Childbirth may mark the end of pregnancy, but for women, it is the beginning of a physically and psychologically taxing journey that receives far too little attention. The postpartum period — often dismissed as a brief healing phase — is riddled with long-term complications that are neither rare nor minor. While the infant becomes the sole focus of medical and social care, the mother is expected to recover in silence. A Lancet Global Health study reveals a staggering 40 million women each year suffer long-term postnatal conditions such as dyspareunia (35%), low back pain (32%), anal incontinence (19%), and postpartum depression (11–17%). These aren't temporary discomforts but persistent morbidities. Yet maternal health policies worldwide prioritize survival at birth over sustained wellbeing. This skewed focus has created a care vacuum, normalizing suffering and undercutting the lifelong impact of postnatal complications on women’s lives.

Invisible Epidemic
The biomedical lens continues to overlook what it deems "non-fatal" outcomes — perineal pain, sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and secondary infertility (11%). Chronic pelvic floor dysfunction, though deeply disruptive, is rarely followed up after discharge. Women navigate motherhood while battling symptoms that impair mobility, intimacy, and confidence. Most health systems still adhere to a one-size-fits-all six-week check-up, with no structured follow-ups, no interdisciplinary rehabilitation, and no recognition of the complex healing required. The persistent framing of postpartum conditions as expected or inevitable allows them to remain medically invisible and socially invalidated.

Mental Toll
Psychiatric dimensions of postpartum care are routinely sidelined despite overwhelming evidence. Anxiety affects 9–24% of postpartum women, while tokophobia — fear of childbirth — persists even after delivery. Postpartum depression, often mistaken for fatigue or hormonal shifts, can severely impair maternal functioning and infant bonding. With limited access to trained professionals, women are either misdiagnosed or left untreated. The silence around maternal mental health is not due to rarity but stigma and systemic neglect. Without early screening and culturally competent care, these conditions become chronic.

Pathways to Support
Postpartum care must be reconceived as long-term, structured, and inclusive. Critical interventions include:
Mandatory postnatal reviews at multiple intervals, not just six weeks.
Funded pelvic physiotherapy to address pain and incontinence.
Integrated mental health check-ins as part of routine care.
Peer support groups to normalize recovery and combat isolation.