Caregiving Is Physical Work
This week, you may be settling into routines—or realizing how physically demanding new motherhood can feel.
Feeding. Carrying. Rocking. Lifting. Repeating.
Neck tension, wrist pain, back discomfort, and tired muscles are incredibly common right now.
Not because you're weak. Because caregiving is physical work.
What Your Body Is Doing Right Now
At four weeks postpartum, healing is still actively happening. Your pelvic floor, abdominal muscles, posture, and movement patterns continue adapting as your body recovers from pregnancy and birth.
Many women expect to feel fully recovered by now, but symptoms like heaviness, weakness, leaking, soreness, and discomfort with daily activities can still be common during this stage.
Recovery is a process, not a deadline.
Common During Week 5
Neck and shoulder tension
Wrist or hand discomfort
Low back pain
Fatigue and interrupted sleep
Muscle soreness
Core weakness
Feeling physically depleted
Difficulty finding comfortable feeding positions
Small Things That May Help
Check in with your posture during feeding today. Bringing baby closer to you instead of rounding toward baby can sometimes reduce strain.
Small adjustments in positioning can make a meaningful difference over time and help reduce unnecessary stress on your neck, shoulders, back, and wrists.
Support During Postpartum Recovery
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help support healing after birth by addressing recovery, movement, pelvic floor function, core rehabilitation, bladder and bowel concerns, scar mobility, and return to exercise.
Follow Along With Our Pelvic Health PT
If you'd like guided support for recovery, healing, and postpartum movement strategies, you can follow along with our short therapist-led video here.
Your Body Deserves Care Too
You are caring for so much.
In the midst of caring for your baby, it can be easy to overlook your own needs. But your recovery, comfort, and well-being matter too.
Your body deserves care, too.
From Your Modern Woman Care Provider