please contact maternity Assessment Unit if you have any of the following:

• Bleeding
• A reduction in your baby’s movements.

Ante Natal

If you have tried our helpful resources, but you still require further Physiotherapy input, you can complete the self-referral form (you will be able to select your preferred site once in the form). Your referral will then be looked at by the Physiotherapy team and someone will be in touch to arrange an appropriate appointment.

Post Natal

If you would like to refer to Physiotherapy with a muscle or joint problem (for example back pain, pelvic pains, hand pain), and it has been less than 6 weeks since you had your baby, please complete the self-referral form.

If it has been more than 6 weeks since you had your baby please self-refer to the main MSK Physiotherapy Department.

If you are having problems with bladder or bowel control, prolapse or issues with your pelvic floor muscles or tummy muscles and had your baby less than 6 months ago, please use this self-referral form.

If it has been more than 6 months please see your GP who will be able to refer you into the right service.

Classes

• Physiotherapy led Care of your body in pregnancy Class
• Enhanced Recovery after Obstetrics Surgery in Scotland (EROSS)/caesarean section classes
• Pelvic Girdle Pain class (PGP class)

Contact Details

Comments, Suggestions and Complaints

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Or contact us via phone: 0141 201 4500 or email: complaints@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.

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On this page you will find useful information to help further manage your condition and/or your overall health.

If you have attended our Pelvic Floor or Obstetrics Physiotherapy service, your Physiotherapist will be able to direct you to the most important information and advice for you as an individual.

You can use the following sections to find advice and exercises to help you manage pregnancy related aches and pains and concerns

If you have followed the advice and exercises provided but you still require to contact the Physiotherapy Department, you can complete our self-referral form.

Pregnancy related Pelvic Girdle Pain

Pregnancy related Pelvic Girdle Pain is aches and pains experienced during pregnancy or in the early post-natal period around pubic bone, groin, buttocks, hips and/or lower back.

Use the links below for advice on how to manage Pregnancy related Pelvic Girdle Pain (PPGP)

Pregnancy Related Pelvic Girdle Pain and other common conditions in pregnancy | POGP

• Video with relevant exercises (Pelvic floor, pelvic tilting and deep abdominal exercise)

External Resources

Working from Home – Advice and Exercises: https://www.csp.org.uk/publications/do-you-sit-desk-all-day-leaflets 

Reproduced with permission of Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (pogp.csp.org.uk) and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (csp.org.uk). 

NHS Highland Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Information Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v731EXFR2k4

NHS Lanarkshire Pelvic Girdle Pain Management

Pregnancy related Low back pain

Pregnancy related Low Back Pain is pain experienced during pregnancy or in the early post-natal period around the bottom of your back. If you have pain in other areas around your back, this information will also be useful.

Use the links below for advice on low back pain during pregnancy or after having a baby:

• Pregnancy related Low Back Pain | POGP
• Fit for future | POGP
• Video with relevant exercises (Pelvic floor, pelvic tilting and deep abdominal exercise)

Diastasis Rectus Abdominus Muscles

Diastasis Rectus Abdominus Muscle (DRAM) is the normal widening of your tummy muscles during pregnancy to accommodate your growing baby. After having your baby, this widening can take up to a year to recover.

Factors that may increase the risk of developing DRAM are;

• Multiple Pregnancy or larger babies
• Stretching in previous pregnancies
• Poor abdominal muscle tone
• Genetics

A small amount of widening of the abdominal muscles, 2-3 fingers width, is common after most pregnancies and likely to resolve with time. You can check you gap by following the steps below;

• Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the bed
• Place 4 fingers on your abdomen just above your belly button
• Raise your head and shoulders slightly off the floor
• You will feel the two abdominal muscles coming together against your fingers – this is the size of your gap – remember there may not be a gap and that is a sign that your DRAM has resolved.

If you notice the following then you may require a specialist physiotherapist to review;

• The gap is more than 3 fingers wide
• A visible small bulge protrudes at your midline
• Your fingers sink deeply into your abdomen

You can self refer for this up to 6 months after you have had your baby by completing the following form;

self referral form

Use the links below for advice on Diastasis Rectus Abdominus Muscles or DRAM.

• Diastasis Rectus Abdominus Muscles (DRAM) Video

External Resources

• POGP Fit for Future
• POGP: Post Natal Pilates
• Reproduced with permission of Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (http://pogp.csp.org.uk)

Bladder, Bowel and Pelvic Floor Concerns

Use the links below for advice on bladder, bowel and/or pelvic floor concerns:

• Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise and Urinary Incontinence Leaflet
• Overactive Bladder Leaflet
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse Leaflet
• Emptying your Bowels Leaflet
• Obstetrics Anal Sphincter Injuries (OASIS) 3rd / 4th degree tears Leaflet

Please use the following Relaxation Video to use alongside pelvic floor relaxation.

