The Truth About Postpartum Recovery No One Told Me
I remember hearing it over and over: "Postpartum recovery takes 6-8 weeks."
But as I discovered—and as many of you know—this timeline barely scratches the surface:
- What about the hair loss I experienced at 4 months?
- The internal healing from a cesarean that takes 9 months?
- The hormonal rebalancing that continues for at least 6 months?
- And what about the significant hormonal shifts that came with weaning from breastfeeding?
The reality is clear: while the first two months may be the most physically intensive, the hormonal cascades birthing people experience extend for months, if not years beyond delivery. And these shifts are REAL.
The Crash
I've seen it countless times in myself and friends—the baby finally sleeps a bit longer, we've breastfed multiple times daily for months, we're back to exercising and carrying everything (and everyone). Then suddenly... we crash. Hard.
Like a duck treading water, my legs paddled faster and faster just to stay afloat. My mood became volatile—feeling heavy, anxious, sad, angry, irritable—my skin went berserk, and then cramps and THAT first postpartum period 🔪🩸🩸🩸”
Weaning: The Hormonal Rollercoaster
When you wean from breastfeeding, your body experiences a significant hormonal cascade:
- Prolactin levels drop (the hormone responsible for milk production)
- Oxytocin decreases (affecting both milk let-down and your mood)
- Estrogen and progesterone increase (bringing back your cycle, often with a vengeance)
This transition can trigger mood swings, physical discomfort, and emotional challenges that many women aren't prepared for.
Put Your Oxygen Mask On First
Everyone's bodies, systems, lives, and needs are different. In my personal experiences with postpartum, I've been up and I've been down. But when approaching weaning—knowing the hormonal shifts ahead—I tried to mother myself.
For me, this looked like:
- Gradually weaning from multiple feeds per day down to one over a couple of months
- And crucially, taking Looni’s hormone support the day I stopped breastfeeding—Balance Beam is Looni’s supplement that’s formulated to support women’s hormones day in and day out and through transitions like weaning.
Balance Beam helps nourish your body during this significant shift with targeted ingredients that support symptoms including mood stability, energy levels, cramps—exactly when you need it most.
And remember, non-birthing and non-breastfeeding mothers also experience significant hormonal changes in oxytocin, dopamine, and cortisol levels while caring for little ones.
For the Mothers
Consider giving yourself—or a mother you love—the gift of hormonal support with Balance Beam.
Because the most important reminder is what I've learned the hard way: Don't forget to mother yourself. 💞