Postpartum Week 9

Healing Deserves Attention, Not Judgment

Let's talk about something many women experience but few expect: leaking.

Whether it happens when coughing, laughing, sneezing, exercising—or seemingly out of nowhere—you are far from alone.

Postpartum healing changes how muscles and pressure work together. And while leaking is common after birth, it's not something you necessarily have to simply accept.

Support exists.

What Your Body Is Doing Right Now

At nine weeks postpartum, your pelvic floor, abdominal muscles, and breathing system are still learning to work together again after pregnancy and birth. Changes in strength, coordination, pressure management, and healing can all influence bladder control.

Many women are surprised to experience leaking after birth, but it is one of the most common postpartum symptoms. Common does not always mean something you simply have to live with.

Common During Week 9

Leaking with coughing, sneezing, or laughing

Urgency to get to the bathroom

Core weakness

Pelvic floor weakness or fatigue

Difficulty returning to impact exercise

Feeling frustrated by lingering symptoms

Fatigue and interrupted sleep

Uncertainty about what is normal

Small Things That May Help

Before coughing, sneezing, or lifting, try exhaling gently instead of holding your breath.

Small pressure-management habits can help support your pelvic floor and improve how pressure moves through your body during everyday activities.

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.