The bowel is a complex creature of habit that likes routine and consistency. Part of re-educating the bowel involves setting a routine to encourage regular emptying.The bowel has periods of increased muscular activity when the urge to empty is more likely to occur.

This can be a dreaded moment for some, but it doesn’t need to be. After your labour, especially if you had a vaginal delivery, but also if you spent time pushing, this first poo can feel pretty scary! After delivering a baby, the last thing you want to do is push again.

Our abdominals are made up of several muscles, which join down the middle with a strong fibrous sheath called the linea alba. During pregnancy, due to the presence of pregnancy hormones and your growing baby, the linea alba becomes thinner and stretches.

A caesarean section involves abdominal surgery to deliver your baby safely when vaginal birth is not an option. As it is a major operation, it is important to get adequate rest afterwards and ensure that you don’t push yourself too soon to allow for healing.

The pelvic floor works with the deep abdominals, deep back muscles and the diaphragm to support the spine and pelvis and increase stability. Pregnancy forces these muscles to stretch and ultimately weakens them. This makes it harder for the pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscles to support the spine and pelvis, as they were once easily able to.

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that run from the pubic bone to the tailbone. They are responsible for protecting your back and pelvis, for bladder and bowel control and for supporting your growing belly.

The activities of a new mother can cause all sorts of aches and pains in the shoulders, neck and back. Some of the activities contributing to this may include feeding your baby, leaning forward to change nappies or lifting your baby.

It is important to maintain healthy toileting habits during pregnancy and after having your baby in order to decrease the strain on your pelvic floor and reduce the risk of incontinence later on.

During your pregnancy your body will change and your posture will adapt in response to this. Your abdominal muscles will stretch will be less able to protect your spine and pelvis. You should take extra care to protect yourself from pain or injury during this time.