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Postpartum Chiropractor in Oakville

Assessment-first chiropractic care after birth with Dr. Siyumi Mahavidanage, direct billed to most major insurers.

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Dr. Siyumi currently sees patients on Wednesdays and Fridays. Pelvic floor, core and C-section scar care after birth sit with Gurmeet Rai and our postpartum physiotherapy team, and many parents use both under one roof. If you would like to talk it through before booking, the free 15 minute consult is held in person at the clinic.

Postpartum chiropractor Oakville: what we offer at a glance

Postpartum chiropractic care at Wellmax is a one-on-one assessment followed by hands-on care and exercise for the spine and joints, started when your doctor or midwife says it is fine. The table below answers the questions new parents ask us most.

What does pregnancy and birth change in your back, hips and pelvis?

Pregnancy and birth change how your spine, hips and pelvic joints share load, and the first months with a baby add new repetitive work: feeding, lifting a car seat, bending over a change table. Most aches in this period are common and most settle. Some do not, which is why an assessment is worth booking when something lingers.

Here are the numbers we could verify. A 2023 systematic review of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain reports that most women with it recover in the first weeks after birth, but about one in three still have symptoms at three months and about 8.5% still have important symptoms at two years. The same review found that high pain during pregnancy and a history of low back pain were among the factors linked to pain that lasts. In a 2024 online survey of 395 breastfeeding mothers reported pain at least once a week in the lower back (66%), the neck (48%) and the upper back (36%). A self-selected survey cannot tell you what is happening in your own body, but it does show how common these aches are.

Why feeding and carrying put the neck and upper back to work

Holding a baby close means leaning forward, often for long stretches and many times a day. That posture loads the neck, shoulders and upper back, and the same 2024 survey found that neck pain was less intense in mothers who preferred to feed lying down than in those who preferred sitting. Position is one of several things we look at, not the whole story. The same ache can have several different causes, and each one needs different treatment.

Wrist and thumb strain from lifting and holding a baby is handled in our wrist and hand physiotherapy. Pain at the front of the pelvis is covered in our guide to pubic bone and pelvic girdle pain after birth, and the sacroiliac joint and tailbone pages explain how our physiotherapists approach those areas.

How can a postpartum chiropractor in Oakville help?

A postpartum chiropractor assesses how your spine, ribs, hips and sacroiliac (pelvic) joints move and tolerate load, then treats with hands-on care and exercise matched to your recovery. At Wellmax, Dr. Siyumi combines joint mobilization and adjustment, soft tissue therapy and rehabilitation exercise. Techniques are chosen around your birth, your comfort and what you want to get back to, and you can decline any technique without it affecting the rest of your care.

People book a postpartum chiropractic visit for patterns like these, and the assessment works out what is behind them:

• Lower back stiffness or aching that started in pregnancy or after birth and has not settled. See our page on back pain chiropractic care.
• Neck and upper back tightness from feeding, carrying and leaning over a baby. See neck pain chiropractic care.
• Hip or pelvic joint discomfort that shows up when you climb stairs, roll over in bed or stand on one leg.
• Mid-back and rib tightness that makes deep breaths or turning to reach the baby uncomfortable.
• Headaches that seem to build with neck and shoulder tension. See headache and migraine chiropractic care.
• Pain that travels from the back or buttock into the leg. See sciatica chiropractic care.
• Aches that returned or got worse when you restarted walking, lifting or exercise.

None of this is a diagnosis. If something on the list sounds like you, or you are not sure, the assessment is how we find out what is going on, and you will be told plainly if another professional, or your doctor, is the better next step.

What does the research say?

Honestly, the research is limited. A 2020 systematic review of chiropractic-style care for postpartum low back and pelvic girdle pain screened 1,611 articles and included 16. It found moderate, favourable evidence from a single randomized trial for spinal manipulation or mobilization for postpartum low back pain, moderate but unclear evidence for exercise in pelvic girdle pain, and concluded that no treatment had enough evidence for a clear recommendation. The authors also noted how little research exists on chiropractic care after birth. That is why Dr. Siyumi pairs hands-on care with exercise, tracks how you respond, and changes the plan if you are not progressing.

Want a straight answer on whether chiropractic suits your situation? Book the free 15 minute consult, or read how our chiropractic care in Oakville works across the clinic.

How soon after birth can you see a chiropractor?

There is no single date that suits everyone. Start after your doctor or midwife says it is fine, and let your type of birth, your healing and your comfort set the pace. After a C-section, expect to wait longer, because your surgeon’s activity limits come first. We did not find a Canadian guideline that sets a start date for chiropractic care after birth, so we ask about your clearance and let the assessment guide the plan.

