I'm very fortunate that I can apparently still engage my pelvic floor and even the transverse abdominals.
According to the physio this is actually very normal and to be expected because the surgeries I had, at least between them, represent a greater insult to my transverse abdominal muscles than having a Caesarean section, so it's not at all surprising I need the rehab but I should be on a pretty standard rehab path.
I never knew it would feel so good to have a medical problem that's just textbook.