The last time I shared an update, I was at the end of my pregnancy. Fast forward

to now—I’m 7 weeks postpartum with baby number three, and wow, life has been

chaotic, messy, but so fun and exciting. As both a pelvic floor physical therapist

and a mom of three, I want to share what this season has really looked like, the

wins, the challenges, and the reality of navigating early postpartum while raising

little ones.

Physical Recovery

The first 5-6 weeks I noticed some stress incontinence (mostly when sneezing),

overall pelvic floor weakness when I spent too much time on my feet (walks had

to be under 20 minutes for a bit), and some upper back pain (breastfeeding

posture wasn’t always pretty). Thankfully, I haven’t experienced the same vaginal

heaviness I did after my first delivery, which has been a relief. I’ve been doing

gentle exercises focused on pelvic floor strengthening and mobility, though

admittedly not as consistently as I’d like.

Life has been busy—between moving into our new house, transitioning from summer to school routines, fighting off a few viruses, and adjusting to life as a family of five. But progress is progress, and I’m giving myself grace. Now at 10 weeks postpartum, I’m able to sneeze and not leak with the help of performing a KNACK (basically a kegel right before I sneeze). I can also walk for 45 minutes without feelings of weakness. And the

upper back pain has improved, but this really depends on how diligent I’m being

about my posture.

I’ve also been to two pelvic floor physical therapy sessions so far, and it’s been so helpful. I can tell my core still needs more challenge, my pelvic floor definitely

still needs strengthening, and honestly, my body just needs some love and

self-care. My plan is to continue adding this into my routine—maybe once a week

or once every other week while I’m in the office—by blocking off the time and

scheduling with one of our amazing physical therapists.

Now that we’ve moved into our house and the craziness is settling a bit, I’m

excited to build strength again. We’re turning part of our garage into a home gym,

and my husband and I are planning to alternate evening workouts. Let’s see how

this goes—I’d love to start today! My plan is to start with functional training using

light weights—since I can already do body weight squats, lunges, and bridges

without pain, leakage, or heaviness. I also want to sprinkle in 20-minute Peloton

rides a few times a week for cardio. The goal right now is consistency, not

perfection.

Breastfeeding Journey

As of now, I’m exclusively breastfeeding and feeling more confident than I did

with my first two. I’ve also started introducing pumping into my routine, partly for

flexibility and partly to prepare for returning to the office in October. Hiring a

lactation consultant has been a game-changer for me. A huge shoutout to Ana at

Latched—your guidance has truly boosted my confidence and made this

experience smoother.

Life with Three Kids

The adjustment to being a family of five has been...a lot. The baby carrier has

honestly been a lifesaver. If Ana Victoria is fussy or can’t settle on her own, I can

wear her while still being present with the boys or getting things done around the

house. It’s been the ultimate tool for survival in these early weeks.

Professional Life

This weekend, Luly and I are headed to Pelvicon in Atlanta—and I’m bringing Ana Victoria with me. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about the travel, the

sleep, and juggling the conference while having a newborn with me 24/7. Meeting people, focusing on speakers, and trying to soak in all the learning while

also being in mom mode will be a challenge. But I keep reminding myself that Luly is a mom of 3 and a professional baby whisperer so I know I’ll be fine and

we’re going to have a great time. Wish me luck!

Looking ahead, I plan to return to the office in October. I’m still figuring out exactly what that schedule will look like—probably starting with one day a week and slowly building up. I also don’t know yet if I’ll bring Ana Victoria with me or leave her at home with the nanny. Honestly, this decision is always one of the hardest parts of postpartum for me. I’m itching to get back to work and see

patients again and have a routine again, but leaving her and under someone

else’s care seems impossible right now. And then I start to think that this might be

my last baby and what if I regret not spending more time at home with her...ugh.

And then I spiral. Can anyone else relate?!

Closing Thoughts

Seven weeks postpartum feels like a mix of gratitude, exhaustion, and cautious

excitement for what’s ahead. My body is slowly healing, I’m regaining confidence,

and our family is learning our new normal together. It’s not perfect, but it’s ours.

Here’s to rebuilding strength, embracing the chaos, and remembering that the

best gift we can give our families is a healthy, happy version of ourselves.