LADIES, If you've had a baby wether its recent or in the past or future, chances are you've run into the pressures of bounce back culture. Youll know that form your first to your second or even third, it changes. You change!
Inspired by the toxic notion that women's bodies need to snap back to their pre-pregnancy weight and shape ASAP, this idea has become the normal kind of chat amongst people when you have a baby! Aside from its dehumanising language, bounce-back culture brings a ton of other problems— among them being it's a totally unrealistic expectation to slap on women's bodies and really bloody plays on your mind as a mum and woman.
Thankfully, Im not the only ones who see it that way. Your dr, Obsetrician and midwife will all know the physical toll pregnancy takes on a woman's uterus. Expecting to BOUNCE BACK instantly or even in a matter of weeks isn't just unrealistic—it's flat-out impossible and could be harmful to your recovering body IF you don’t rest properly.
Being real here, there's no going back to the same body after pregnancy and childbirth. Tissues stretch, muscles change, hormones shift, and these changes can be permanent and get worse over time. The goal shouldn't be to return to your pre-pregnancy body but to function at your best in your new body and MOVE FORWARD into the new version of you and reinvent yourself with love and respect of what you have just achioeved.
Getting to that point of healthy function might mean getting help outside of your OB/GYN since post-delivery care often focuses more on pregnancy than life after birth. That 4th trimester will hit you like a tonne of bricks, especially for a new mum who isnt 100% confident in her mothering abilities as of yet.
I Personally don’t think there is much emphasis on postpartum wellness in healthcare in general. Our system isn't designed to provide extensive postpartum education since most women only see their OB/GYN for one follow-up visit at four to six weeks, which isn't enough to fully educate women on what to expect. Getting additional help for recovery might mean seeing pelvic floor specialists, nurse practitioners specializing in women's health, or physical therapists who can offer gentle, realistic guidance for a safe, healthy postpartum recovery.
So, what's a more realistic recovery timeline? Whether it's a vaginal delivery or a C-section, it can take up to six to 12 months to fully recover from pregnancy and childbirth and to feel like YOURSELF.
Unfortunately, ditching bounce-back culture isn't as simple as liking a post on social media. According to a 2019 study by the Mental Health Foundation, 54% of women aged 25-34 who had been pregnant felt worse about their body image after pregnancy than before. The study pointed to commercial pressures, social media, and advertising as major factors adding to women's stress during an already tough time, leading to greater dissatisfaction with their bodies.
If you're a new mom feeling the heat, there are some crucial things to remember for a healthy—not just speedy—recovery. Instead of rushing back into an exercise routine, Resting should come first. You have nothing to prove to anyone by how quick you “bounce back”.
Rest is super important. Pushing too hard too soon can lead to increased pain, bleeding, and fatigue. I usually recommend balancing any early postpartum activity, like light walking, with equal time for rest. For example, if you walk for 10 minutes, rest for 10 minutes. Your body needs that downtime for muscles and tissues to heal and regenerate and don’t even get me started on adjusting to your new NORMAL of having a kid or multiple kids to keep alive. Your whole routine and life has changed theresfore for this season your approach should change.
Above all, don't let societal pressure mess with your own expectations of your body. A body that's given birth has been through a major change—it's not the same as before, but that doesn't mean it can't be just as strong or even stronger. We need to recognize that a change has happened. Think of it like puberty—the body changes, but it's not broken. It can be better if we change our mindset to the MOVE FORWARD CULTURE!!!
While there might not be a quick fix for bounce-back culture, i know that myself being a new mum of 2 and 3 weeks PP that the unrealistic expectations that some people put on postpartum can suck the joy out of new motherhood. Even just seeing it on social media can mess with your head!
We need better post partum and reproductive education and support spread through society, hopefully, more mums will be able to focus on taking care of themselves and their babies after pregnancy rather than bloody “boucing back” quicker than they can push the baby out.
For context - The image below shows your uterus in trimester one compared to after birth. This aint going to go down over night girlfriend. Give it time, take it slow. Engage with a team of coaches who understand the postpartum journey and approach it holistically factoring in all areas of YOU!
Coach Channy
