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The first few weeks after having a baby can look drastically different from one postpartum experience to the next. In this episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, Roxanne shares what the first five weeks postpartum have been like after welcoming her fourth baby, Harvey — along with the postpartum recovery tips that made this her smoothest healing season yet.
This postpartum has been unique for one major reason: it was the first time Roxanne did not experience a postpartum hemorrhage. That difference alone dramatically changed how she felt physically and mentally during recovery.
From navigating pelvic floor healing and prolapse symptoms to breastfeeding challenges and returning to gentle movement, Roxanne walks through what early postpartum has looked like for her this time around.
If you’re currently pregnant, newly postpartum, or planning for future recovery, here’s a transparent look at what the first month postpartum can actually feel like.
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A Different Postpartum Experience This Time
After giving birth to Harvey, Roxanne immediately noticed a huge difference compared to her previous births.
For the first time, she did not hemorrhage postpartum, which meant her recovery felt dramatically easier.
Instead of extreme fatigue and feeling faint for weeks, she was able to:
Walk to the bathroom without feeling like she might pass out
Take a full shower by the second day postpartum
Stay awake and interact with family
Move around her home comfortably
In previous postpartums after hemorrhaging, Roxanne described spending much of the first month exhausted and sleeping, simply because her body was recovering from significant blood loss.
This time felt completely different.
“This is what people feel like after having a baby and not losing half their blood volume? This is great.”
What Helped Reduce the Risk of Hemorrhage
While postpartum hemorrhage can sometimes be unpredictable, Roxanne believes several factors may have helped reduce her risk this pregnancy.
1. Improving Nutrient Levels During Pregnancy
One of the biggest changes was focusing on improving key nutrient levels, particularly:
Iron
Vitamin D
In previous pregnancies, Roxanne struggled with anemia. This time she focused on maintaining better iron levels through both diet and supplements earlier in pregnancy.
She also prioritized increasing her vitamin D levels through:
Spending time outdoors
Supplementation
Monitoring blood levels during pregnancy
Optimal vitamin D levels may play a role in lowering the risk of postpartum hemorrhage, and Roxanne ensured hers were within a healthier range throughout pregnancy.
2. Giving Birth at Home
Roxanne also chose a home birth, which may have supported better hormonal regulation after delivery.
Being surrounded by family, including watching her daughter meet the new baby, created a powerful emotional moment that likely triggered a strong oxytocin surge.
Oxytocin plays a key role in helping the uterus contract after birth and can help minimize bleeding.
3. Active Management of the Third Stage
Roxanne also opted for active management of the third stage of labor, which included receiving Pitocin after birth to help the placenta detach and reduce bleeding risk.
This combination of preparation, environment, and medical support may have contributed to a smoother recovery.
First Postpartum Milestones
Even small postpartum milestones can feel huge in those early days.
For Roxanne, some of the biggest early wins included:
Showering Without Feeling Faint
After hemorrhaging in previous births, even standing in the shower was difficult for weeks. This time she was able to take a full shower by day two postpartum.
Having the First Bowel Movement
For many postpartum parents, the first bowel movement can be nerve-wracking.
Roxanne also lives with a rectocele, which means the rectum pushes into the vaginal wall. This can make bowel movements more complicated, especially early postpartum when the pelvic floor is still healing.
However, this time she experienced:
Daily bowel movements
No constipation
No tailbone pain
A few factors likely helped:
Staying hydrated
Eating a high-fiber diet
Gentle movement
Prior pelvic floor preparation
Monitoring Prolapse Symptoms
Because Roxanne has a history of pelvic organ prolapse, she closely monitored symptoms during recovery.
In the first few weeks postpartum, it’s common for pelvic organs to sit slightly lower while tissues heal.
For Roxanne, symptoms included:
A feeling of heaviness in the vagina
Pressure in the rectum
Increased bleeding after activity
She described the heaviness sensation as feeling like a tampon sitting low in the vaginal canal.
When symptoms increased, she used a simple strategy:
Rest more.
At one point, after a particularly active day, she took two days mostly in bed to allow her body to recover.
Giving herself permission to slow down helped prevent worsening symptoms.
Signs You Might Be Doing Too Much Postpartum
One of the clearest indicators of overdoing activity postpartum is increased vaginal bleeding.
Roxanne noticed that whenever she pushed activity too far, she would experience:
Heavier bleeding the following day
Bright red blood returning after it had slowed
Typically postpartum bleeding follows this pattern:
First 1–2 weeks: dark red bleeding
Weeks 2–4: lighter bleeding or spotting
Later weeks: pink, yellow, or minimal discharge
If bright red bleeding returns after activity, it can be a sign your body needs more rest.