External Resources

Continence Information Leaflet

Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises Information Leaflet

Pelvic Organ Prolapse Leaflet

Bowel Function Leaflet

NHS Highland Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Information Video

SqueezyApp for Information Leaflets and Videos on Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises

Reproduced with permission of Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (pogp.csp.org.uk) and SqueezyApp.com

Coccydynia

Coccydynia or tailbone pain is pain experienced on the sitting bone, specially when sitting. This can appear during pregnancy or in the early post-natal period due to the changes happening to your body.

Use the links below for advice about coccydynia or tailbone pain:

• Coccydynia Leaflet
• Care of your Body in Pregnancy – Managing Aches & Pains Video

External Resources

Working from Home – Advice and Exercises

Reproduced with permission of Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (pogp.csp.org.uk) and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (csp.org.uk). 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is pain, numbness, pins and needles and tingling of the fingers and hand(s). There may be also swelling of the hands and you might feel your hands are clumsy, weak and tire easily. This can appear during pregnancy or in the early post-natal period due to the changes happening to your body.

Use the links below for advice on how to manage carpal tunnel syndrome:

• Circulation Changes in Pregnancy – Managing Aches & Pains Video
• Wrist Splint Fitting Instructions

Wrist Splint Size Guide

DeQuervains Synovitis

DeQuervains Synovitis is pain on the base of the thumb, swelling and reduced movement. This can appear during pregnancy or in the early post-natal period due to the changes happening to your body.

Use the links below for advice on how to manage DeQuervains Synovitis:

• DeQuervains Synovitis Information Leaflet

• Thumb Spica Fitting Instructions

Thumb Spica Size Guide

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde has 6 Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) within its area. You can find local contacts on their websites. Your HSCP

The ward team will discuss with you and your family to assess what services you need and the ward will organise these before you go home. These services can still be arranged when you are at home if required.

NHSGGC Planning Your Care

• Resources for the public
• Planning Your Care ACP updates on Twitter.

Other Resources

Palliative and End of Life Care services and resources for patients and carers living in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area can be accessed through NHS Inform.

NHS Inform – Scotland’s Service Directory

NHS Inform – Palliative Care – General Information

Telephone enquiries on community services including Palliative Care should be made through your local HSCP contacts or directed to NHSGGC Support and Information Service.

Out of Hours or Urgent Health enquires should be made through your GP or NHS 24

Leaving Hospital

Community Services following discharge from hospital for patients with life limiting conditions, their families and carers.

Hospices

Hospices in NHSGGC and surrounding area

News

NHSGGC – Voices from NHSGGC Palliative Care Accelerated Design Event

This short video shares some of the hopes, aspirations and experiences of participants who attended an accelerated design event in NHSGGC to help develop a new strategy for palliative care across our whole system.

Our X account links palliative and end of life care news, resources & organisations across the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, Scotland and the UK. www.twitter.com/palliativeggc

Additional Social Media on Palliative Care and Bereavement

• CHAS – Twitter Account
  Children’s Hospice Association – ‘We care for children across Scotland with life-shortening conditions. Even in the pain of grief, we’re determined joy lives on’. 
• Good Life Good Death Good Grief – Twitter Account
  ‘An alliance working to make Scotland a place where there is more openness about death, dying and bereavement’.

Further information and related information

Planning Your Care

Macmillan Information And NHS Bereavement Centre

Adult Disability Payment

Adult Disability Payment, which replaces Personal Independence Payment (PIP), is launching nationally across Scotland on 29 August 2022.

This means Scotland’s new terminal illness definition, based on clinical judgement, will apply to adults (aged 16 to state pension age) who become terminally ill. This moves away from the current DWP time limited ‘6 month’ definition.

From 29 August 2022, BASRiS forms instead of DS1500 forms should be completed to support applications for disability assistance for the following groups:

• Children: for all children living in Scotland age 0 to 16 years: complete a BASRiS form and return it to Social Security Scotland
• Adults: age 16 to state pension age: complete a BASRiS form and return it to Social Security Scotland
• Adults over state pension age: please continue to use a DS1500 and return to DWP. The date for when you will be able to use a BASRiS form for adults over state pension age is still to be announced.

Your Health Care Professional should be able to access the relevant resources to support applications.

More information for the public is available at Social Security Scotland