The Truth About Bouncing Back: What Postpartum Recovery Really Looks Like
By Julia Cavanaugh
You’ve just had a baby, and everywhere you look, someone’s talking about “bouncing back.” Social media feeds are flooded with snapback bodies and routines that promise to get you “back to normal.” But what if the truth is… you’re not meant to bounce back? What if you’re meant to move forward—gently, intentionally, and with support?
The Myth of the Snapback
“Bouncing back” is a phrase rooted in unrealistic expectations. It tells new mothers that they should look, feel, and act like their pre-baby selves within weeks. This harmful narrative ignores the physical, emotional, and hormonal shifts that happen during the postpartum period—and it leaves moms feeling broken when they can’t live up to it.
What Postpartum Recovery Actually Looks Like
Postpartum healing is different for every mom. It can take weeks, months, or even years to fully recover from childbirth—especially if we define recovery as more than just physical healing. It also includes:
Emotional regulation
Identity shifts
Hormonal balancing
Relationship changes
And learning to care for a brand-new human
It’s a time of transformation—not pressure.
Why You Deserve Holistic Support
You are not meant to go through postpartum alone. That’s where postpartum coaching comes in. My coaching focuses on:
Emotional wellness
Gentle recovery practices
Newborn care education
Creating a rhythm that works for you, not Instagram
This is not about bouncing back—it’s about reclaiming your confidence, calm, and connection in motherhood.
Give Yourself Permission to Heal Slowly
There is no timeline. Your body did something extraordinary. Now it needs time, care, and support—not pressure. Whether you’re 6 weeks, 6 months, or 2 years postpartum, you deserve grace.
If you’re tired of the “bounce back” narrative and want real support through postpartum recovery, I’d love to walk beside you.