Postpartum is longer than just 6 weeks
The term ‘postpartum’ is used to describe the time it takes for a woman’s hormone levels and uterus to return to its pre pregnancy state, which is typically said to be about 6 weeks. However, recovering from pregnancy, labour and birth can take so much longer than that and the changes that occur are so much more than just physical. Some studies suggest that it takes closer to a year to fully recover physically and emotionally from pregnancy and birth, with some experts even suggesting that it can take up to 18 months to 2 years to fully recover.
The first photo of me is from when I was about 3 month postpartum. We were meant to go to some event but for the weeks leading up to it I was concerned about what I would wear because my pre-baby clothes still did not fit, I was tired, hormonal, I didn't feel like myself and I didn't want to go. I stressed over it for weeks. It may sound silly, and in truth as I write about it now I agree it does sound crazy, but anyone who has been through the wild ride that is postpartum knows sometimes those tears just come and there is no controlling them. Instead of going to the event we decided to go away for the weekend, this photo of me may make it look like its all rainbows and butterflies but at 3 months postpartum I was struggling emotionally and physically. My back ached constantly, my hips would ache of a night affecting my already lack of sleep and my self esteem was extremely low.
In the second photo I was about 6 months postpartum. What the photo doesn't show is that anytime I went for a walk with Paige in the carrier I would have to stop and have a rest mid walk, and when I got home I would have to lay flat on the ground to rest my back and hips.
In the third photo I was about 7 months postpartum. This photo was taken right before I tried to do the monkey bars and discovered that I couldn't even hold my whole body weight in a dead hang, it felt like my core muscles were going to fall out. This blew my mind and sent me down a spiral. Why am I still so sore and weak 7 months after having a baby? No one told me that it would be like this. Does everyone feel this way? Why aren’t women offered more support? Will I ever feel strong and healthy again?
I had always been a fit and healthy person. I had never experienced any major injuries or been someone who was constantly in pain, so feeling like this was all new to me. No one told me that it would take so long to feel strong again or that it would take this long to recover. Looking back now I can't believe my doctor told me at my 6 weeks check up “you are right to return to normal exercise”... not only is this unsafe but it implies to women that after this time you are recovered, but you aren't!! I had a cesarean, this is 7 layers of tissues being cut into and all I got was one 15 minute 6 week check up?... My husband has had a knee reconstruction, he had multiple check ups with the doctor, a referral to a physio and was explained to over and over again the importance of rehab.
And if we add in sleepless nights, mental stress, hormonal stress and breastfeeding, where someone is literally sucking nutrients and energy straight from your body, how is any woman expected to be fully recovered after 6 weeks? And why aren't postpartum women spoken to about the importance of rehabilitation? Or the impact nutrition has on your recovery and hormone regulation? Why is there so little support for postpartum women after the first 6 weeks? Where is the long term care and support?
The point of me sharing this story is to show you that you aren't going to feel ‘back to normal’ after 6 weeks and to know that it takes time and support. This is why we need more long term postpartum care and why I am so passionate about it in my business. We need to create a community that values holistic health for pregnant and postpartum women, and where it common practice for women to seek out nutritional support and support from physios, exercise physiologist, acupuncturist, chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopaths, personal trainers, doulas and mental health experts. We need to build a society where we value and support the need for postpartum care beyond the first 6 weeks, rather than giving women unrealistic expectations and making women feel bad about themselves when they don't feel healthy and strong at 6 weeks postpartum.
If you are 6, 12 or even 18 months postpartum and are struggling with pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, hormone irregularities or just don’t feel like yourself, know that there are people out there who can support you. Just because it is common for mums to feel weak, lethargic and out of balance does not mean it is normal or that it should be like that!
