Postpartum Is Forever: What That Really Means & Why It Matters for your recovery

Maike Mancuso
Apr 17
4 min read

Updated: Apr 24

By Mama Wellness Method

If you’re a mom, you’ve probably heard phrases like “bouncing back” or “six weeks postpartum” thrown around like they’re some sort of finish line. But what if we started saying the real thing instead?

Postpartum is forever.

That’s not meant to be scary. It’s meant to be grounding, eye-opening, and empowering.

Let’s unpack why.

The Spotlight Is on Pregnancy — But What About Your Postpartum Recovery Period?

There’s a lot of focus (rightfully so!) on pregnancy. We learn about safe movement in each trimester, how to modify workouts, eat well, manage swelling, prep for birth. There are whole industries centered on expecting mamas.

But the minute the baby is born, something happens — the focus shifts. Suddenly it’s all about the baby: feeding, sleeping, soothing, milestones. And Mama?

She gets a 6–8 week OB/GYN check-up and maybe the green light to “return to exercise” — often without much guidance on how or what kind.

That’s it.

No roadmap for healing the abdominal wall or restoring pelvic floor function. No detailed plan for strengthening a weakened core, improving posture, or identifying signs of dysfunction. And yet, the demands of motherhood begin immediately.

What Happens When We Don’t Recover Fully Postpartum?

Without guidance and support, many moms unknowingly live with symptoms they believe are “normal”:

Ongoing pelvic pressure or discomfort
Leaking when sneezing, laughing, or lifting
Lower back pain that flares during basic tasks
A weak or disconnected feeling in the core
Postural changes that lead to tension or pain
A belly that feels poochy no matter what you do

These are not just consequences of aging or “being a mom.” These are often the result of unhealed core and pelvic floor dysfunction — and they can be addressed.

Why “Postpartum Is Forever”

Here’s the thing: pregnancy and birth fundamentally shift the body — physically, hormonally, structurally. Those shifts are real and often permanent. But that doesn’t mean you’re broken. It just means your body deserves care and attention well beyond the newborn stage.

The ribs expand and hips widen to make space for baby.
Your posture and alignment shift as your center of gravity changes.
The linea alba (that connective tissue down your abdomen) stretches to its limits.
Hormones like relaxin linger in your system up to three months after you stop breastfeeding — which for many moms means years.
Sleep deprivation from newborn life impairs tissue repair and increases inflammation.

Even moms who feel “fine” after birth can experience issues months or years later — from lifting a toddler the wrong way, overexerting during a workout, or simply never having rebuilt their foundation.

What We Can Do: Proactive, Preventive, Empowering Support for Postpartum Recovery and beyond

Recovery starts before birth, ideally. But no matter when you’re starting, here are practical, proven tips to support your body long-term — because postpartum care is self-care for life.

1. Learn Your Body During Pregnancy

Start by building awareness of how your body is changing. Understand what’s normal, and what you can do to support it:

Practice proper breathing patterns and deep core engagement.
Focus on neutral alignment during movement and rest.
Be mindful of how you lift things (groceries, kids, laundry).
Avoid excessive pressure on your belly and pelvic floor — especially in the third trimester.

2. Protect the Core and Pelvic Floor

During pregnancy and postpartum:

Avoid movements that cause doming, bulging, or coning in the belly.
Skip crunches and planks in later pregnancy unless modified appropriately.
Engage the deep core system (diaphragm, transverse abdominis, pelvic floor, multifidus) with intentional breathing and gentle movement.

3. Go Slower Than You Want — and Be Proud of It

Feeling good doesn’t mean your tissues are fully healed. Starting slow is your secret weapon. Ease into core activation, breathwork, walking, and low-impact strength training before adding intensity. You’re not falling behind — you’re setting up a rock-solid foundation.

4. Build a Balanced Routine during pregnancy and postpartum

Long-term healing requires a mix of:

Strength training (especially glutes and core)
Mobility work for posture and alignment
Rest and recovery (hello, sleep when you can)
Stress management (even 3-minute breath breaks count)

Set realistic movement goals. Think 10–20 minutes a day at first. Consistency > intensity.

See a pelvic floor specialist & Pre and Postnatal Fitness Trainer

Take the guess work out of it by seeing a pelvic floor specilist or working with a certified trainer who can guide you through your movement, pregnancy and postpartum recovery. You do not have to do it alone. Save yourself the time and headspace and let someone create the right routine for you. A pelvic floor specialist can physically examen you and give you important insides on your health and well-being, weaknesses, tightened areas etc. A certified trainer, like myself, can than help you create a targeted routine to make progress.

This Isn’t Just for Moms

Here’s a fun fact: men have pelvic floors too. So do kids. Everyone benefits from learning about core function, posture, breath, and movement mechanics — but for moms, it’s especially crucial.

Because while pregnancy and birth create a unique demand on the body, aging brings its own wave of challenges — and the same tools we use for postpartum recovery can help us stay strong, resilient, and aligned in later decades too.

Pelvic floor issues, diastasis recti, and back pain don’t have to be your forever reality. But the care you give your body now? That can set you up for strength and ease for a lifetime.

Final Thought: You Deserve More Than a Six-Week Checkup

Let’s stop acting like postpartum ends after a few weeks. Let’s treat our bodies like the powerful, capable, healing homes they are. Ask for support. Modify when needed. Learn about your body. Speak up about what doesn’t feel right. Find professionals who truly understand postnatal recovery.

And above all — be proud of yourself. You brought life into this world. Now it’s time to take care of yours.

Postpartum is forever. Let’s start treating it that way.

Next steps:

book a free call with me to chat and address your questions about Pregnancy & Postpartum Fitness & Health. (You can reach out via Contact Form)
Check out the Core Restore Program to dive into your postpartum recovery with follow along videos and easy to use video library.