83. The 6 Week Postpartum Clearance: All the Things your Doctor Doesn’t (or Didn’t) Tell You

Sadly, after the incredible feat of pregnancy & giving birth, the majority of us are left hanging until we get to the 6-week postpartum check-up with little to no guidance on what we can do physically, or how to start easing back into exercise, if anything.

So we wait, what feels like FOREVER, for this 6 week appointment with our OB or midwife. Often anxious about what's safe or unsafe, some symptoms we might be experiencing, OR feeling really good and starting to grow impatient, maybe even feeling like we're exempt from having to wait for the clearance because our recovery has been smooth so far, we were able to maintain a lot of fitness through pregnancy, we're a strong athlete and we had a fairly "easy" birth experience.

Regardless, by this point we're usually dying to get back to the gym or running so we can start to feel more like ourselves again -- in our identity, routine, and body.

Then the appointment comes, we get the "all clear," & we're like, that's it?

Am I really good to go?

You likely didn't receive any more specific guidance on what your return to exercise should look like than the vague advice to "Just ease back in," or "You're cleared for exercise," "Just listen to your body."

But how do we return to fitness and all the things we want to do safely?

Are we good to go back to everything we were doing before?

Lifting heavy? Running? That CrossFit class? The fitness test? Unit PT? That half marathon or triathlon coming up?

What if we have a Diastasis?

Or what if we've been experiencing leaking, or pelvic pressure, pain, or discomfort, hip, or low back pain?

This appointment may not even evaluate any of those things -- it can feel woefully inadequate.

You deserve more care, support, and information than this. I'm here to share all the things we aren't taught, that we should be given at this point in our recovery process.

We're covering all of this and:

The 3 Biggest Mistakes Moms Make after the 6 Week Postpartum Clearance (I made these too!) and how to avoid them
What the 6 week clearance ACTUALLY means vs. what we often interpret it to mean
What to Expect & What I Wish I Knew
What your doctor most likely didn't tell you, that's CRITICAL to know as you're getting back into exercise

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Are you a mama who wants to get back to Lifting, Running, and the Military Fitness Test quickly after baby so you can feel stronger & more like yourself again? Looking for a step by step plan to help you get there? My signature 18 week Postpartum Program is for you!

Just need a quick Coaching session to help you form a personalized strategy for your fitness goals through pregnancy or postpartum? Let's do a Power Hour so we can help you overcome anything you're struggling with, and you can walk away with a clear plan & more confidence! Schedule a 1 hr, 1:1 Call HERE

FREE PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM FITNESS RESOURCES:

Free Pregnancy Exercise Guide: How to Safely Exercise + Maintain Fitness Through Pregnancy

Free Postpartum Fitness Guide: How to Return to Fitness Postpartum (for Military Mamas + Beyond)