So many women wonder when exactly they can expect to feel like themselves again after having a baby.

But there is no one timeline that can apply to each of us.

 Because how you adjust after baby, is determined by many factors including, the type of pregnancy, the type of birth, your overall lifestyle, your history, stressors and the amount of support available.

In an otherwise healthy pregnancy and recovery, you can generally expect things to fall pretty close to the time period your doctors gives. But there is still a range.

You might be cleared to “resume” normal activity at about 6-8 weeks. But not always. For some, it takes a little longer.

While most moms report feeling much better by then, they can still experience some discomfort in the pelvic area or feel like internal organs are still adjusting. And emotionally, after the first couple months you might feel the overwhelm peak…as your supports decline, maternity leave ends and your baby’s development continues. You might even show signs of depression or anxiety after you passed the initial screening from your provider.

By 6 months, the majority of moms report feeling a lot more like themselves again and are generally returning to normal. But during this time moms are still susceptible to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders like postpartum depression (up  to 1 year).

So it’s important to know the range of normal in order to set realistic expectations and find continued support if you aren’t exactly where you thought you’d be.]

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