Postpartum pain is NOT just ‘normal’: Physiotherapist Muskan Rastogi reveals all about pelvic floor recovery

Back pain, neck pain, pelvic discomfort, and muscle weakness are common after childbirth. Still, they should not be accepted as a lifelong part of motherhood. Physiotherapy can play a vital role in helping new mothers recover safely and regain strength.

Tavishi Dogra is a Deputy Chief Content Producer, Health & Wellness, at Hindustan Times. She has over 9 years of experience writing about fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, translating medical research and expert insights into practical advice readers can trust. Career journey and experience Tavishi began her health journalism journey in 2017, and has since reported for RSTV, Financial Express, Jagran, HT Media Labs and Zee. She joined Hindustan Times to simplify wellness subjects by cutting through jargon. From decoding health trends and interviewing doctors to testing fitness routines herself, Tavishi always approaches content with one filter: “Will this help someone make a better decision today?” Subject expertise With 9+ years tracking India’s health conversations, Tavishi knows the gap between clinical advice and daily life. She knows fads from fundamentals and curates science-backed, expert-recommended solutions. In fitness, she breaks down bodyweight training, recovery, and posture fixes for desk-bound readers. In nutrition, she translates guidelines into affordable, desi meal tweaks. In mental well-being, she focuses on stigma-free, actionable tools — all backed by research, expert input, and lived context. Education and professional background Tavishi holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and began her career reporting on public affairs for broadcast. Those early years in policy and TV shaped how she writes today: fast, factual, and human-first. Editorial Philosophy I write with one single goal: To simplify health in a world full of noise by finding what’s actually doable, safe, and evidence-based for my readers. I test claims against research and user experiences. When all else fails, I speak to the expert who sees 50 patients a day, not the one with the most followers.

Welcoming a baby is one of the happiest moments in a woman's life, but it also brings physical changes. During pregnancy and childbirth, the body undergoes tremendous stress. “Carrying the baby for nine months, hormonal changes, labor, delivery, breastfeeding, lifting the newborn, and sleep deprivation can all contribute to aches and pains,” Physiotherapist Muskan Rastogi, Lactation Consultant, Motherhood Hospitals, Greater Noida, tells Health Shots . While some discomfort is expected in the weeks after delivery, persistent pain should never be ignored or accepted as "normal."

Many new mothers experience lower back pain , neck and shoulder pain, pelvic pain, wrist discomfort, abdominal weakness, and muscle stiffness. In some women, weakened pelvic floor muscles may also lead to urine leakage or a feeling of heaviness in the pelvic region. Pelvic floor symptoms can include more than urinary leakage.

Women must understand that pelvic floor rehabilitation should not be viewed as simply doing Kegel exercises.