You Were Discharged, Not Healed: The Truth About Postpartum Recovery

Let's be real— being cleared at 6 weeks doesn’t mean you’re healed.

If you were told at your 6-week postpartum visit that everything “looks good,” you’re not alone. And if you quietly thought, but my body doesn’t feel good, you’re also not alone.

Postpartum care often ends far too early. That 6-week visit is a medical discharge, not a full-body recovery assessment. And for many women, it creates confusion, shame, or self-doubt when symptoms linger months... or even years later.

Let’s talk about what postpartum healing actually involves.

What “Cleared at 6 Weeks” Really Means

At your postpartum check, your provider is typically confirming:

• The uterus has contracted

• Any stitches or incisions are closed

• There are no immediate medical complications

That’s important — but it’s also limited. What is not assessed in a typical postpartum visit:

• Pelvic floor strength, coordination, or tension

• Core and abdominal muscle function

• Scar mobility after a C-section or tearing

• Bladder or bowel control

• Pain with movement, intimacy, or daily activities

• How your body responds to lifting, carrying, or exercise
  

So when symptoms show up later, many women assume something is wrong with them — instead of recognizing that the system simply stopped checking too soon.

Common Postpartum Symptoms That Are Often Dismissed

You may have been told these things are “normal,” but they’re actually signals that your body needs support:

• Leaking urine when coughing, running, or lifting

• Pelvic heaviness or pressure

• Pain with intimacy

• Lower back, hip, or tailbone pain

• Core weakness, doming, or diastasis recti

• Difficulty returning to exercise

• A sense of disconnection from your body
  

These symptoms are common, but they are not something you just have to live with.

Why Symptoms Often Appear Months Later

Many women feel “okay enough” early on especially when adrenaline, help from others, and reduced activity are present.

Then real life resumes:

• Lifting your baby repeatedly

• Carrying car seats, groceries, laundry

• Returning to work or exercise

• Sleeping less

• Managing stress
  

Your body is suddenly under load, and unresolved pelvic floor or core issues become more noticeable. This doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. It means your body didn’t get the chance to fully heal.

Postpartum Healing Is Neuromuscular — Not Just Time Based

True postpartum recovery isn’t about waiting longer. It’s about restoring how your muscles coordinate, support, and respond to pressure.

This includes:

• Pelvic floor muscles that can relax and contract appropriately

• A deep core system that manages pressure during movement

• Scar tissue that moves freely and doesn’t restrict surrounding muscles

• A nervous system that feels safe enough to release tension

This is where pelvic floor physical therapy plays a critical role.

How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Supports Real Healing

Pelvic PT after birth is not about rushing you into intense exercises or pushing through discomfort.

Care is individualized and may include:

• Gentle assessment of pelvic floor function (always with consent)

• Core and breathing coordination

• Scar and abdominal tissue work when appropriate

• Education on posture, lifting, and daily movement

• Gradual return-to-exercise guidance

• Trauma-informed care that respects your boundaries

Healing should feel supportive, not overwhelming.

You’re Not Behind — You’re Just Under-Supported

Whether you’re 8 weeks postpartum or several years out, it is never too late to address lingering symptoms. You didn’t fail postpartum. You weren’t weak. You weren’t doing it wrong. You were discharged... not healed. And your body deserves more than that.

A Gentle Next Step

If you’re noticing symptoms that don’t feel right, pelvic floor physical therapy can help you reconnect with your body, reduce discomfort, and move forward with confidence.

Healing doesn’t have to be rushed, but it should be supported.