By Dr. Shilpee Lunia, Dr. Shilpee’s Belly Fit

From postpartum recovery and urinary leakage to pelvic pain and pelvic floor health, it is time we moved beyond the belief that women must simply endure what their bodies go through.

In India, motherhood is often celebrated as one of the most beautiful milestones in a woman’s life. Families come together, traditions are observed, and the arrival of a baby is welcomed with immense joy. There is advice about what a new mother should eat, how much she should rest, what she should avoid, and how she should care for her newborn.

But amidst all the attention given to the baby, an equally important question often goes unanswered: Who is taking care of the mother’s body?

Pregnancy and childbirth bring significant physical changes. The abdominal muscles stretch, the pelvic floor experiences considerable strain, posture changes, and the body undergoes hormonal and musculoskeletal adjustments. Recovery from these changes is not always immediate, and it certainly does not follow the same timeline for every woman.

Yet, many women return to their daily responsibilities with little understanding of what their bodies need to heal. Some experience discomfort but hesitate to discuss it. Others live with urinary leakage, persistent pelvic pain, abdominal weakness or a feeling of heaviness, assuming these are simply the consequences of motherhood.

The problem is not that women experience these symptoms. It is that many are never told that support, assessment and appropriate treatment may be available.

After Delivery, Who Takes Care of the Mother’s Body?

Postpartum care is often understood through a relatively narrow lens: rest, nutrition, medical check-ups and caring for the newborn. While all of these are important, a woman’s physical rehabilitation deserves equal attention.

After childbirth, the body may need time and support to recover from changes affecting the abdominal wall, pelvic floor, back, hips and overall movement patterns. Women recovering from vaginal births and caesarean deliveries may have different rehabilitation needs, depending on their individual circumstances.

For some, recovery may involve gradually rebuilding strength and mobility. For others, it may require support with scar sensitivity, abdominal muscle separation, pelvic discomfort, bladder symptoms or difficulty returning to everyday activities.

This is where individualised postpartum rehabilitation becomes important.

Recovery should not be measured solely by whether a woman can walk comfortably, care for her baby or resume household responsibilities. It should also consider how she feels in her body, whether she can move without discomfort, and whether she has the strength and confidence to return to the activities that matter to her.

In many households, a new mother is expected to resume responsibilities as soon as she appears physically capable. But appearing well and having fully recovered are not necessarily the same thing.

A mother deserves care that extends beyond childbirth itself.

Urinary Leakage After Childbirth: A Problem Women Shouldn’t Have to Hide

Urinary leakage is one of the symptoms women may find particularly difficult to discuss. A few drops of urine while coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting something or exercising may seem insignificant at first. Some women may even dismiss it because they have heard that leakage is common after pregnancy.

While urinary incontinence can occur during pregnancy and after childbirth, common does not mean inevitable, and it does not mean that a woman should have to live with it without seeking help.

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissues that support the pelvic organs and contribute to bladder and bowel control, as well as sexual function. Pregnancy and childbirth can affect the way these structures function. However, leakage can have different causes, and not every woman will benefit from the same treatment.

Cultural embarrassment can make the situation more difficult. Conversations about bladder control, intimate health and pelvic symptoms may still be considered inappropriate, even within families. Consequently, women may avoid seeking an assessment until the symptoms begin interfering with their daily lives.

Some may stop exercising, limit social outings or worry about leakage during travel. Others may quietly change their routines without ever discussing the problem with a healthcare professional.

An appropriate assessment can help identify the type and severity of the symptoms and determine whether pelvic floor rehabilitation, bladder training, lifestyle adjustments or other medical treatment may be suitable.

Pelvic floor exercises can be helpful for some women, but they are not a universal solution for every pelvic floor problem. In certain cases, the muscles may be overactive or unable to relax appropriately, making an individualised assessment particularly valuable.

Women should not have to choose between silence and embarrassment. They deserve clear information, compassionate care and the reassurance that asking for help is a sign of awareness, not weakness.

Periods, Pregnancy and Pelvic Pain: Why Women Shouldn’t Have to Suffer in Silence

Many women grow up hearing that menstrual pain is simply part of being a woman. From adolescence, they may be encouraged to tolerate cramps, fatigue and discomfort without questioning whether the symptoms are excessive.

Pregnancy and childbirth can introduce a different set of physical experiences, but the underlying cultural expectation often remains the same: women are expected to endure pain quietly.

This mindset can delay the recognition of conditions that require medical attention.

Menstrual discomfort can vary considerably, and mild cramps are common. However, severe or worsening period pain, pain that interferes with everyday activities, persistent pelvic pain, pain during sexual activity, or pain associated with bowel or bladder symptoms deserves medical evaluation.

Conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis and pelvic floor dysfunction may contribute to pelvic pain, although symptoms alone cannot establish a diagnosis.

Similarly, pelvic pain during pregnancy or after childbirth should not automatically be dismissed as a normal part of the experience. Its cause may be muscular, musculoskeletal, gynaecological or related to another medical condition.

The important distinction is between acknowledging that discomfort can occur and assuming that suffering must be accepted.

Women should feel comfortable describing their symptoms without being told that they are overreacting, being overly sensitive or simply experiencing what every woman experiences.

Seeking appropriate care can help identify the cause, guide treatment and prevent women from having to organise their lives around untreated symptoms.

The Postpartum Recovery Gap: Why Six Weeks May Not Be Enough

The six-week postpartum check-up is an important milestone in maternal care. It offers an opportunity to review healing, discuss concerns and assess recovery. However, it should not be interpreted as a universal deadline by which every woman must be completely recovered.

The postpartum period involves multiple dimensions of healing, and these do not necessarily progress at the same pace.

A woman may feel comfortable carrying out basic activities while still experiencing abdominal weakness, pelvic floor symptoms, back pain or difficulty returning to exercise. Another may recover relatively quickly but require additional support for a specific concern.

The mode of delivery, pregnancy-related complications, previous health conditions, physical activity levels, sleep, nutrition, emotional well-being and available support can all influence the recovery experience.

This is why postpartum care should be individualised rather than based on a single timeline.

For some women, rehabilitation may begin with gentle breathing, comfortable movement and education about managing daily activities. As recovery progresses and clinical guidance permits, the focus may shift towards strength, coordination, endurance and a gradual return to exercise.

Others may need assessment and treatment for particular symptoms before progressing.

The goal is not to encourage every woman to follow an intensive rehabilitation programme. It is to ensure that she has access to the right level of care for her needs.

Healthcare professionals, families and employers also have a role to play. A woman cannot be expected to prioritise recovery if she has no opportunity to rest, limited help with childcare or pressure to return immediately to her previous routine.

Postpartum care must recognise the mother as a person recovering from a major physical experience, not simply as the caregiver of a newborn.

Pelvic Floor Health: A Conversation Indian Families Need to Start Having

Pelvic floor health remains an area where awareness can make a meaningful difference. These muscles play an important role in bladder and bowel control, support for the pelvic organs and aspects of sexual function. Their health can influence how a woman moves, exercises and experiences everyday life.

Yet, conversations about this part of the body are often limited to pregnancy, childbirth or occasional medical consultations.

For many women, the first time they hear about pelvic floor rehabilitation may be after they begin experiencing symptoms. Others may know about Kegel exercises but have little information about when they are appropriate, how to perform them correctly or when professional assessment is necessary.

Awareness needs to begin much earlier.

Families should be able to discuss menstrual health, pregnancy-related changes, postpartum recovery and urinary symptoms without shame. Partners should understand that supporting a new mother involves more than helping with the baby; it also means recognising her physical needs and encouraging her to seek care when necessary.

Healthcare professionals can contribute by explaining what symptoms warrant attention, discussing rehabilitation options and making appropriate referrals. Public health communication can help replace myths with practical, evidence-informed information.

Pelvic floor health should not be discussed only when something goes wrong. It deserves a place in routine conversations about women’s health across different stages of life.

Importantly, pelvic floor care is not limited to women who have given birth. Pelvic floor symptoms and dysfunction can affect women at different ages and life stages, including those who have never been pregnant.

Changing the Way We Think About Women’s Recovery

Improving women’s health awareness requires more than asking women to speak up. It also requires creating environments where they are heard, believed and guided towards appropriate care.

A woman who experiences urinary leakage should not be made to feel that it is an unavoidable consequence of motherhood. A woman with persistent pelvic pain should not have to justify why it affects her daily life. And a new mother should not have to wait until her symptoms become severe before receiving guidance about recovery.

We need to move away from the idea that a woman’s body must simply return to normal after childbirth. Her recovery deserves time, understanding and appropriate support, without pressure to meet an arbitrary physical or social deadline.

For families, this begins with listening and sharing responsibilities. For healthcare professionals, it means encouraging open conversations, recognising symptoms and providing individualised guidance. For women, it means knowing that seeking help is a legitimate part of caring for themselves.

Motherhood can be deeply meaningful, but it should not require a woman to ignore her own body.

The question is not simply how quickly a mother can return to her routine. It is whether she has the care, knowledge and support to recover well.

Because caring for the mother should never end when the baby arrives.

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Dr. Shilpee Lunia of Dr. Shilpee’s Belly Fit advocates greater awareness of postpartum recovery, pelvic floor health and the importance of helping women access appropriate care at every stage of life.