From one clinic to 22: One woman brings new hope for mothers with postpartum incontinence
What started as one mother’s personal journey to recovery has become a nationwide success story.
In just over a year and a half, Pelvic Care has grown from a single Cape Town practice to 22 locations across South Africa, offering hope and effective treatment for women struggling with postpartum urinary incontinence – a condition that affects millions but is often left unspoken.
Breaking the silence on postpartum incontinence
A small leak when you laugh, a sudden urge to run to the bathroom (and not getting there on time), loss of bladder control when you sneeze or run.
For many women, these changes arrive after childbirth – and are often brushed aside as “just part of being a mom.”
But experts and practitioners alike say it’s time to stop accepting what can, in many cases, be treated.
Research[i] shows that more than one in four women experience urinary incontinence (UI) after giving birth, with lasting effects on confidence, relationships, and quality of life.
Another study from 2025 confirmed the profound impact on these women’s quality of life. [ii] UI takes its toll socially, psychologically, and financially. It affects general health and vitality, the execution of daily activities, sexual intimacy, and many other spheres of their functioning.
“No one warns you about postpartum incontinence,” says a Durbanville mother. “It affects almost every aspect of your life and makes things like running, jumping, and playing with your kids impossible.”
A modern, non-invasive way to heal
While being a prevalent and normal postpartum complication, women do not simply have to accept and live with UI.
Pelvic Chair therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses clinically tested electromagnetic technology to strengthen the pelvic floor.
Each 30-minute session triggers over 11 000 pelvic muscle contractions, the equivalent of thousands of Kegel exercises, without the effort, discomfort, or embarrassment of traditional methods.
A mother’s mission turned national movement
The leading provider of this technology in South Africa is Pelvic Care, a Cape Town-based practice with franchises nationwide.
Pelvic Care was founded by a mother of four, Chrismari de Kock, who turned her own struggle into a mission to help others heal.
“After years of sleepless nights, avoiding exercise, and fearing every long trip, I finally found something that worked,” says De Kock.
She tested every solution she could find, and after discovering pelvic chair treatment, she knew she had the answer. “After my sessions on the chair, I remembered what it felt like ‘before’, and I could not believe how many years I spent living a restricted life,” she says.
She started the first branch in April 2024.
“Pelvic Care was born from my own journey to take my life back, because I believe women deserve better care postpartum.”
In just 19 months, her dedication has helped expand Pelvic Chair therapy from one practice to 22 across the country, giving thousands of women access to this life-changing treatment.
Living freely
Today, practitioners nationwide are using Pelvic Chair therapy to help mothers rebuild strength, confidence, and control.
For mothers who’ve suffered in silence, Pelvic Chair therapy offers more than muscle restoration. It restores confidence, joy, and quality of life.
One mother recalls how bladder problems left her living in constant fear. “Even a school pickup would fill me with dread.”
Pelvic Chair therapy transformed her life.
“No more having to go to the bathroom every hour, or getting up four to six times per night, or worrying about long road trips and planning bathroom stops,” she says.
“I feel like myself again.”
Learn more
To find a Pelvic Care practice near you or to book a free first session, visit www.pelviccare.co.za.
