Navigating What's 'Normal' at 2 Months Postpartum

It’s been about eight weeks since giving birth, and you’re approaching another milestone in your postpartum recovery journey. You might feel a little more like yourself, or still feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and deeply in the thick of healing. All of these experiences are normal.

At two months postpartum, your uterus has returned to its pre-pregnancy size, your hormone levels are shifting again, and your physical recovery is progressing—though it’s far from complete. Many women describe this time as an in-between stage: no longer freshly postpartum, but not fully healed either.

This guide walks you through what to expect 2 months postpartum, covering your physical healing, emotional recovery, postpartum belly changes, body aches, bleeding, hormones, breastfeeding, fertility, and when to call your provider. Use it as reassurance, education, and a reminder to go gently with yourself.

What to Expect 2 Months Postpartum

Postpartum recovery is not a race, and in the first twelve weeks, you’re still in a state of flux. That’s why people often refer to this period as the “fourth trimester.” Give yourself some grace and remember that everyone’s experience is different.

At 8 weeks postpartum, most women experience:

• Mild improvement in energy levels, though fatigue is still common
• Little to no post-birth bleeding, sometimes replaced by occasional spotting
• Ongoing pelvic floor healing
• A 2-month postpartum belly that still feels softer or rounder than expected
• Adjustments to breastfeeding or bottle-feeding routines
• Hormonal shifts that may affect mood, sleep, and patience
• Unpredictable symptoms like cramps, breast tenderness, or changes in discharge
• Body aches from carrying, feeding, rocking, and caring for your baby
  

You may also still feel “not yourself.” That is normal. Healing is not linear, and it will take time. In fact, recent research shows that less than half of women recover fully within six months postpartum. 

Physical Recovery at 2 Months Postpartum

While much of the early postpartum intensity improves by 2 months after giving birth, your body is still healing at a deep muscular, skeletal, and hormonal level.

Vaginal Birth Recovery at 2 Months

Chances are, you are feeling considerably more like yourself at this point. If you had a vaginal birth, your recovery is well underway, although you may still feel like you’re not at full strength yet.

Bleeding and discharge

For most women, they aren’t heavily bleeding any longer, but light spotting or 2 months postpartum mucus discharge can still appear—especially on days of increased activity.

Pelvic floor

Your pelvic floor may be feeling stronger at this time, too, but if you had a difficult birth that involved any of the below, it can take longer to regain strength:

• A second-degree tear
• A third- or fourth-degree tear
• An episiotomy
• Vacuum or forceps delivery

Some women still notice pressure, heaviness, or mild urinary leakage around 8 weeks postpartum. Pelvic floor physical therapy can be tremendously helpful.

Perineal stitches

By 8 weeks, the stitches should have dissolved, and discomfort should be minimal. Speak with your healthcare provider if you have persistent pain, stinging, or a sense of “pulling.”

Diastasis recti

If you developed abdominal muscle separation, a condition called Diastasis recti, it may be improving, but not fully resolved. Many people still have:

• A small gap
• Lower abdominal softness
• A slight bulge when they sit up
  

Diastasis recti can cause long-term problems such as urinary incontinence and chronic back pain. Treatment options range from physical therapy to surgery in severe cases. Work with your provider for a plan that addresses your needs.

Energy levels

Some women feel more energized, while others feel depleted. Sleep deprivation, feeding challenges, and hormonal shifts all play a role.

C-Section Recovery at 2 Months

If you had a Cesarean birth, remember you are recovering from major abdominal surgery. While you may feel mostly recovered, you should still take precautions when lifting or engaging in other rigorous physical activity. 

Incision healing

Your incision should be closed, and you should not be experiencing swelling or pain. However, you might occasionally have:

• Itchy
• Sensitive
• Numb
• Firm or raised

Some women feel occasional burning or sharp twinges as nerves regenerate. If you want, you can also start to do Cesarean scar massage at this time. There’s not a lot of research on this practice, but many moms swear by it, and some evidence suggests it can help reduce numbness in the area and prevent pain. 

Core weakness

Because your abdominal wall was surgically opened, you may feel:

• Less core stability
• Difficulty sitting up
• Lower back discomfort
• Slower return to exercise
  

Consider gentle postpartum core strengthening and pelvic floor exercises. 

