What I Wish I Knew About Postpartum Recovery

By Rosie Purdue, Pelvic Health Physiotherapist

There’s a quiet myth surrounding postpartum recovery - that after six weeks, you’ll be “back to normal.” But as a women’s health physio who works with hundreds of postpartum clients, I can tell you: recovery isn’t linear, it isn’t quick, and it certainly doesn’t come with a rulebook. And I wish more people knew that. 

Postpartum recovery is about more than the six week check. Recovery after birth involves healing, pelvic floor recovery, rebuilding strength and supporting your body through the fourth trimester.

Here’s what I wish I had known - and what I now share with every woman I work with. 

1. “Six Weeks Cleared” Doesn’t Mean Recovered

Your six-week check is a milestone, not a finish line. It often focuses on medical healing - stitches, uterus, bleeding - but doesn’t fully assess things like pelvic floor strength, abdominal separation, or how you’re feeling in your body. Many women are still exhausted, leaking, or in pain - and wondering if that’s just their new normal. 

A physiotherapy check at six weeks offers something different: a full-body perspective on healing, movement, and what your body actually needs to recover well. 

2. Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Is Common - But Not Inevitable

Leaking, heaviness, or pain with intimacy can feel scary or shameful, but they’re incredibly common postpartum. That doesn’t mean you just have to live with them. 

Your pelvic floor has gone through a marathon. It’s stretched, shifted, and carried extra weight. Learning how to reconnect, relax and strengthen it - with guidance, not just Kegels - makes a world of difference. And if you’re dealing with prolapse, painful sex, or persistent symptoms, you’re not alone, and help is available. 

3. Rest Is Rehabilitation - Not Laziness

In those first weeks, rest is your best medicine. But that’s hard to hear in a world that praises “bouncing back.” Lying down, breathing deeply, and gently reconnecting with your core and pelvic floor isn’t a waste of time - it’s the foundation for everything else. 

At Hatched House, we often prescribe breathing before bridges, naps before crunches, and support before strength. When your nervous system is calm, healing happens faster. 

4. You Can Rebuild Strength - Safely and Slowly

Whether your goal is to lift your toddler without back pain, return to running, or feel strong in your own skin - we can help you get there. But rushing in can lead to injury or setbacks. 

Postpartum exercise should feel supportive, not punishing. We start with core and pelvic floor rehab, then layer in strength, load, and impact gradually. A tailored plan - not a generic “mums and bubs” class - makes all the difference. 

5. You Deserve Support, Not Just Survival

So often, I meet women who say, “I wish I’d come sooner.” They’ve been pushing through pain, or dismissing symptoms as “just postpartum.” But the truth is: you deserve care. Not because something’s wrong, but because you’ve been through something big. 

Physio isn’t just about fixing problems. It’s about helping you feel strong, comfortable, and connected in your body again. That’s what recovery really means. 

Need Support?

Our women’s health physios at Hatched House are here to guide your postpartum recovery - whether you're six weeks or six months in. We offer 1:1 assessments, tailored rehab, and a gentle, evidence-based approach to help you rebuild with confidence. 

📍 Visit us in Hawthorn or explore our postpartum services here: SERVICES