The Stages of Postpartum: How Your Body, Brain & Baby Change from Birth to 7 Years
- Amy Simpson
- Jan 1
- 4 min read
Postpartum recovery isn’t just six weeks - it’s a years-long journey of healing, hormonal shifts, and brain changes that shape both you and your baby. From the immediate postpartum period to the first 1000 days and beyond, each stage plays a critical role in maternal well-being and infant development.
Understanding these changes can help you better support your body, mind, and baby for lifelong health. Let’s break down what really happens in the postpartum years and how you can nourish yourself along the way 💖
6 weeks
Mum’s body begins to heal, and uterine involution and bleeding is complete. Heart rate normalises to the pre-pregnant rate. Milk establishes and the maternal brain is still rewiring. It is flooded with oxytocin and prolactin while also learning to adapt to minimal sleep. Mum’s body still regulates bub’s vital systems - temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, growth. Closeness and constant togetherness is not a ‘parenting style’ it is a biological requirement. We remain in service to our
babies as this ‘first 1000 days’ from conception to 2yo marks the most significant opportunity to establish optimum health, growth, and neurodevelopment
across the lifespan.
Bub’s gestation outside of the womb (exterogestation) continues and they slowly start to adapt to the monumental environmental change from intrauterine to terrestrial life. They can only see approximately the distance from the nipple to mum’s face. They use the other senses deeply for the nervous system to register safety.
3-4 months (the end of the 'fourth trimester')
For breastfeeding mothers there is a natural decline in our oxytocin which has protected our brain from the full force of tending to our babies on very little sleep while recovering from growing a human and birthing them. Thyroid and insulin hormones normalise. This is when nutrient deficiencies can take hold and depletion can set in.
This coincides with massive brain growth in our babies. They need more and more fat and energy to support this growth. They wake and suckle frequently to get the fat that their brain’s need. Exterogestation continues. Bub’s vision is normalising, but they are still attaching through senses. The brain remains vulnerable to nutrient deficiencies. Colonisation of the microbiome continues impacting future disease risk.
18 Months
Maternal nutrient repletion is stabilising, and the cervix has regained optimal strength and capacity for holding another pregnancy*. Many Aussie women have returned to work, but sleep is still broken. An interpregnancy interval of 18–23 months may be associated with potential benefits for both mothers and infants.
Our little one’s exterogestation is coming to an end and bub’s brain begins to resemble the physical size of our mammal relatives at birth (e.g. monkeys). Their skull begins to close. They can move away from us and begin to attach by sameness.
The ‘first 1000 days’ continue, and millions of neurons are forming every second - laying the architecture of bub’s brain and future health outcomes.
2 years
Pregnancy-induced changes in maternal brain grey matter can still be seen at two years which may mean more efficient communication between and within brain regions.
The first 1000 days (from conception to 2yo) comes to an end along with the most rapid and sensitive time of growth and development of bub’s brain. Colonisation of bub’s gut microbiome is complete with its own unique microbial signature which will impact and guide bub’s future immune resilience.
Bub begins to realise they are not physically a part of mum and begin to attach through belonging.
3 years
Some neuroscientists advocate that infancy should be extended out to three years old to accommodate our bub’s enormous brain growth and emotional development - including making approximately 1,000,000 neural connections a second.
Mum’s health and capacity for overall caregiving during this time greatly shapes our bub’s nervous system and trajectory towards long term health outcomes.
*This does not mean that having bad days leads to a bad life.
7 years
If not adequately addressed, the symptoms of postpartum depletion and nutrient insufficiency can last for up to 7 years and develop into overt illness (such as prolapse, anaemia, or hypothyroidism). Unaddressed perinatal mood disorders can evolve into significant mental health disease.
Our babies have reached a milestone in physical, spiritual, and cognitive development and begin to lose their baby-teeth.
Seven years has been a physical, philosophical, and cultural milestone age since Ancient Greek times. Rudolf Steiner emphasised the profound significance of the first seven years of life—a principle now echoed by the UN, WHO, and early childhood experts in recognising this period as crucial for lifelong health, development, and well-being.
So, is postpartum forever?
I used to say that postpartum was forever. Until the incredible Leila from Village for Mama correctly pointed out the following:
The saying “Postpartum is Forever” is often thrown around to imply that pregnancy, birth, and becoming a mother result in lifelong changes. And while motherhood undeniably leaves lasting impacts—on our identity, health, and even relationships—that’s not postpartum. That’s matrescence.
Postpartum is a profound and transformative phase that begins after childbirth, bringing rapid hormonal changes, physical healing, and deep emotional shifts as you adapt to life with your baby. Matrescence is a lifelong transformation. If you're feeling depleted, struggling with brain fog, nutrient deficiencies, or emotional exhaustion, you're not alone. As a naturopath specialising in postpartum care and motherhood, I offer 1:1 appointments in Bendigo or via telehealth to help you regain energy, balance your hormones, and feel like yourself again. Book your consultation today and take the first step toward long-term wellness.
Amy is a degree-qualified naturopath dedicated to helping busy, tired clients regain their energy and vitality.
She combines evidence-based naturopathic medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle interventions to empower clients on their journey to optimal health. Whether it’s reclaiming energy, balancing hormones, resolving digestive issues, or enhancing overall well-being and longevity, her personalised approach focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of health concerns. With a Bachelor of Health Science, ongoing studies in a Master of Advanced Practice, and full membership in the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia, Amy offers a unique blend of traditional wisdom and science to support individuals and families at every stage of life.
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