Many women recommend gentle strengthening and pelvic floor rehab to build core strength. Diaphragmatic (AKA “belly”)  breathing can help connect with deep core muscles. You can also look into yoga, as long as your provider clears you to return to physical activity.

The “C-section shelf”

A small lower-belly pouch can be more noticeable due to scar tissue. Many women still see this 2 months postpartum belly shape, and it often improves slowly over time.

Returning to Activity

At 2 months postpartum, many women feel ready, or curious, about returning to exercise, walking longer distances, or having sex again.

Exercise at 2 months postpartum

Depending on your current physical activity level, how you delivered and if there were any complications, most providers allow gentle to moderate exercise at this stage:

• Walking
• Light bodyweight movements
• Deep core breathing
• Pelvic floor exercises
• Low-impact strengthening
  

However, you should avoid strenuous activities, such as heavy lifting or high-impact workouts. 

If you feel pelvic pressure, heaviness, or leakage, it’s a sign to ease off and consult a pelvic floor therapist.

Sex at 2 months postpartum

Even if your OB/GYN or midwife “cleared” you to have penetrative sex, it’s not uncommon for new mothers to need more time. Some research suggests that anywhere between 40% to 80% of new parents have at least one sexual problem, depending on how much time has passed since birth. 

Many women experience any of the following:

• Low libido
• Vaginal dryness
• Anxiety about pain
• Fear of tearing
• Discomfort from hormonal shifts
  

There is no deadline. Go slowly, use plenty of lubrication, and communicate with your partner.

Emotional & Mental Health at 2 Months Postpartum

The mental and emotional experience of giving birth and caring for a newborn is a lot. You may feel calmer and more confident by the two-month mark, or you may not. It’s still normal to feel tired and overwhelmed. Know that you can and will adjust to motherhood in your own time.

Postpartum Hormones and Mood Changes

At two months postpartum, your hormones are still recalibrating. It’s common to feel:

• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Emotional sensitivity
• Brain fog
• Tearfulness

While some hormone-related changes are normal, keep an eye out for any signs of a hormonal imbalance. Breastfeeding keeps estrogen levels low, which can amplify dryness, anxiety, and emotional shifts. Sleep deprivation adds another layer.

Some women report feeling more balanced at this stage, while others feel even more overwhelmed as the adrenaline of the newborn phase wears off.

When Emotional Changes Become Warning Signs

If you’re feeling off more than some of the time. It’s essential to keep an eye out for the symptoms of a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS) include postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder, and postpartum psychosis. 

Symptoms include:

• Persistent sadness
• Hopelessness
• Feeling disconnected from your baby
• Constant worry or racing thoughts
• Hypervigilance
• Intrusive thoughts
• Panic symptoms
• Thoughts of self-harm or harming your baby
  

PMADs affect 1 in 5 mothers, and they are treatable. Reach out to your provider immediately if you’re struggling—you deserve support, therapy, medication, community, or all three.

What Your Body Looks and Feels Like 2 Months Postpartum

Let’s be clear—your body will not look 100% like it did before you got pregnant, and that's OK. Most women don’t have a flat belly by six weeks postpartum because it takes time for your body to recover from birth. You may feel softer, rounder, or less toned. That’s normal.

The Postpartum Belly

Let’s talk honestly about your 2-month postpartum belly. By now, you likely don’t appear pregnant anymore, because your uterus has shrunk.

At this stage, it is normal for your belly to be:

• Softer
• Rounder
• Less toned
• Still slightly swollen
• Showing diastasis recti separation
• Not close to “flat”
  

Even though your uterus is back to normal size, your muscles, connective tissue, and skin need months to recover, not weeks. Physical changes continue for 6-12 months postpartum.

If you had a Cesarean, scar tissue can create a noticeable lower-belly “shelf,” which may soften over time.

