Most women are told they’re “cleared” at six weeks postpartum. But according to sports medicine physician Dr. Morgan Lee, that clearance has very little to do with true recovery.
In this episode of The Forties Formula, Dr. Morgan explains why so many women continue to struggle with pelvic floor dysfunction, diastasis recti, back pain, weakness, injuries, and exercise setbacks years after having children—and why these symptoms are often dismissed as “just getting older.”
Drawing on her experience working with elite athletes, Dr. Morgan shares why mothers should be treated like athletes during recovery, how pregnancy fundamentally changes the body, and what women can do, whether they gave birth six months ago or ten years ago—to rebuild strength, function, and confidence.
If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to recover after pregnancy, this conversation is for you.
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In This Episode
• Why the six-week postpartum clearance is a lie
• The truth about "bouncing back" after pregnancy
• Why many women are exercising in bodies that never fully healed
• Pelvic floor dysfunction and why it's not normal
• The athlete approach to postpartum recovery
• How pregnancy impacts strength, mobility, and performance
• Diastasis recti, core recovery, and rebuilding function
• Why it's never too late to improve postpartum symptoms
• The role of movement, walking, and exercise after birth
• How pregnancy preparation can improve postpartum outcomes
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Chapters
00:00 Why Most Women Never Fully Recover After Pregnancy
01:21 Meet Dr. Morgan Lee: Treating Mothers Like Athletes
02:02 The Problem With the Six-Week Postpartum Clearance
04:24 Why Bounce-Back Culture Is Hurting Women
07:00 What Real Postpartum Recovery Should Look Like
10:41 Why Having Children Later Changes Recovery
12:25 The Athlete Approach to Postpartum Healing
13:56 Is It Too Late to Recover After Pregnancy?
16:26 Pelvic Floor Problems, Leaking & Why It's Not Normal
19:15 How Dr. Morgan Evaluates Postpartum Recovery
21:21 Motherhood Is More Physical Than You Think
23:53 How To Prepare During Pregnancy For Better Recovery
28:17 Why Walking Beats Bed Rest After Birth
31:10 Movement, Mental Health & Postpartum Recovery
33:25 Belly Binding, Core Recovery & Common Myths
35:39 Pregnancy Is More Athletic Than You Think
37:38 How To Rebuild Strength After Childbirth
42:36 Diastasis Recti: What Every Woman Should Know
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Connect with Dr. Lara Morgan:Instagram: @sportdrmorgan
About your hosts:
Jasmin Dhillon is an Integrated Health Strategist and Health Coach helping women in their 40s navigate gut health, hormones and nutrition. https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin/
Amanda Lim is a Metabolic Health Coach focused on helping women build strength, confidence and long-term health. https://www.instagram.com/coachamandalim/?hl=en
Thank you to our sponsors: Love Indus: Use code TFF for 21% off https://loveindus.com
Postpartum recovery, postpartum fitness, pelvic floor, diastasis recti, C-section recovery, women in their 40s, perimenopause fitness, bounce back myth, sports medicine, postpartum health, belly binding, core reconnection, motherhood fitness, postpartum exercise, women's health, forties formula podcast