Becoming a parent is magical, exhausting, exhilarating and, let’s be honest, completely overwhelming. As a midwives, we’ve seen countless parents navigate the first weeks and months after birth, and there’s one thing we know for sure: no one prepares you for the real postpartum experience.
Here are the truths that every new parent should hear straight from a midwife’s perspective.
Your Body Takes Time to Heal
Your stomach might feel like a soft, deflated balloon and that’s completely normal. Your uterus is shrinking back to its pre-pregnancy size, and your abdominal muscles are re-connecting. You may still look several months pregnant for a while. This is physiology, not a failure.
You might not ‘bounce back’ and that’s perfectly okay. Your body just grew and birthed a whole human. Healing is a process, not a race.
Emotions Can Be Wild
Hormones are fluctuating, sleep is scarce, and life is suddenly very different. Tears, laughter, and overwhelming emotions can hit all at once sometimes multiple times a day. This is normal and part of your body and mind recalibrating.
Everyday Tasks Can Feel Like Missions
Your first post-birth wee or poo may feel like an epic undertaking completely normal and nothing to be embarrassed about. And yes, sweat, unexpected body odour, and hair shedding can all make you feel like a stranger in your own body. These are all temporary but very real parts of postpartum life.
Breastfeeding Isn’t Always Instinctive
Breastfeeding can feel natural, and yet it can also be really challenging. Pain, latch issues, or exhaustion don’t mean you’re doing anything wrong they mean your body is learning and adapting. Support and patience are key.
Relationships and Identity Shift
Your relationships may change with your partner, friends, family, and even yourself. This is normal. Navigating your new identity as a parent is part of the journey, and it’s okay to ask for support.
Rest Is Essential
Sleep may be hard to come by, but rest is crucial for recovery. It’s not a luxury or laziness it’s how your body repairs itself from the inside out.
You Don’t Have to Have All the Answers
Parenting isn’t instinct-only; it’s a skill learned over time. You don’t need to know everything instantly. Trust yourself, ask for help, and be gentle with yourself.
It Gets Easier
Postpartum life isn’t instantaneously easy, but it does get more manageable gradually, beautifully, and in ways you’ll only understand once you’re living it. Give yourself permission to take it one day at a time.
Final Thoughts
Postpartum is messy, emotional, and transformative. There’s no timeline, no perfect way to feel, and no “right” body to bounce back to. What matters is that you care for yourself, seek support when needed, and remember that every feeling, ache, and challenge is completely normal.
Your journey is unique, and that’s okay. You’re doing an incredible job even when it doesn’t feel like it.