After a vaginal birth

The right time depends on tearing, bleeding, how you are healing and how you feel. Some people feel ready within the first few weeks and others wait for their follow-up visit. Both are reasonable. Online you will see exact dates quoted by clinic blogs, but those are marketing pages and not medical guidance, so check with your own care provider.

After a C-section

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada’s patient site, pregnancyinfo.ca, advises avoiding heavy lifting for at least four weeks (nothing heavier than your baby, including a baby in a car seat) and avoiding running, swimming and core exercises for at least six weeks. Your provider says when regular activity is safe, typically at a follow-up visit at 6 to 8 weeks. We follow your surgeon’s instructions. Scar care and core rehabilitation after a C-section sit with our C-section recovery and scar physiotherapy, and our guide to C-section recovery week by week explains what to expect.

After a complicated birth

If you had a significant tear, heavy bleeding, high blood pressure or another complication, check with your doctor or midwife before booking and tell us about it at your visit.

Is chiropractic care safe after birth and while breastfeeding?

For most healthy people, chiropractic care after your doctor or midwife has cleared you is a reasonable option, but the safety research is thin, so technique is chosen to suit you. A 2021 systematic review of adverse events from spinal manipulation in pregnant and postpartum women, published in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, covered 21 studies. It found one case report of a serious event involving the neck and a handful of minor, short-lived low back events, and it describes the evidence of harm as limited. The authors are clear that this does not let anyone state the risk definitively.

In practice that means three things. We ask about your birth, your recovery and your symptoms before any treatment. We screen for signs that you should see your doctor first. And an adjustment is never the only option: mobilization, soft tissue work and exercise are alternatives if an adjustment is not right for you or you would rather not have one.

Breastfeeding: we did not find a study showing that chiropractic care affects breastfeeding or milk supply, and we did not find one proving it does not, so we make no promise either way. Tell us you are breastfeeding when you book so we can plan comfortable positions for your visit.

Should you see a chiropractor or a physiotherapist after birth?

Often both, because they do different jobs. A chiropractor focuses on how your spine, ribs, hips and pelvic joints move and on the aches that come with that. A physiotherapist trained in pelvic health looks after the pelvic floor, the abdominal wall, scar tissue and the return to running and lifting. At Wellmax both sit under one roof, so the plan can be coordinated.

Abdominal separation is very common after birth and worth knowing about. In a Norwegian cohort of 300 first-time mothers, a separation of two finger-widths or more was found in 60% at six weeks, 45% at six months and 33% at twelve months after birth. Women with and without it reported similar lumbopelvic pain at twelve months. If you notice a ridge along your belly, our postpartum physiotherapy page explains how it is assessed and why strength and control matter more than the size of the gap.

Not sure which professional does what in general? Our comparison of physiotherapy and chiropractic care covers the overlap, and our women’s health physiotherapy hub shows the full range of care for women at every stage.

How does chiropractic care fit with getting back to exercise?

The 2025 Canadian postpartum physical activity guideline from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology says return to activity should be individualized, gradual and symptom-based. For people without medical contraindications it recommends building up to 120 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per week, with daily pelvic floor muscle exercises. Chiropractic care can help the joints and muscles of the back, neck and hips cope as you build up. It does not replace the pelvic floor and core testing that sits with physiotherapy before higher-impact exercise.

What happens at your first postpartum chiropractic visit?

Your first visit is an assessment, and treatment usually begins the same day where it is appropriate. You are told what is being checked and why, and you can ask questions at every step. It takes place in person at the clinic in a private treatment room.

1. History. How your pregnancy and birth went, whether you had a vaginal birth or a C-section, any complications, whether you are breastfeeding, how you are sleeping, which aches are bothering you and what you want to get back to. Tell us what your doctor or midwife has said about activity.
2. Physical assessment. Posture, movement, joint mechanics, muscle testing and relevant neurological screening, with positions adjusted to what is comfortable for you.
3. Findings in plain language. What we found, what is still unclear, and whether you should see your doctor or another practitioner first.
4. Treatment where appropriate. Hands-on care and a few simple exercises to start. If an adjustment is not right for you, there are alternatives.
5. A plan with an end point. The expected number of visits, what to do between appointments and what progress should look like.

When you book online you add your insurance details, and we direct bill where your plan allows. Babies are welcome at your visit. Mention it when you book so we can plan the appointment around feeds and naps. Ready to book? Book online and choose Dr. Siyumi, or start with the free 15 minute consult.

What can you do between visits?

A few general starting points help many new parents, but they are a safe starting point and not the fix. The same ache can have several different causes, and the assessment is what finds yours.

