Does it feel like your body hasn't quite come back together yet after you've had your baby? That clicking, that instability, that sense that your hips or knees might give way. It's not in your head, and it's not a sign that something is wrong.

So many mums are told that by six weeks, things should be settling. But if you're still breastfeeding and still feeling like your body doesn't quite belong to you yet, that timeline was never based on what your hormones are actually doing.

In this episode, Dr Renee White unpacks why so many postpartum women feel structurally unsound for months after birth, and why the answer has everything to do with a hormone your body is still responding to, whether anyone told you that or not.

You'll Hear About:

Why relaxin affects every joint, not just your pelvis
What happens to hormone levels when you're breastfeeding
How the six-week clearance myth fails postpartum women
When to seek support from a women's health physio
Why your joint integrity will return, on its own timeline

Your body isn't broken. It's doing something hormonally complex on a timeline that was never going to fit neatly into six weeks. The integrity will come back. It just takes longer than anyone tells you.

If this episode helped something click for you, share it with a mum who's been told she should be fine by now. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.

Resources & Links

📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_ 🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services 🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies

This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.

Disclaimer The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.

Ep 224. Why Your Joints Feel Loose and Unstable Postpartum