Should you pay for a specialist postnatal check, or start at home?
What a Mummy MOT actually looks at, who gets the most value from one, and how it compares with the free NHS routes and a low-cost home guide.
Quick answer
A Mummy MOT is a private, hands-on postnatal assessment by a physiotherapist trained in the Mummy MOT method. It checks your tummy gap, pelvic floor, posture and breathing, then gives you a personal rehab plan. It is worth paying for if you have leaking, heaviness, pain, or a gap that is not improving, because a hands-on examination can pick up things no app or guide can. If you feel well and simply want to rebuild your core, the free NHS routes plus a structured home guide are a reasonable, lower-cost place to start. Results vary from mum to mum.
What is a Mummy MOT?
The Mummy MOT is a trademarked postnatal assessment developed in the UK by women's health physiotherapist Maria Elliott. Physiotherapists who complete the Mummy MOT training are listed on the official Mummy MOT website, so you book directly with a local clinic rather than through the NHS.
It is designed to fill a gap. The routine 6 to 8 week check with your GP focuses on your general health, mood, contraception and wound healing, and it usually does not include a physical assessment of your abdominal muscles or pelvic floor. We break down exactly what that GP appointment covers in our guide to what happens at the 6-week postnatal check.
What the assessment typically covers
- Abdominal separation: the width and depth of any gap along the linea alba (diastasis recti), and how the tissue responds when you engage your core.
- Pelvic floor: strength, endurance and coordination. With your consent this may include an internal vaginal examination, which is the most accurate way to assess the pelvic floor.
- Posture and breathing: how you stand, lift and breathe, since these affect pressure on your core and pelvic floor.
- Symptoms: leaking, heaviness or dragging, pelvic or back pain, and pain during sex.
- A personal plan: exercises and advice matched to what was found, plus guidance on returning to exercise.
Each clinic sets its own fees and appointment format, so check what is included before you book.
of women had a tummy gap at 6 weeks postpartum (Sperstad et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2016)
still had one at 6 months in the same study
still had one at 12 months, so a check is relevant long after the newborn weeks
The genuine strengths of a Mummy MOT
It is fair to start with what a specialist assessment does better than anything you can do at home.
- A hands-on examination. A trained physio can feel how your linea alba tensions and, with consent, assess your pelvic floor internally. A home self-check can estimate gap width, but it cannot reliably judge pelvic floor function.
- Personalisation. Your plan is based on your body, your birth and your symptoms rather than an average.
- Red-flag spotting. A physio can recognise signs of pelvic organ prolapse, a hernia, or a problem that needs referral, and point you to the right next step.
- Useful at any stage. It is not only for new mums. Women book one months or years after birth, which matters given how many still have a gap at 12 months.
The limitations to weigh up
- Cost. It is a private appointment, and follow-up sessions are usually charged separately.
- Access. Availability depends on having a trained practitioner near you, and appointments can book up.
- It is an assessment, not a programme. You still need to do the exercises consistently at home for weeks or months. The appointment tells you what to work on; the daily practice is on you.
Mummy MOT vs the free and low-cost alternatives
In the UK there are three other common routes, and they are not mutually exclusive. Many mums combine them.
| Option | What you get | Hands-on pelvic floor check? | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHS 6 to 8 week GP check | General health, mood, contraception and wound review | Not usually | Free | Every mum, as a baseline |
| NHS pelvic health physiotherapy | Specialist assessment and treatment | Yes | Free, via GP or self-referral where offered | Leaking, prolapse symptoms, pain |
| Mummy MOT (private) | Full postnatal assessment plus a personal plan | Yes, with consent | Private fee set by each clinic | Mums who want a fast, thorough check |
| Mumma Glow guide | Structured, step-by-step home core programme | No | One-time, from $15, no subscription | Symptom-free mums ready to rebuild at home |
If the NHS route suits you, our step-by-step guide on how to get a GP referral for postpartum physio explains what to say and what to expect. Some countries fund postnatal pelvic floor rehab directly; France, for example, covers a course of postnatal perineal rehabilitation sessions through its national health insurance (Assurance Maladie).
Who should book a Mummy MOT (or an NHS physio) first?
Put a hands-on assessment ahead of any home programme if you have:
- Leaking when you cough, sneeze, laugh or run, or urgency you cannot control
- A feeling of heaviness, dragging or a bulge in the vagina
- Pelvic, hip or back pain that is not easing
- Pain during sex
- A tummy gap that is wide, deep or not improving, or doming you cannot control
- A traumatic birth, a significant tear, or an assisted delivery
Our explainer on what happens at a postpartum pelvic floor physio appointment can help you feel prepared for the internal examination.
Who might reasonably start at home?
If you feel well, have no leaking, heaviness or pain, and have been cleared at your GP check, a structured home programme is a sensible first step. Start with a diastasis recti self-check so you know your baseline, and track it over the following weeks. If anything worsens or new symptoms appear, book an assessment.
A self-guided plan also pairs well with an assessment. Plenty of mums book one appointment to get a clear picture, then follow a home programme for the months of consistent practice that rebuilding actually takes.
Our verdict
A Mummy MOT is worth it if you have symptoms, a gap that is not improving, or you simply want a thorough hands-on check and can afford it. It gives you information a guide cannot. If cost is a barrier, ask your GP about NHS pelvic health physio first. If you are symptom-free and want an affordable way to rebuild, a one-time home guide is a reasonable start, with an assessment kept in reserve if progress stalls.
Ready to rebuild your core at home?
The Core Reconnect Program is a gentle, step-by-step guide to reconnecting your deep core after birth, with safe progressions you can do during baby's nap time. It is a one-time purchase with no subscription, and it works alongside advice from your physio. Use code GLOW20 for 20% off. See the Core Reconnect Program
Frequently asked questions
What is checked in a Mummy MOT?
A Mummy MOT typically assesses abdominal separation (diastasis recti), pelvic floor strength and function, posture and breathing, and any symptoms such as leaking, heaviness or pain. You then get a personal rehab plan. Each clinic sets its own format, so confirm what is included when booking.
When can I have a Mummy MOT after birth?
Most practitioners offer it from around six weeks after birth, including after a caesarean, and there is no upper limit. Many women book one months or years later, which makes sense given that 32.6% of women in the Sperstad et al. (2016) study still had a tummy gap at 12 months.
Is a Mummy MOT available on the NHS?
No. The Mummy MOT is a private service. The NHS equivalent is a referral to a pelvic health physiotherapist, which is free and can be arranged through your GP, and some areas also accept self-referrals.
Do I need an internal examination?
It is optional and only done with your consent, but it is the most accurate way to assess the pelvic floor. If you would rather not have one, tell the physio, who can still assess your tummy gap, posture and breathing.
Can a home programme replace a Mummy MOT?
Not if you have symptoms such as leaking, heaviness or pain, because those need a hands-on assessment. For symptom-free mums, a structured home programme is a reasonable starting point, and it can also be the daily practice that follows an assessment. Results vary from mum to mum.
Sources: Sperstad JB et al., Diastasis recti abdominis during pregnancy and 12 months after childbirth, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2016; NHS, Your 6-week postnatal check; NHS, Pelvic floor exercises; The Mummy MOT, official practitioner information; Assurance Maladie (France), postnatal perineal rehabilitation.
This article is general education, not medical advice. Mumma Glow is not affiliated with The Mummy MOT or any programme or organisation named here. Results vary from mum to mum. If you have leaking, heaviness, pain or any concerns, see your GP, midwife or a women's health physiotherapist.