Once Postpartum Always Postpartum...

As my very first blog post I am happy to discuss a common misconception about what is considered postpartum. ​​I recently posted about this on Instagram as part of my weekly Misconception Monday series since many people have never heard before that once you are postpartum you're always postpartum. If you were to look up what is considered postpartum, it is generally the time after a woman gives birth from 2 weeks to 6 months. This is what is thought of as the time it takes a woman's body to return to a non-pregnant state.

I believe postpartum being considered 2 weeks to 6 months after delivering a baby is a huge misconception since every woman's body heals at a different rate due to factors including hormone levels, breastfeeding, and genetics just to name a few.

I personally experienced the most drastic changes in my body happening in my 2nd postpartum year after delivering my son (when I was several months removed from breastfeeding). 

---

My bigger issue with postpartum being misinterpreted as 2 weeks to 6 months is that it puts unnecessary pressure on women to "get back" to where they were pre pregnancy before their bodies are actually physiologically ready to be back in that state. Comparison, pressure from social media, family, friends, spouses etc and mostly from the pressure women place on themselves leads to this idea that the sooner you get back to your pre pregnancy state the better.

It's such a compliment to hear "you don't even look like you had a baby" to many of us, but there is something to be said for living in the moment. Whether your body bounces back quickly after having a baby or it's a more gradual healing process it is a season of life that not everyone gets to experience. We all heal in time and then after menopause our body goes through hormonal changes causing it to be back in a similar pre pregnancy state. Our bodies will always remember what it endured which is why once you are postpartum you are always postpartum.