Managing Body Aches and Fatigue

Body aches at 2 months postpartum are extremely common—even at 3 months postpartum, many women still feel discomfort. This can come from:

• Leaning over while feeding
• Carrying your baby on one side
• Rocking, bouncing, or holding for long stretches
• Hormonal joint laxity due to the hormone relaxin released during pregnancy. 
• Weakened core muscles
• Sleep deprivation
  

You’ll commonly feel these aches in your lower back, pelvis and hip. Gentle movement, stretching, hydration, proper posture, and supportive pillows can help. Seek physical therapy if pain persists.

Your Hormones and Breastfeeding 

Breastfeeding at two months is a natural and beautiful bonding experience. For some women, however, there’s a physical and psychological aspect we don’t talk about enough, and it may all be tied to hormones. Hormones like prolactin and oxytocin affect:

• Mood
• Libido
• Vaginal dryness
• Fertility
• Sleep patterns
• Milk production

At 8 weeks, your baby has an increased appetite and probably still cluster feeds, i.e., frequent feeds close together. Some things you’re experiencing range from breast tenderness to fatigue after longer feeds. 

If you’re exclusively pumping, your hormonal pattern may resemble breastfeeding but may not suppress ovulation as strongly.

When to Expect Your Period Again

Everyone is different, and when to expect your first postpartum period depends on a few factors. 

Generally, people who are breastfeeding will start to cycle later than people who are exclusively feeding formula or feeding a combination of formula and breastmilk. 

This is because the hormones involved with breastfeeding (particularly prolactin) can keep your body from ovulating. No ovulation, no period. 

Exclusively breastfeeding:

• Periods may be delayed until 3–6 months postpartum or even longer.
• Prolactin suppresses ovulation, but it is not guaranteed.

Formula-feeding or combination-feeding:

• Your period may return anytime from 6–10 weeks postpartum.
• It’s normal to have irregular cycles at first.

How Soon After Birth Can You Get Pregnant Again?

If you’re wondering, “How Soon After Giving Birth Can I Get Pregnant?” It depends. You can’t get pregnant again until you start ovulating again. You may not know precisely when that is, but there are some signs, such as body temperature and discharge. 

Breastfeeding is not a reliable form of birth control, so if you don’t want another pregnancy yet and you are sexually active, it’s important to use contraception.

Discuss options with your provider at your 6-8 week visit. Some women choose:

• Condoms
• Birth control pills
• Patches
• Rings
• IUDs
• Implants

Pregnancy symptoms 2 months postpartum?

It’s possible to become pregnant even three weeks postpartum if you’re not breastfeeding. If you suddenly experience:

• Breast tenderness
• Cramping
• Nausea
• More intense fatigue
• Increased discharge

Take a pregnancy test just to be sure.

When It’s Safe to Use Tampons or Cups Again

Avoid using tampons, menstrual cups, menstrual discs, or any other products that you insert into your vagina for at least the first six weeks after birth. Your vagina, cervix, and uterus are still healing and are more susceptible to infection in the first weeks after birth. 

Use pads or period underwear while your body is healing from birth. You can check in with your provider during your six-week visit to discuss using tampons and other period products. Chances are, it will be just fine to use a tampon after the six-week mark.

When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider

You’ll experience harmless symptoms during this adjustment period, but there are some you shouldn’t ignore. Call your doctor or midwife if you experience:

• Heavy bleeding or passing large clots after 6 weeks
• Fever or chills
• Foul-smelling discharge
• Severe abdominal or pelvic pain
• Worsening incision redness, swelling, or heat
• Persistent urinary or fecal incontinence
• Severe sadness or anxiety
• Thoughts of self-harm
• Signs of mastitis (redness, fever, breast pain)
  

Learn what symptoms warrant a call to your healthcare provider. You deserve care and attention—never hesitate to reach out.

Key Takeaways and Recovery Recommendations

At two months postpartum, you’re still early in your healing, and you’re still far from the finish line. Your body may feel softer, weaker, or simply different, and that’s completely normal. 

Practice gentle, supportive movements, get adequate rest, and stay hydrated. These will help you regain your strength and feel your best. Focus on eating healthy, nourishing foods you love and being kind to yourself. Prioritize your well-being and be kind to yourself and your body. You’ll get there!

If you’d like support for your body to feel its best during postpartum recovery, consider taking our postpartum supplements, which can support lactation, sleep, immunity, and more.