Taking Kollo Post Partum - By Alex Marks
From a nutritional standpoint, there are several ways that collagen intake may be helpful in supporting a woman’s health during pregnancy and postpartum, with protein is of highest importance,
The Fourth Trimester: Looking After You, Too
The weeks and months after having a baby — the "fourth trimester" — ask an enormous amount of a new mother, physically and emotionally. Amid the newfound responsibilities and the broken sleep, the person who tends to get looked after last is mum herself. This piece is a gentle reminder that your wellbeing matters too, with an honest look at where small acts of self-care, including nutrition and supplements, can genuinely help — and where they can't. For the wider picture on collagen, see our complete guide to liquid marine collagen.
A Word From Alex
I'll be honest with you: as a man, I think society can be a little blind to what new mothers actually go through until you witness it first-hand. I care deeply about this, and I believe encouraging mums to engage with their own wellbeing during the fourth trimester — physically, mentally and emotionally — should be far more front-and-centre than it is.
So much of what I see in parenting communities is the daily battle with "mum guilt." There's a stubborn idea that a good mother must be endlessly selfless, and that doing something for yourself is somehow taking away from your child. I'd love to help change that narrative. Resting, accepting help, and carving out small moments for yourself aren't selfish — they're part of staying well enough to care for someone else.
What Genuinely Helps Postpartum
The things that make the biggest difference are rarely products. They're the basics — and they're worth protecting fiercely:
- Rest where you can — guilt-free naps and genuine breaks from parental duties are restorative, not indulgent.
- Accept and ask for support — from a partner, family, friends or your health visitor. You're not meant to do this alone.
- Eat well — good nutrition supports your recovery, and protein in particular matters for tissue repair after birth.
- Speak up about how you feel — postpartum is a huge adjustment, and persistent low mood or anxiety deserves a kind, prompt conversation with your GP or health visitor. Postnatal depression is real, common and treatable.
Where Does Collagen Fit — Honestly?
From a nutrition standpoint, a collagen supplement can be a small, convenient part of a self-care routine — but I want to be straight about what it does and doesn't do, because you deserve honesty more than hype.
What it genuinely offers: collagen is the best-evidenced supplement for skin — research shows collagen peptides can support skin hydration and elasticity over a couple of months — and it has modest evidence for joint comfort. Some women experience joint aches in the postpartum period as the body readjusts after pregnancy, and our guide to joint supplements covers that side honestly.
What it doesn't do: collagen is not a hormone and doesn't replace any of pregnancy's hormonal changes; it isn't a treatment for the physical or emotional challenges of postpartum; and it doesn't change your breast milk or affect your baby's development. Anyone who tells you a supplement does those things is overpromising. Think of collagen as a nice-to-have for your skin and general wellbeing — never as a substitute for rest, support or medical care.
Postpartum & Collagen at a Glance
| Question | The honest answer |
|---|---|
| Check with my GP/midwife first? | Yes — always, when pregnant or breastfeeding |
| Does collagen help my skin? | Yes — its best-evidenced benefit |
| Help with postpartum joint aches? | Modest evidence for joint comfort |
| Replace pregnancy hormones / relaxin? | No — collagen is a protein, not a hormone |
| Change my breast milk or affect baby? | No — and any such claim should be disregarded |
Be Kind to Yourself
If you take one thing from this, let it be permission to look after yourself. A collagen sachet, if your healthcare team is happy with it, can be a tiny daily ritual that's just for you — but the real gifts of the fourth trimester are rest, support and self-compassion. Those far outweigh any supplement, flowers or grand gesture.
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Shop Now →The Bottom Line
Looking after yourself in the fourth trimester isn't a luxury or a selfish act — it's part of staying well for your baby. Rest, support and good nutrition do the heavy lifting. If your healthcare team is happy with it, a daily collagen sachet can be one small, pleasant ritual that's just for you — valued for what it genuinely offers your skin, not for promises it can't keep.
If that feels right for you, our complete guide to liquid marine collagen has the detail, our joint supplements guide covers joint comfort, and our women's wellness guide looks at supporting yourself through life's changes.
Kollo Health was co-founded by Jenni Falconer - TV presenter, Smooth Radio breakfast host, ten-time London Marathon runner and host of the RunPod podcast. Read her story and why she created Kollo.