The Challenge of Feeling Good Too Soon
One unexpected challenge this postpartum was actually feeling too good.
Because Roxanne wasn’t recovering from hemorrhage, she had more energy earlier than in previous recoveries.
That created a new struggle: wanting to do more than her pelvic floor was ready for.
Around four weeks postpartum, she felt ready to return to the gym—but her body quickly reminded her to slow down.
This experience helped her understand why many parents feel ready to exercise early postpartum.
“Mentally and mostly physically I felt great. But my pelvic floor said, sit down.”
Gentle Movement in the Early Weeks
Instead of jumping back into workouts, Roxanne focused on gentle reconnection work in the early postpartum period.
She followed MamasteFit’s Early Postpartum Recovery Program, which includes:
Breathwork
Gentle mobility
Pelvic floor reconnection
Light core engagement
The program progresses over four weeks, but Roxanne adapted it to her needs.
For example:
She repeated certain weeks twice
She did exercises only a few times per week
Some days she simply rested with the baby
This flexible approach allowed her to support healing without pressure.
Returning to the Gym with a Baby
By week five postpartum, Roxanne began easing back into the gym with bodyweight movements.
Working out with a newborn required flexibility.
Some strategies she used included:
Accepting Interruptions
Workouts sometimes took much longer due to:
Feeding breaks
Diaper changes
Soothing the baby
Instead of rushing, she embraced the slower pace.
Creating Safe Baby Spaces
Helpful tools included:
Baby swings
Floor mats
Rockers
These allowed the baby to stay nearby while she moved.
Babywearing
Baby carriers can make workouts possible when babies want to stay close.
Roxanne often used carriers with her previous babies while exercising.
Splitting Workouts
Another strategy many parents find helpful is breaking workouts into smaller pieces, completing different sections on different days.
Even short bursts of movement can support recovery.
Breastfeeding Challenges and Tongue Tie
Like her previous children, Harvey was born with a tongue tie and lip tie, which made breastfeeding painful at first.
Early challenges included:
Nipple damage
Shallow latch
Frequent feeds
To help improve feeding, Roxanne worked with:
A chiropractor for bodywork
A lactation consultant
Tongue strengthening exercises
Eventually, Harvey underwent a tongue tie release, which improved feeding significantly.
Navigating Mastitis
Roxanne also experienced clogged ducts and early mastitis symptoms twice during the first month.
Symptoms included:
Fever
Chills
Breast pain
One episode occurred after a long outing when she forgot to pump while the baby was bottle-fed.
Thankfully, with treatment and improved feeding after the tongue tie release, things improved.
Sibling Adjustment
One pleasant surprise this postpartum was how smoothly Harvey’s siblings adjusted.
Instead of jealousy, the older kids were excited and eager to help.
They frequently asked to:
Hold the baby
Play with him
Spend time with him
This enthusiasm actually gave Roxanne opportunities to rest.
Fitness Goals for the Months Ahead
Looking ahead, Roxanne has a few personal fitness goals.
Her biggest one?
Getting back into running.
Both Roxanne and Gina ran competitively earlier in life, and Roxanne hopes to rediscover the joy of running without the pressure of competition.
She is also planning to participate in the RunDisney Wine & Dine race weekend, where she signed up for both:
A 10K
A half marathon
For now, the focus remains on gradual strength building and pelvic floor recovery before increasing running volume.
Roxanne’s Biggest Postpartum Recovery Tips
Reflecting on the first month after Harvey’s birth, Roxanne shared a few key takeaways:
Listen to Your Body’s Signals
Symptoms like:
Pelvic heaviness
Increased bleeding
Fatigue
are important feedback that your body needs more rest.
Rest Even When You Feel Good
Feeling good doesn’t necessarily mean tissues are fully healed.
Recovery timelines still matter.
Healing Isn’t Linear
Some days will feel amazing, and others may bring new symptoms. That’s normal during postpartum recovery.
Support Makes a Huge Difference
Whether it’s family, healthcare providers, or fitness professionals, having support can make recovery smoother and less overwhelming.
Support for Your Postpartum Recovery
If you’re navigating postpartum and unsure where to begin with movement, MamasteFit offers a free Early Postpartum Recovery Program.
The program includes gentle guidance to help you:
Reconnect with your pelvic floor
Reintroduce movement safely
Build a foundation for future strength
Every recovery journey is different, and there’s no pressure to follow a strict schedule.
The goal is simply to support your healing while respecting your body’s pace.