Mama, When Was Your Last Check-Up? - Episode 67

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Welcome back to For the Love of Parenting, where every Wednesday we dive into real, relevant, and empowering conversations to support you on your parenting journey.

🎙️ Episode Title: Mama, When Was Your Last Check-Up?
Hosted by: Kimberly Myers, IBCLC | Pregnancy Concepts, LLC

Episode Summary:
Today, we’re turning the spotlight back on you, Mama. While baby checkups are important, your healing journey deserves just as much attention. In this episode, we dive into what should really happen at your 6-week visit and why your care shouldn’t stop there. From physical recovery and mental health to pelvic floor support and proactive follow-ups, we’re unpacking the truth about postpartum check-ups—what’s missing, what matters, and how to advocate for more.

Whether you’re newly postpartum or a few months (or years!) in, this conversation is filled with practical advice, evidence-based tips, and out-of-the-box ways to protect your well-being.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• What to expect (and ask for) at postpartum visits
• How to track your own healing and why it matters
• Ways to use technology, journaling, and community support
• The role of your support team—what they can do to advocate for you
• How to reclaim postpartum care as an ongoing process

Takeaway Message:
You’ve got this, Mama—and if today’s episode gave you even one helpful nugget, I hope you run with it! And hey, if you’re a partner, friend, grandparent, or part of a mama’s support squad, don’t just listen—lean in, speak up, and pass it on. Until next time, take care.

Contact:
For The Love of Parenting Podcast - Sponsored by Pregnancy Concepts LLC

DM us on IG @pregnacyconcepts

Email us at askus@pregnancyconcepts.com

Remember, as parents, do your best—there are no perfect parents, but countless ways to be loving and supportive. Signing off from the For Love of Parenting podcast. Thanks for listening. Until next time.

Transcript

Title: Mama, When Was Your Last Check-Up?

Intro Summary

You’ve been to every baby appointment, tracked every milestone, and answered every midnight cry. But mama, when was the last time you had a check-up? Postpartum care doesn’t stop at six weeks—it evolves. This episode is your gentle reminder that your healing, your health, and your well-being matter just as much as your baby’s—because you can’t pour from an empty cup, Mama. So come on!

Podcast

Okay mom, you’ve circled the date on your calendar.
 Your baby’s 6-week check-up.
 Vaccines, weight gain, feeding, diaper counts—you’ve got it covered.

But what about you, Mom?

When was the last time someone asked how you were healing?
Not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually?

Too often, the postpartum conversation ends at birth. The spotlight shifts quickly and almost entirely to the baby—leaving many mothers quietly managing fatigue, healing wounds, fluctuating hormones, and massive life changes in the background.

It’s time to flip the narrative and ask: Mom, when was your last check-up?

Th 6-Week Check-Up Is Not the Finish Line. In fact, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) now recommends that postpartum care be an ongoing process, rather than a single visit. But the truth is, many moms still only get one check-up at six weeks postpartum—and even that may be brief, under-supported, or dismissed altogether.

Yet, within the first year postpartum:

• 1 in 7 moms will experience postpartum depression.
• Up to 40% of mothers do not attend their 6-week follow-up.
• 80% of maternal deaths are preventable, and most occur after delivery.

Six weeks is not an ending. It’s a critical check-in point—and often, a wake-up call.

Momma’s listen, just because you’re feeling okay doesn’t mean you should skip your postpartum visits. These checkups are your chance to speak up about anything that feels off—and they give your care team 

the opportunity to catch health issues early, even the ones you might not see coming. Left untreated, some of these problems can lead to serious complications or even become life-threatening.

And if you’ve gone through a miscarriage, stillbirth, or the heartbreaking loss of your baby, those postpartum visits matter even more. Your healing—both physical and emotional—deserves real support.

So, what Should Happen at Your 6-Week Visit (and Beyond)

Your 6-week follow-up is a chance to talk with your provider about:

• Physical healing: Are you still bleeding? Are any tears or stitches from birth healing well? If you had a C-section, how is your incision site doing?
• Pelvic floor function: Are you experiencing incontinence, pressure, or pain?
• Emotional well-being: Are you feeling blue, overwhelmed, or detached?
• Breastfeeding/lactation: Are you having pain, low supply, or confusion about pumping?
• Family planning: Are you ready to talk about birth control or spacing?
• Sexual health: Is intimacy painful or anxiety-inducing?
• Sleep and fatigue: How are you coping with exhaustion?

If these topics are not being discussed—bring them up. You have a right to whole-person care, not a checkbox visit.

Proactive Tips for Moms: Beyond the Basics

So, Let’s dig deeper into what you and your support system can do to stay well and advocate for comprehensive care:

1. Schedule More Than One Visit

• Book a 2-week check-in for C-section or complex vaginal recoveries.
• Book a 3-month and 6-month visit—even if your provider doesn’t initiate it.
• Request referrals for pelvic floor physical therapy if you’ve had tearing, pain, or ongoing incontinence.

