“I went for a short run last week, and my pelvic floor said no.”
That one line from Marise Pollard’s recent Instagram post hit home. Because if you’re anywhere near the postpartum stage, you don’t need an explanation.
Your body explains it for you, loudly, sometimes mid-run, sometimes mid-laugh, sometimes when you’re just trying to exist.
“I’m not one of those people who can train through pregnancy,” says the wife of Springbok rugby player Handré Pollard and mother of two, adding that after back-to-back pregnancies, her body “definitely needs a little extra grace”.
It’s a reality many mothers experience, yet often feel hesitant to admit. The expectation to resume exercise quickly after childbirth still lingers, even though recovery looks different for everyone.
What stands out in her message is the honesty around movement returning in small, measured steps.
“I’m just really grateful to be back and able to train again,” she wrote, acknowledging how much she misses training during pregnancy.
Marise also addressed the pressure around “bouncing back”, a phrase she firmly rejects and a term we’ve seen way too often.
“Not bouncing back, because I’m not the same, and I can’t bounce back to who I was before,” she shared. Instead, she speaks about meeting a new version of herself and choosing to honour what her body has carried and created.
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Postpartum recovery varies for every mother: some bodies regain strength quickly, others take months; pelvic floor health, core stability, and fatigue levels all play a role.
In Marise’s case, even a short run is a signal to listen to her body – the pelvic floor, which supports the bladder, uterus and bowel, can take time to recover after pregnancy and childbirth.
“I’m so excited to meet this new version of my body, and to celebrate her for all she’s created in the last three years.”
That perspective is realistic and necessary, especially for mothers who are still figuring out what strength means in this new chapter.
Strength can look like short runs, pelvic floor exercises, stretching routines, or simply regaining confidence in how your body moves. It varies for each woman and changes every day, week or month.
For many mothers, this stage is marked by a mix of gratitude, frustration and adjustment. Marise’s message offers reassurance that progress does not need to be rushed or compared.
Returning to movement can be slow, intentional and deeply personal, with the focus placed on long-term health rather than immediate results.
