There is a lot of information available about pregnancy. Slightly less about birth. And almost nothing about what happens next.

The fourth trimester is the term used for the first three months after your baby arrives. It is the period when your body is quietly doing some of its most complex work, your hormones are recalibrating, your sleep is in fragments, and your entire day is physically structured around a small person who cannot yet support their own head.

Most new mums push through this phase with the assumption that things will just settle on their own. Sometimes they do. But often they don’t, and the patterns that develop in those first weeks and months have a way of sticking around longer than they should.

What is actually happening in your body postpartum

Relaxin, the hormone that loosens your ligaments during pregnancy to allow your pelvis to expand, does not switch off the moment your baby is born. It continues circulating for months, which means your joints are still more mobile and less stable than they were before you were pregnant. That is not a problem in itself, but it does mean your body is more vulnerable to overload during this period.

Diastasis recti, or separation of the abdominal muscles along the midline, affects a significant proportion of women during and after pregnancy. The degree varies, but any separation means your deep abdominal muscles are working differently, which often shows up as lower back pain, a feeling of core weakness, or difficulty returning to exercise.

Your pelvis is also actively readjusting after birth, whether natural delivery or caesarean. The way your pelvis and lower back were loaded for nine months has shifted the demands on the surrounding muscles and joints, and not everything returns to baseline without a little help.

And then there is breastfeeding. If you are feeding, you are likely spending somewhere between four and eight hours a day in a position that loads your neck and upper back. Every two to three hours. For months. The cumulative effect on your posture and upper body is significant, and it is one of the most consistent things I see in postnatal patients.

What Amanda sees most often in postnatal check-ups

The complaints I hear most frequently are:

• Upper back and neck tension that builds through the day, often worse by evening feeds
• A pelvis or lower back that felt sore during pregnancy and never quite settled after birth
• Wrist and thumb pain, particularly on the thumb side (this is De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, and it is extremely common in new mums from repeated lifting and handling)
• Core weakness that is showing up as back pain or a feeling of instability
• Headaches that are new since having the baby

These things are not just the price of having a baby. They are signs that your body is managing the load of motherhood, and that a bit of targeted support would make a real difference.

What a postnatal chiropractic assessment involves

A postnatal check-up is not just about the bit that hurts. It is a whole-picture look at how your body is functioning.

We look at pelvis mechanics and whether there is restriction or asymmetry left over from birth. We check for any obvious abdominal separation and discuss how that might be affecting your movement. We assess your upper back, neck, and shoulders, particularly if you are feeding. And we talk about what you are doing day-to-day, because the way you pick up your baby, get in and out of the car, and sleep all feed into the picture.

It is a calm, thorough and thoughtful appointment.

A few things you can do right now

Feeding posture: Bring the baby to you, not yourself to the baby. A good feeding cushion that brings your baby up to breast height takes a significant amount of load off your neck and shoulders. A small cushion at your lower back also helps.

Getting out of bed: Roll onto your side first, then push yourself up using your arms rather than sitting straight up. This reduces the demand on your abdominal muscles and is much gentler on a post-birth body.

A gentle abdominal activation: Lying on your back with knees bent, breathe in. As you breathe out, gently draw your lower tummy in and up, as if you are making your belly button lift away from your waistband. Hold for 5 counts, breathe naturally. This is the starting point for reconnecting with your deep core, and it is safe to begin within days of birth if you feel comfortable.

When is the right time to come in?

Six to eight weeks postpartum is a natural milestone, and it is a great time for a check-up even if you are feeling okay. Think of it as an opportunity to check that things are tracking well and catch anything that might be brewing before it becomes a problem.

But you do not have to wait until something is really bad. If something feels off, come in sooner. And if you are 12 months postpartum and still carrying pain or discomfort you thought would have gone by now, it is still absolutely worth coming in. It is never too late to address this.

Ready to book?

Morning and afternoon appointments are available, including Saturday mornings. You are welcome to bring your baby. Book online or call us on 0404 717 488.

You did something extraordinary. Your body deserves the same care you are giving your baby. 💙

Dr. Amanda O’Doherty (Chiropractor 4326893F), Chiropractic Moves, 21 Agars St Paddington QLD 4064

Dr. Amanda O’Doherty

Hi, I’m Amanda. Chiropractor, mum, human body nerd, keen walker (with stroller of course) and social butterfly. I work with mothers and babies to help with underlying musculoskeletal issues of pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding; so that mothers can gain confidence in their body for their birthing and breastfeeding journey.