Written by Lauren Brenton
As a midwife and mum of four (with one more on the way) I can tell you this loud and clear, recovery after birth is not 6 weeks.
It’s a layered, ongoing process and every mum deserves support, understanding, and comfort at every stage. From internal healing to hormonal shifts, your recovery journey is personal and unique. But there are tools (like The Bare Mum Complete Recovery Care Kit) that can genuinely make a difference. Let’s break down what really happens after birth and how each product in the bundle helps with each layer of recovery.
1. Internal Healing
Initially after birth, you’re left with a wound inside your uterus roughly the size of a dinner plate (yep, really). This wound dramatically decreases in size over the first few hours after birth as the uterus clamps down to control postpartum bleeding. However your body will still be working hard over the next 6 weeks to heal this wound site regardless if you had a vaginal birth or caesarean.
Healing tip:
Wear the Bare Mum Postpartum Briefs as soon as you can after birth, these aren’t your usual granny undies. These are purposefully designed to support your abdomen, hold your recovery pads in place, and offer gentle compression exactly where you need it. Plus, they’re leak-proof and have a perfect space to hold the warm or cold packs (more on those next!).
2. Swelling, Soreness & Perineal Recovery
Swelling and bruising around the perineum is extremely common, especially if you had a vaginal birth or tearing.
Healing tip:
Use the Bare Mum Warm and Cool Inserts for the perineum as frozen icepacks to help take away any swelling and to improve comfort in those early days. The warm/cold pack slides right into the postpartum brief making it both practical and perfect for healing.
3. C-Section Recovery
If you’ve had a caesarean birth, you’re managing both surgical recovery and new parenthood. That’s a big deal. It is important to remember that a caesarean is a major surgery so it is important to balance rest with gentle movement and to listen to your body while you’re healing.
Healing tip:
Use the Bare Mum Warm and Cool Insert for your caesarean wound. Slide the insert as frozen into the postpartum briefs across your caesarean wound. This can help in the first few days to take away the swelling from the area and give some soothing relief. Once the wound site has healed (around 6 weeks) you can start using the skin and scar oil from Bare Mum for scar massage alongside the silicone scar strips to help heal your scar and reduce the build-up of adhesions.
4. Hormonal Balance & Breast Changes
Hormonal shifts after birth are no joke. Your mood, sleep, and milk supply are all riding a hormonal rollercoaster. In the first 3-10 days after birth women will go through one of the biggest hormonal changes of their lives, as the hormones of breastfeeding turn on and the hormones of pregnancy turn off – this is called the Baby Blues. This gives women a day or couple of days where they feel overwhelmed, teary and moody. It is a good sign that the breastmilk is starting to come in, however it can be a really challenging day. After this first week, it still takes up to two years for a mother’s hormones to return to normal completely. So it’s understandable that we’re going to have some challenging days (and nights).
Healing tip:
Take some time for you. This might be a relaxing bath with some Bare Mum Sitz Bath Salt in it. Or it might be a quiet walk around the block to get some fresh air and prioritise you. If these feelings are lasting more than two weeks it may be that you are developing postpartum depression or anxiety. Both of these are so common in society today with 1 in 5 Australian Mums and 1 in 10 Australian Partners experiencing postpartum depression and/or anxiety. If you are feeling this way, it is nothing to ever be ashamed of and there are some beautiful resources that can help you, like:
- The Gidget Foundation
- Your GP
- Beyond Blue
- PANDA
- Black Dog Institute
5. Emotional Recovery & Identity Changes
The emotional transition into motherhood is big, whether it’s your first baby or your fifth. You’re rediscovering your body, learning your baby, and figuring out your new identity all at once. Having a toolkit like The Bare Mum Complete Recovery Care Kit that’s been thoughtfully designed by mums, for mums, makes a huge difference. When you feel physically supported, it’s one less thing to carry mentally.
6. What’s Normal vs What’s Not?
NORMAL:
• Bleeding for up to 6 weeks (gradually easing)
• Some soreness around your perineum or caesarean wound incision
• Mood shifts
• Breast tenderness as your supply regulates
NOT NORMAL – REACH OUT TO YOUR MIDWIFE OR GP IF:
• Bleeding gets heavier instead of lighter or losing large clots bigger than a 50c coin
• You notice foul-smelling discharge
• You have a fever or your incision site looks red or oozes
• You’re feeling persistently down, anxious, or not yourself
Trust your gut. If something feels off, it’s always worth checking in.
Remember, you don’t need to bounce back, you need to heal forward. With the right support, like The Bare Mum Complete Recovery Care Kit, you can take care of your incredible body with the same kindness and attention it gave your baby. This bundle has been thoughtfully created to support every layer of your healing because your comfort and recovery matter. You can explore the full range of products and kits here if you're after something that genuinely works and feels good to use.
From one mama to another: you've got this. And if you’re reading this while feeding, crying, healing, or just breathing, know that I see you and you’re not alone.
Written by Lauren Brenton
Endorsed Midwife, Founder One Mama Midwife Pty Ltd