Baby2Body’s Guide To Postpartum Recovery: What To Expect In Months 3-6
When it comes to postpartum recovery, it can be difficult to know what to expect, especially if you’re in your third trimester and really focusing on getting through labor and delivery. And yes, sometimes looking ahead can feel overwhelming, but often knowing what to expect can also help you to feel more in control of the weeks and months ahead.
That’s why we’re sharing exactly what to expect during postpartum recovery — so you can take it all in when you need to — maybe you want to be prepared now, maybe you want to save these posts and read them as the time comes — it’s completely up to you!
Just remember, every woman is different, every pregnancy is different, and every delivery is different, so what to expect after birth varies a lot. We’re sharing some common symptoms of postpartum recovery — but you might not experience everything you see here & you might find you notice other things more. Let us know how you’re feeling in the comments!
If you missed them, here are the other posts in this series:
If you had a vaginal birth:
If you had a c-section:
Here’s what you can expect in months 3-6 of postpartum recovery:
As you enter months 3-6 of postpartum recovery, you may start feeling more positive, but it takes time and everyone’s journey is different. Whether this is your first or fifth child, by now your baby is likely sleeping more and you might be feeling more confident in your caretaking skills, but, if you feel like you are struggling to know whether you are doing things right, that’s okay too! To give yourself more confidence, reach out to fellow parents for their stories and advice, consult your doctor with any health-related questions, and remember that no one is perfect.
We’re talking you through some things you need to know about months 3-6 of postpartum recovery.
1. Your menstrual cycle & contraception
Just a quick note on your menstrual cycle — if you are bottle feeding, your period may have returned already, if you are breastfeeding you may not return to having normal periods until you begin to reduce your feeds and that’s because the hormone that helps your body produce milk, prolactin, also stops you from ovulating and having your period
Whether you’re breastfeeding or not, it’s common to have irregular periods for months after birth but remember that you can become pregnant again as soon as 3 weeks after you gave birth, even if you are breastfeeding, so a missed period could be a sign of pregnancy. If you aren’t wanting to conceive, talk to your doctor about contraception if you didn’t do so at your 6 week check — if you are interested in trying for another child, talk with your doctor about your plans so they can help ensure that your body has the time it needs to recover before becoming pregnant again.
2. Postpartum hairloss
Around this time, you might notice more hair loss than usual. Here’s why… During pregnancy, there is an increase in estrogen in your body which keeps hairs in their growth phase for longer and delays them from moving into their shedding phase–which means fuller, thicker and glossier locks for you.
After you give birth or stop breastfeeding, your high estrogen levels revert back to normal. The hairs that were being kept in their growth phase now move into their shedding phase. They rest for several weeks, and then after about 3 months, they fall out. This is why you might shed a large number of strands within a short period of time. it is just your body's natural way of adjusting to the changing hormone levels — you’re not usually losing more hair than you would have, it’s just happening in a different timeframe.
By around 6 months postpartum, you should start to notice your hair is falling out less or has completely stopped shedding. If your hair is not back to its normal state one year after the birth of your baby, consider reaching out to a dermatologist for further advice.
Find out more in 7 Nutrients That Support Postpartum Hair Regrowth.
3. Your body & physical activity
Your exercise routine can start to return to normal & it’s important for both your physical and mental health. Remember that relaxin, the hormone which loosens your muscles to prepare for pregnancy and labor, can stay in the body for up to 12 months post-birth, so it’s really important to warm up and cool down properly, don’t over-stretch, and stop if you feel any pain or discomfort. Everyone’s recovery period is different but talk with your doctor if you are finding it difficult to workout for either mental or physical reasons.
4. Your emotions
If you are feeling more positive that’s great, but sometimes feelings of depression persist or start suddenly at any time during the first year of postpartum. As always, we recommend any feelings of depression be discussed with your doctor so you can feel supported and get the help you need.
Watch: How do I know if I have postpartum depression? Answered by Baby2Body CEO and Founder, Melinda Nicci.
How’s your postpartum journey, mama? Let us know in the comments!
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