I'm eight months postpartum now.
Is it even still considered "postpartum" at this point?
I've been thinking about what I want to write about, and the truth is... life mostly feels like our new normal. And honestly, it's a little boring - in the best possible way. It's full, vibrant, and fun, but not in the way it used to be.
Now, the best part of my day is watching my daughter experience something for the first time.
Seeing her try a new food and light up at the textures and flavors, or watching her discover her body—last week she was fascinated that her left hand could meet her right hand and make a sound. This week, she figured out how to make an "f" sound with her mouth. I find myself completely absorbed in these moments, just watching her take it all in.
And then today, I had a humbling experience at pelvic floor PT.
I went in thinking I was mostly recovered. I've been back to my usual routine—walking, running, lifting weights. I feel strong, even if I'm still a little softer than before and carrying a few extra pounds. I've been giving myself grace there since I'm still breastfeeding, and because my body did something truly miraculous.
But I've had some lingering tailbone pain and pelvic discomfort, so I figured it was worth checking out.
As it turns out... I'm a clencher.
I remember a friend once telling me, very matter-of-factly, that she was a "butt clencher" after going to pelvic floor PT. She asked if I was, too, and I remember feeling almost proud to say, “No. Me? Not me. I'm relaxed.”
Well... turns out I am.
And it's affecting more than I realized—my pelvis, my breathing, even my rib position. I'll spare you the full list, but the bigger takeaway was this: here I am, nearly nine months later, still being humbled by postpartum.
And maybe more importantly, being reminded to slow down.
I can see now that I've been putting subtle pressure on myself to get back to where I was. To work out, build muscle, and lose the baby weight. Not even from a place of vanity, but from this idea of health, longevity, and strength.
At the same time, I have this constant awareness that time is moving quickly, and all I really want is to be present with my daughter.
Being a working mom makes for very full days. I have a few hours with her in the morning, a few in the afternoon, and our weekends. I'm incredibly fortunate to work remotely and have her just in the next room, but I still feel the distance at times. There's a quiet guilt there, and if I'm honest, a bit of grief too.
Eight months in, I'm still learning how much my body is quietly carrying. One thing I've been consistent about through all of it is supporting my cellular health — because recovery happens at that level too, whether we're paying attention or not.
BodyBio makes supplements I actually trust. Their phosphatidylcholine has been part of my postpartum routine for supporting brain function, mood, and the kind of deep repair that doesn't show up on the outside.
So today felt like a reminder that my body is still holding all of this—pregnancy, birth, the transition into motherhood—in ways I can't always see.
That even now, the work isn't to push harder, but to soften.
To breathe more fully, to release what I'm holding without realizing it, and to stop trying to return to a version of myself I didn't fully appreciate anyway.
Because what I actually want is already here—I just have to slow down enough to be in it.
And if I'm honest, I think this is part of why I'm not quite ready to let go of co-sleeping.
But more on that next time.
If any of this is landing for you — the pressure to bounce back, the quiet guilt, the sense that your body is still holding more than you've accounted for — that's exactly what a Postpartum Planning Call is for.
It's a 30-minute, 1:1 conversation with me · $97
We'll look at where you are, what's actually being asked of you, and what kind of support would make this season feel more sustainable — not faster, just steadier.
Have a question before booking? Reply to this email — I'm here.
With you,
Jen
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Postpartum Joy Issue #008— Nine months in and still being humbled
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