FSHP Academy
Women’s Health — all lessons

Anatomy and Physiology

Pelvic floor anatomyUnderstanding the menstrual cyclePhysiological changes before and after pregnancy

Life-Stage and Hormonal Conditions

MenopauseOsteoporosisPCOSThyroid disordersHormonal imbalance: what exercise can and cannot doExercise guidelines: step-by-step prescription

Prenatal Exercise

Contraindications and precautions of prenatal exercisePrenatal exercise prescriptionFirst trimester: strengthening and stretchingSecond trimester: strengthening and stretchingThird trimester: strengthening and stretching

Postnatal Exercise

Postnatal evaluation and abdominal rehabilitationBenefits of postnatal exercise for mother and childPostnatal risks and contraindicationsC-section: post-op management and precautionsPostnatal exercise prescription

Postnatal risks and contraindications

Risks and contraindications in the postnatal period — red flags, pelvic organ prolapse symptoms, wound complications, and when to delay or modify exercise.

Advanced Evidence: Strong evidence 3 min read Reviewed 2026-10-31 Status: draft

Learning objectives

  • Identify postnatal red flags
  • Recognise pelvic floor and prolapse symptoms
  • Understand delays after complicated births
  • Modify exercise for symptoms

Before this lesson

Why this matters

Returning too quickly or ignoring symptoms can worsen pelvic floor problems or miss serious complications.

Red flags (urgent medical care)

Heavy bleeding, fever, foul discharge, wound redness or separation, calf pain/swelling, chest pain, breathlessness, severe headache.

Pelvic floor and prolapse symptoms

Leaking, heaviness, dragging, bulging, pain with intercourse — refer to pelvic-health physiotherapy [woodley2020].

Return to impact

Guidance suggests low-impact exercise in the first 3 months, with return to running not before about 12 weeks and after assessment of pelvic floor function and load tolerance [goom2019].

Modifications

Reduce load and impact, avoid breath-holding, monitor symptoms during and after sessions [acog2020].

Common mistakes and misconceptions

Case study

A client at 8 weeks wants to start running. She has heaviness after long walks. The trainer refers her for physiotherapy and builds strength and low-impact fitness; she starts running at 16 weeks without symptoms.

Further learning: video lessons

Video links are only marked “verified” after a human has watched them. Unverified entries open a YouTube search for that channel and topic rather than a guessed link.

Introductory needs verification — opens a YouTube search

Postnatal risks and contraindications

pelvic-health physiotherapists and women’s health clinicians (search)

You will understand: postnatal risks and contraindications

Why: Clinician-led content; verify the specific video.
Introductory needs verification — opens a YouTube search

Exercise guidelines explained

professional bodies (search, e.g. ACOG, CSEP, RCOG)

You will understand: current guideline recommendations

Why: Clinician-led content; verify the specific video.

Knowledge check

Knowledge check · 0/5

1. A postnatal red flag is…

Answer B. Urgent care.

2. A sensation of vaginal heaviness may indicate…

Answer B. Refer.

3. Goom et al. (2019) suggest return to running generally…

Answer B. Postnatal running guideline.

4. Calf pain and swelling postpartum may suggest…

Answer B. DVT risk.

5. After a severe perineal tear, impact exercise…

Answer B. Individual.

Short-answer & application questions

  1. Create a postnatal red-flag card.
  2. Plan modifications for a client with prolapse symptoms.
  3. Explain the 12-week running guideline.

Key takeaways

  • Heavy bleeding, fever, wound problems, calf pain or chest pain need urgent medical care.
  • Heaviness, dragging or bulging sensations may indicate prolapse — refer.
  • Complicated births (severe tears, C-section) may need longer before high-load or impact work.
  • Return to running is generally not advised before about 12 weeks and after assessment.

Connected topics

womens health

C-section: post-op management and precautions

womens health

Postnatal exercise prescription

References

  1. Goom T, Donnelly G, Brockwell E (2019). Returning to running postnatal — guidelines for medical, health and fitness professionals managing this population. Independent clinical guideline (published online). Guideline check pending
  2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2020). Physical activity and exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period: ACOG Committee Opinion No. 804. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 135(4):e178–e188. Guideline check pending
  3. Woodley SJ, Lawrenson P, Boyle R, et al. (2020). Pelvic floor muscle training for preventing and treating urinary and faecal incontinence in antenatal and postnatal women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CD007471. Systematic review check pending

Educational content only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis or treatment.