The Physical Demands of Motherhood Nobody Talks About
When people talk about the challenges of early motherhood, sleep deprivation usually gets most of the attention. While disrupted sleep can certainly affect wellbeing, there is another aspect of motherhood that often goes unrecognised: the significant physical workload involved in caring for a baby.
Many mothers spend hours each day feeding, carrying, lifting, bending, pushing, and moving in ways that place repeated demands on their bodies. These demands occur while recovering from pregnancy and birth, adapting to a new identity, and navigating the emotional and social changes that come with becoming a parent.
Understanding the physical demands of motherhood can help explain why aches, pains, and fatigue are so common during the postpartum period.
The Physical Demands Are Real
Caring for a baby requires countless repetitive movements throughout the day and night. While these activities may seem relatively small in isolation, their cumulative effect can place significant demands on muscles, joints, and connective tissues.
A typical day may involve:
- Carrying a growing baby for extended periods
- Breastfeeding or bottle feeding multiple times each day
- Lifting and lowering a baby into a cot
- Repeated bending over change tables
- Pushing a pram
- Carrying nappy bags, shopping, and baby supplies
- Lifting capsules, car seats, and prams in and out of vehicles
- Getting up and down from the floor while caring for children
For many women, neck pain, shoulder tension, back pain, wrist discomfort, and general physical fatigue can develop as a result of these ongoing physical demands — often without being recognised as the cause.
"While these activities may seem relatively small in isolation, their cumulative effect can place significant demands on muscles, joints, and connective tissues."
It's Not Just About Tissues and Muscles
Traditionally, pain has often been viewed through a purely physical lens. However, modern pain science recognises that pain is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. This is known as the biopsychosocial model.
Rather than asking only "What structure is causing the pain?", the biopsychosocial approach considers the whole person and the many factors that may be contributing to their experience.
Biological
Healing tissues, hormonal shifts, reduced conditioning, postural changes, and physical load from infant care.
Psychological
Sleep deprivation, identity changes, anxiety, and the pressure to meet societal expectations of motherhood.
Social
Support networks, financial circumstances, workplace demands, cultural expectations, and access to healthcare.
The Biological Factors
From a biological perspective, the postpartum body is still recovering from pregnancy and birth. During this time, women may be managing healing tissues following vaginal or caesarean birth, abdominal and pelvic floor recovery, hormonal changes, reduced strength and conditioning, altered posture and movement patterns, and the increased physical demands associated with infant care.
These factors can influence how the body tolerates load and adapts to the demands of motherhood. This is part of why postpartum myotherapy and massage can play a meaningful role in supporting physical recovery — not just as a luxury, but as a practical part of rebuilding capacity.
The Psychological Factors
The transition to motherhood — often referred to as matrescence — is one of the most significant life changes a woman can experience. Many mothers are simultaneously navigating sleep deprivation, increased responsibility, changes in identity, anxiety around caring for a newborn, pressure to meet societal expectations, and concerns about returning to exercise, work, or previous routines.
Research shows that stress, fatigue, emotional wellbeing, and confidence can all influence how pain is experienced and managed. This does not mean pain is "in your head." Rather, the brain and nervous system play an important role in interpreting and responding to physical sensations — and when those systems are under significant load, pain thresholds change.
"This does not mean pain is psychological. Rather, the brain and nervous system play an important role in interpreting and responding to physical sensations."
The Social Factors
Motherhood does not occur in isolation. A mother's support network, financial circumstances, access to healthcare, workplace demands, cultural expectations, and family environment can all influence recovery and wellbeing.
For example, a mother who has strong social support may have more opportunities to rest, recover, and seek treatment. Conversely, limited support can increase both physical and emotional strain. Social factors often affect a mother's ability to prioritise her own health — even when she is experiencing significant discomfort.
Why This Matters
Many women are told that pain is simply part of motherhood. While some discomfort can be expected, persistent pain should not be dismissed as normal or something that must be endured.
Viewing postpartum pain through a biopsychosocial lens helps us recognise that symptoms are rarely caused by a single factor. Instead, they often reflect the interaction between physical recovery, daily demands, emotional wellbeing, and social circumstances. This broader understanding allows for more compassionate and effective support.
It also helps explain why some mothers improve quickly with treatment and others need more time — not because one is "stronger" or "weaker", but because the contributing factors are different for every woman.
Supporting Your Body Through Motherhood
Managing postpartum discomfort is not simply about stretching a tight muscle or strengthening a weak area. Effective support considers the whole picture. This is at the heart of how we approach postpartum care at Birthing Body AU.
Support may involve:
- Gradually rebuilding physical capacity after birth
- Improving movement habits and ergonomics for feeding, carrying, and lifting
- Managing load and recovery across the day
- Addressing sleep and fatigue where possible
- Building confidence in movement and exercise
- Accessing appropriate healthcare support, including remedial massage and myotherapy
- Strengthening social support systems
Every mother's experience is unique, and recovery should be approached with this individuality in mind. At Birthing Body AU, sessions are tailored to where you are — not a standardised protocol.
Motherhood Is Physically Demanding. You Deserve Support.
The physical workload of caring for a baby exists alongside emotional, psychological, and social changes that can all influence wellbeing. Understanding motherhood through a biopsychosocial lens allows us to move away from simplistic explanations and recognise the complexity of the postpartum experience.
Looking after your body is not selfish — it is an important part of caring for yourself, your recovery, and your family. Mothers deserve support that acknowledges not only the work they do, but the many factors that influence their health and wellbeing.
"You deserve more than simply coping. Let's talk about what support looks like for you."
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