Postnatal recovery — what your body needs after birth
Postnatal recovery covers the physical, hormonal and emotional changes in the weeks and months after birth. A postnatal check is recommended around six weeks to review healing, mood, contraception and pelvic-floor function. Pelvic floor rehabilitation supports recovery, particularly after vaginal birth, and most people can gradually return to exercise once cleared.
The advice after birth is often about the baby. What happens to your body, the healing, the fatigue, the bladder that doesn't feel the same, gets far less airtime. Recovery deserves its own plan, not an afterthought squeezed into a baby's appointment.
What happens to your body after birth?
Whatever the mode of delivery, the uterus takes several weeks to return to its pre-pregnancy size, bleeding (lochia) continues for two to six weeks, and hormone levels shift rapidly. Vaginal birth can involve perineal tearing or an episiotomy; caesarean birth involves recovery from abdominal surgery. Pelvic floor muscles, stretched or strained by pregnancy and birth, often need active rehabilitation rather than time alone.
What is a postnatal check, and when should you have one?
A postnatal check is generally offered around six weeks after birth, though earlier review is appropriate if something feels wrong sooner. It typically covers:
Physical healing — perineal or caesarean wound, bleeding pattern
Pelvic floor function — bladder and bowel symptoms, prolapse symptoms
Mood and mental health screening
Contraception planning
Breastfeeding and any ongoing concerns
What is pelvic floor rehabilitation, and who needs it?
Pregnancy and vaginal birth stretch the pelvic floor, and some degree of weakness afterwards is common — but common doesn't mean it should be ignored. Pelvic floor physiotherapy assesses muscle strength and coordination and builds a tailored plan, particularly useful for:
Bladder leakage with coughing, sneezing or exercise
A sensation of heaviness or bulging (possible organ prolapse)
Ongoing perineal pain or pain with sex
Diastasis recti (abdominal muscle separation)
Rehabilitation works best started early, though it's never too late to benefit.
When can you return to exercise?
Gentle walking and pelvic floor exercises can usually begin within days, guided by comfort and bleeding. Higher-impact exercise is generally best delayed until after your postnatal check and, ideally, a pelvic floor assessment. Returning to running or heavy lifting before the pelvic floor is ready is a common contributor to later symptoms.
What about your mental health after birth?
Mood changes are common in the days after birth (“baby blues”) and usually settle within two weeks. Symptoms that persist, worsen, or involve anxiety, intrusive thoughts or feeling disconnected from your baby deserve assessment: postnatal depression and anxiety are common, treatable, and not a reflection of how much you love your baby.
What symptoms should prompt an earlier review?
Book sooner than six weeks if you notice heavy bleeding or large clots, fever, worsening wound pain or discharge, calf pain or swelling, chest pain or breathlessness, or if your mood or thoughts feel out of step with what you'd expect.
Frequently asked questions
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A postnatal check is generally recommended around six weeks after birth, covering physical healing, pelvic-floor function, mood and contraception planning. Book earlier if you have concerns before then.
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Many people benefit from pelvic-floor physiotherapy after birth, particularly after vaginal delivery. It's especially useful for bladder leakage, a feeling of heaviness, or pain with sex, and supports a safer return to exercise. Book an assessment at elysianwomenshealth.com.au
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Gentle movement can usually start within days, but higher-impact exercise is best delayed until after your postnatal check and pelvic floor assessment, generally from around six weeks onward.
Book an appointment now
elysianwomenshealth.com.au
1300 124 333
No referral needed for an initial assessment