2. Track Your Own Healing

Keep a postpartum journal. Track:

• Pain (use a 1–10 scale)
• Bleeding (color, amount)
• Mood swings
• Sleep and energy levels
• Breast changes
• Libido or intimacy challenges

Patterns will help you articulate concerns to your provider and notice when something isn’t right.

3. Check with Your Insurance Provider

Many plans cover more than just one postpartum visit—but most families don’t know that or even know to ask. Call and ask:

• How many postpartum visits are covered?
• Are pelvic floor therapy, lactation visits, or counseling included?
• Do I need a referral for any services?
   Knowing what’s available empowers you to use your benefits to the fullest.

4. Plan a Postpartum "Wellness Week"

In cultures around the world—from Latin America and Asian traditions both have postpartum rest—and mothers are given 40 days to recover. Modern American culture? We rush recovery. But you can slow this period down and focus on your health too.

Design your own Wellness Week around the 6–8 week mark with:

• A postpartum massage
• A friend or doula check-in
• A virtual or in-person therapy appointment
• A meal train restart (yes, it’s OK to ask again!)
• An uninterrupted nap
   This isn’t indulgent. It’s preventative care.

For Partners, Friends, and Families, here are some tips: Be a Check-Up Champion

Here is how you can create that new mama village - be her advocate and ally!

1. Attend the Visit (Physically or Virtually)

Ask if she wants you there for support or just to hold the baby while she focuses on herself.

2. Help Prepare Questions

Brainstorm a list together. Use prompts like:

• “What’s been bothering you physically?”
• “What’s different from your last birth?”
• “Is there anything you’re afraid to bring up?”

3. Listen for Clues

Phrases like “I’m just tired,” or “I haven’t felt like myself” can be signs that more support is needed. Gently encourage professional check-ins.

4. Normalize Ongoing Support

Instead of asking, “Are you all better now?” try:

• “What do you need more of this week?”
• “How’s your healing going lately?”
• “Want to talk to someone together?”

Out-of-the-Box but Evidence-Based Approaches to Maternal Follow-Up

Let’s go beyond the conventional and into the creative, yet research-supported ways of caring for mothers:

1. Create a Postpartum Healthcare Team

One provider isn’t enough. Consider assembling a:

• Midwife or OB/GYN
• Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
• Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
• Mental Health Therapist (with maternal health experience)
• Nutritionist or Herbalist
   Let them work together to support the whole mother, not just the reproductive parts.

2. Use Technology as a Lifeline

• Set up text reminders to hydrate, stretch, or breathe.
• Take advantage of virtual tools to support your postpartum journey. Many platforms now offer telehealth options, virtual lactation and mental health support, and parent education resources. Whether it’s scheduling appointments, joining support groups, or accessing expert advice from home—technology can help bridge the gap between you and the care you need.
• Look for maternal health-focused podcasts, virtual meetups, or social communities where real conversations about postpartum recovery and motherhood are happening. Finding spaces where you feel seen and heard can be a powerful part of your healing and growth.3. Integrate Alternative Therapies

Ask your provider about:

• Acupuncture for postpartum fatigue or pain
• Chiropractic care for alignment and breastfeeding comfort
• Ayurvedic or Traditional Chinese Medicine practices for restoring balance
   All can be part of a holistic postpartum plan.

Some insurance plans will cover this type of care.

4. Plan a “Postpartum Retreat”

Even if it’s one afternoon at home. Plan:

• Foot soaks
• Herbal tea
• Journaling with reflection prompts: “What am I proud of?” “What do I need more of?” “What are my wins today and what will I give myself grace for?”

 This creates a sacred space to pause, breathe, and reconnect.

And as we wrap up today’s podcast, I want you to Reclaim Your Place in the Healing Story

We know you’ve been pouring yourself into your baby. Mama, we see you.

But postpartum health is important and it’s your right to get the care that you need and deserve.

When you prioritize your own well-being, your entire family thrives. You are not selfish. You are strategic.
 Healing doesn’t end at six weeks. It evolves. It deepens.

So take out your calendar. Mark the date.
 Book the appointment. Make the plan.
 Ask the question:
 “How am I really doing?”

And then do the bravest thing of all—answer it.

You’ve got this, Mama—and if today’s episode gave you even one helpful nugget, I hope you run with it! And if you’re a friend, dad, partner, doula, or any kind of support person—be an advocate, share what you’ve learned, and help a mama feel valued and cared for. Keep prioritizing yourself —you matter in every stage of this journey. Until next time, take care.

Tags:

#postpartumhealth, #maternalwellness, #momsdeservemore, #sixweekcheckup, #motherhoodsupport, #healingafterbirth, #postpartumjourney, #fourthtrimestercare