Physiological Postpartum Recovery

The physiological postpartum period . We’ve heard it before, the fourth trimester. You’ve given birth and transitioned from gestation to lactation enter the moo sounds. You’re a full on milk maker. Whether that leads to breastfeeding or not, every postpartum woman’s story shares this common thread: we make milk, and that transition alone is a massive one. There are hormonal shifts, and they’re drastic, so hang on sister.

As estrogen and progesterone drop, prolactin and oxytocin rise to support lactation and baby bonding. These changes, along with fluid shifts (blood loss or those dreaded night sweats where we all wake up smelling like onions), musculoskeletal recovery, and emotional adjustments, form a delicate physiological demand that requires rest, nourishment, and support.

Dr. Aviva Romm, a Yale-trained medical doctor and former midwife, emphasizes that this period is not quick but requires months of recalibration, rest, nutrient-dense foods, and community care to restore vitality. When families are nurtured through rest, warm meals, lactation support, and emotional validation, outcomes improve for both mother and baby. We need to mother the mother.

Honouring the body’s wisdom through rest, touch, and gentle recognition allows us, as postpartum women, to heal and recover as nature intended, a process that modern systems too often overlook. The physiological postpartum period reminds us that healing is not a medical event, but a sacred biological process that requires time, compassion, and attentive care.

Written by: Jenna Magee BScN R.N.