• Vary your feeding positions. Lying down or semi-reclined with your head supported was linked with less intense neck pain in the 2024 survey above.
• Bring the baby up to you with a pillow or rolled towel instead of leaning down to the baby.
• Switch the side you carry on, and break up long stretches in one position.
• Follow your surgeon’s or midwife’s lifting limits, especially after a C-section.
• Keep up the exercises you are given, in small doses that fit the day.

Exercises at Wellmax are chosen for you and shown in the room, so you leave knowing exactly what to do and what to stop if it flares.

When should you see your doctor or midwife first?

Some symptoms need medical care before any chiropractic visit. William Osler Health System, an Ontario hospital network, lists these warning signs after birth (see its postpartum care page).

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for:

• Soaking a pad with bright red blood in under an hour, or passing large clots (plum-sized or larger)
• Trouble breathing or chest pain
• A new or unusual headache, or vision changes

Call your doctor or midwife for:

• A fever above 37.8°C (100.4°F)
• Breasts that are red, hot or tender
• Legs that are tender, red, painful or hot
• A C-section incision that is red, draining, swollen or painful
• Burning when you urinate, or being unable to urinate
• Sadness or crying that continues past two weeks

Back pain together with new numbness between your legs or around your buttocks, or new loss of bladder or bowel control, is also an emergency. Go to the emergency department right away (see Spinal Injuries Ireland’s warning signs). If anything you tell us points that way, we will send you to the right place.

Does insurance cover postpartum chiropractic care in Oakville?

Most extended health plans in Ontario include chiropractic under paramedical benefits, usually with an annual maximum that is separate from physiotherapy and massage. Wellmax direct bills most major insurers where your plan permits, so you only pay the remaining portion at the desk. You do not need a referral to be assessed or treated, although some plans ask for a doctor’s note before they reimburse you, so check your own policy wording.

Chiropractic care for a work injury or car accident is direct billed to WSIB and motor vehicle accident claims. Details are on our insurance and direct billing page, and reception can check your plan before you book. Because chiropractic, physiotherapy and massage therapy often sit in separate benefit pots, many patients have more coverage available than they expect.

Who is Dr. Siyumi Mahavidanage?

Dr. Siyumi Mahavidanage is a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC, BSc). She earned her chiropractic degree at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College after a Bachelor of Science at McMaster University. She takes an evidence-based, whole-body approach: pain in one area is often connected to how the rest of the body is moving, so she looks at the contributing factors around the spot that hurts. Her care combines hands-on treatment with active rehabilitation so you leave with the tools to stay better between visits.

If you are pregnant, our prenatal and pregnancy chiropractor page covers care during pregnancy. If you would like a woman practitioner for any chiropractic visit, see our female chiropractor page, or meet the whole team.

Where is the clinic, and who do you serve?

Wellmax Physiotherapy is at 1148 Winston Churchill Blvd, Unit B3, Oakville, ON L6J 0A3, at Winston Churchill Blvd and Royal Windsor Dr. There is free parking at the door and the clinic is wheelchair accessible. We see patients from across Oakville, including Clearview, Maple Grove and Eastlake, Glen Abbey and Bronte, and from Mississauga, including Clarkson, Lorne Park, Erin Mills and Sheridan Park. See all of our service areas, or contact the clinic.

Book a postpartum chiropractor in Oakville

You do not have to wait for aches to settle on their own. Book a postpartum chiropractic assessment with Dr. Siyumi Mahavidanage at Wellmax Physiotherapy in Oakville, or call (905) 829-1100. If you would rather talk it through first, take the free 15 minute consult. There is no charge and no obligation, and it is a sensible way to work out whether chiropractic, physiotherapy or both fit you best.

Sources behind the numbers on this page

• Weis CA et al. Chiropractic care of adults with postpartum-related low back, pelvic girdle, or combination pain: a systematic review. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2020;43(7):732-743. doi.org
• Weis CA, Stuber K, Murnaghan K, Wynd S. Adverse events from spinal manipulations in the pregnant and postpartum periods: a systematic review and update. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2021;65(1):32-49.
• Burani E et al. Predictive factors for pregnancy-related persistent pelvic girdle pain: a systematic review. Medicina. 2023. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• Ratajczak M, Gornowicz R. The influence of breastfeeding factors on the prevalence of back and neck pain: data from an online survey. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• Sperstad JB et al. Diastasis recti abdominis during pregnancy and 12 months after childbirth: prevalence, risk factors and report of lumbopelvic pain. Br J Sports Med. 2016;50(17):1092-1096. doi.org
• Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. C-section recovery (pregnancyinfo.ca). pregnancyinfo.ca
• Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. 2025 Canadian guideline for physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep throughout the first year postpartum. csep.ca
• William Osler Health System. Postpartum care: warning signs. williamoslerhs.ca

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Wellmax is in good standing with the regulatory colleges and leading associations for physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, and naturopathic medicine in Ontario.