What Is a Mummy MOT® And Do You Need One?

If you've recently had a baby and you're not quite feeling like yourself, you're not alone. Thousands of women across the UK are quietly living with back pain, pelvic discomfort, leaking, or a tummy that just doesn't feel right. Many assume it's simply part of life after having a baby. It isn't. And that's exactly where the Mummy MOT® comes in.

So, What Actually Is a Mummy MOT®?

The Mummy MOT® is the UK's leading specialist postnatal assessment, designed to support women's recovery after both vaginal and caesarean births. It is a thorough, expert-led 75-minute appointment that looks at the full picture of how pregnancy and birth have affected your body. Not just one or two symptoms, but everything from your posture and core strength to your pelvic floor, bladder, bowel, and beyond.

Up to half of all women experience weakness in both the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor following pregnancy, and up to a third still have a tummy gap at eight weeks post-birth. These can lead to instability, chronic back pain, and dysfunction that affects everyday life. Yet so many women are never told this, let alone offered the right support.

What Does the Assessment Include?

At 75 minutes, the Mummy MOT® is intentionally comprehensive. During your appointment, the assessment will include:

• A postural screen - assessing how pregnancy has affected your alignment and movement.

• A pelvic floor muscle assessment - checking strength, function, any signs of weakness or tension, timing & coordination and more.

• An abdominal muscle examination - looking specifically for diastasis recti, commonly known as tummy gap or abdominal separation.

• Screening for bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction - concerns that are far more common than many women realise, and far more treatable than they've been led to believe.

What Happens After?

You won't leave with just a list of findings and a wave goodbye. Every Mummy MOT® concludes with a written plan giving practical advice on everyday movements and a bespoke rehabilitation programme built entirely around your goals and your lifestyle.

When Should You Book?

The Mummy MOT® is recommended from around six weeks postnatal, but it is never too late. Many women come in months, years or even decades after giving birth, still experiencing symptoms they had assumed were permanent (they aren’t). Recovery is possible at any stage. A simple booking system allows online booking.

Is It Different From a Pelvic Health Assessment?

A Women's Pelvic Health Assessment is a 60-minute appointment better suited to women who have one or two specific concerns, such as prolapse, constipation or bladder issues and unrelated to a recent birth. The Mummy MOT® is broader and more in-depth, specifically designed to address the multiple and interconnected ways that pregnancy and birth affect the whole body. If you've had a baby and aren't sure which is right for you, get in touch and we'll help point you in the right direction.

You Don't Have to Just Put Up With It

Postnatal recovery deserves the same attention and care as any other stage of a woman's health journey. The Mummy MOT® exists because new mothers deserve to be properly assessed, properly informed, and properly supported, not just signed off at a six-week GP check and sent on their way.

If something doesn't feel right, it's worth finding out why. Book your Mummy MOT® today and take the first step towards feeling like yourself again.