Many Australian women are living with lifelong postpartum injuries. They shouldn’t be
It’s time to stop accepting postpartum injuries as normal.
By Jen Dugard
You’d think that after growing a baby, giving birth, and stepping into motherhood, women would have all the support they need to recover. But the reality is that too many Australian mums are left to figure it out alone, often living with pain, dysfunction, or fear around movement that could have been prevented.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are over 6.58 million mums in Australia. Research from PANDA and other sources suggests that up to one in three mothers experiences birth trauma, including physical, psychological, or both. For many, this trauma doesn’t end when their baby arrives. It lingers in the form of pelvic floor dysfunction, prolapse, incontinence, or pain that becomes part of daily life.
Postpartum injuries are common, but not normal
These injuries are common, but they are not normal and not inevitable.
Take Sarah, a mum of two who was told the heaviness she felt in her pelvis was “just part of motherhood.” She stopped running even though she loved it. Within weeks of working with a specialised trainer and a pelvic health physiotherapist, she rebuilt her strength and now runs 5Ks confidently again.
Or Jess, a first-time mum who returned to high-intensity workouts too soon and developed lower back pain and leaking. With guidance from a specialised trainers and a pelvic health physiotherapist, she learned to recover safely and discovered a new kind of strength, one that prioritised her healing first.
Where the system falls short
Currently, most women are cleared for “normal activity” at their six-week check-up but no one explains what that really means. Screening for pelvic floor issues, diastasis, or pain is rare, and there’s often no roadmap to safely return to exercise or movement. Preventative care during pregnancy is also limited.
That’s why I created MumSafe™ and the Safe Return to Exercise™ certification to ensure mums are supported safely and effectively, and professionals guiding them are properly trained.
Postpartum recovery matters
Safe postpartum recovery isn’t just about stronger bodies, it’s about confidence, energy, and freedom. When women recover well, they can run with their kids, lift without fear, and feel like themselves again. Supporting postpartum recovery is a vital women’s health issue and one of the most powerful investments we can make in long-term wellbeing.
It’s time to stop accepting postpartum injuries as inevitable. Every mum deserves to prevent, rebuild, reconnect, and safely return to exercise, so she can feel strong, capable, and confident.
