Postpartum Healing: 5 Gentle Reminders

Written by Dr. Liz Gingrey

As a chiropractor, a mother, and someone who’s walked the winding path of postpartum myself, I want to offer you this: healing doesn’t follow a timeline. It’s layered, nonlinear, and often humbling. But there’s beauty in that. Below are five gentle reminders I share often—with my patients, my friends, and myself.

1. Start where you are—then go gently.

Postpartum can feel like a wild blend of magic, exhaustion, and constant change. There’s no “normal” pace. Some days, self-care might look like five deep breaths while feeding your baby. Other days, it’s showing up for a chiropractic appointment. Both matter. Both count.

2. Make your body feel safe again.

After birth, our nervous systems are often on high alert—watchful, overstimulated, and tired. One of the most important things we can do is create signals of safety: chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage, even placing a hand over your heart while lying down. Regulation is the soil where rest and connection grow.

3. Ask for care—then receive it.

This one can be hard, especially for those of us used to doing the caretaking. But in postpartum, receiving is part of the healing process. Let your community show up. Let your practitioners support you. You’re not meant to do this alone—and you don’t have to.

4. Redefine rest.

Rest isn’t just sleep (though I know you’d love more of that!). It’s tiny pauses throughout your day—closing your eyes for two minutes, setting down your phone while nursing, or simply breathing deeply between tasks. Micro-rests matter. They help your system soften, even for a moment.

5. Self-care isn’t separate from motherhood—it’s part of it.

You don’t have to choose between showing up for your child and showing up for yourself. Every moment you care for your own body, mind, and heart is a gift to your family. They get a more grounded, resourced version of you—and that’s the kind of magic that ripples outward.

With care and understanding,
Dr. Liz

Schedule your next visit with Dr. Liz, here.