Postpartum Check-Ins & the Reality of Long-Term Recovery

(Because healing doesn’t magically end at six weeks.)

We’re told a lot about the six-week check-up, the milestone where, supposedly, everything is “back to normal.” But for so many moms, that date comes and goes, and nothing about their body, mind, or routine feels anything close to “normal.”

The truth? Postpartum doesn’t have an expiration date.
Recovery is physical, yes, but also emotional, mental, and deeply personal. And it unfolds on a timeline no doctor’s chart can capture.

Maybe you’re months, or even years, out and still feeling the echoes of birth: the exhaustion, the overwhelm, the identity shift, or even just that sense of I thought I’d have this figured out by now. You’re not alone. So many moms carry invisible layers of recovery long after the world assumes they’re “fine.”

Here are the check-ins we should be asking ourselves:

☑️ How am I really feeling today?

Not the polite answer. The real one. The “I’m proud of myself” answer, or the “I’m hanging by a thread” answer, both are valid.

☑️ What part of me still feels tender?

It could be your body. It could be your patience. It could be your confidence. Tender doesn’t mean broken; it means healing.

☑️ Who is supporting me right now?

Not who I’m supporting. Moms give endlessly, but you deserve space to receive, too. Whether it’s a partner, a friend, a community, or even a routine that grounds you.

☑️ What small win can I honour today?

A shower. A walk. Feeding yourself. Laughing once. Saying no. Asking for help. Recovering isn’t just about the big milestones, it’s the tiny ones that add up.

The longer postpartum journey isn’t talked about enough. It’s not glamorous, but it’s real, and sharing these experiences reminds moms they’re not “behind,” they’re just human.

If you have a story about your own long-term recovery, the highs, the setbacks, the surprises, we’d love to share it. Your honesty might be exactly what another mom needs to hear. 💛