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The Science

Built on clinical evidence.
Not assumptions.

MamaFlow's framework is grounded in published postpartum guidelines — and designed to address the gaps mainstream apps ignore entirely.

Core Principles

Six things that make
MamaFlow different.

RCOG & ACOG Guidelines

Exercise phases built on Royal College of Obstetricians and ACOG evidence. Vaginal and C-section pathways are completely separate — because they are medically different recoveries. No other consumer app does this.

Mifflin-St Jeor Personalisation

Calorie targets calculated from your actual height, weight, and age using the most validated formula for postpartum women — adjusted daily for sleep deprivation, breastfeeding status, and training intensity.

Breastfeeding Safety Built In

Breastfeeding users never see a calorie deficit recommendation. An additional 400–500 kcal is applied automatically. Calorie restriction while breastfeeding is structurally prevented — not just discouraged.

Ethnicity-Aware Modelling

Standard equations were built from studies of White European populations. MamaFlow applies evidence-based BMR adjustments for Black and South Asian women — the first postpartum app to address this gap directly.

Postpartum Nutrition Phase-Specific

Iron, protein, calcium, and iodine targets change by phase — higher in early recovery, adjusted for breastfeeding, recalibrated as you progress. Every food suggestion mapped to what your body actually needs at that stage.

Under Clinical Review

The MamaFlow clinical framework is being reviewed by a registered women's health physiotherapist before public launch. We will not launch until it is signed off. A full clinical briefing document has been prepared.

The Evidence

Where every decision
comes from.

Every clinical decision in MamaFlow traces back to published evidence. This is not a wellness app built on assumptions.

Exercise Framework
RCOG, ACOG & POGP Guidelines

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists postpartum guidelines, the ACOG 2020 Committee Opinion on physical activity postpartum, and the POGP guidance on returning to running after childbirth form the core of MamaFlow's exercise phasing and clearance logic.

Calorie Calculation
Mifflin-St Jeor Equation

Selected over Harris-Benedict based on published accuracy studies (Frankenfield et al., 2005). Applied with postpartum-specific adjustments: sleep deprivation correction of up to +220 kcal, breastfeeding addition of 400–500 kcal, and daily activity multiplier.

Core Rehabilitation
Diastasis Recti Evidence Base

Core reconnection protocols drawn from Mota et al. and Lee & Hodges on diastasis recti rehabilitation — prioritising transverse abdominis activation, pelvic floor coordination, and breathing mechanics before any loaded movement is introduced.

Breastfeeding Nutrition
Lovelady, McCrory & WHO Evidence

Calorie restriction during breastfeeding is disabled based on Lovelady et al. (2000) and McCrory et al. (1999) findings on milk supply and maternal recovery. WHO supplementary feeding guidance informs the combination-feeding adjustment of +200–250 kcal.

The Pathways

Two deliveries.
Two completely different recoveries.

This is the most important clinical distinction MamaFlow makes. A caesarean is major abdominal surgery through seven layers of tissue. The recovery is not a variation of vaginal birth — it is a different medical event entirely.

Vaginal Birth
Perineal & Pelvic
Recovery
Weeks 1–6
Rest, breathwork, pelvic floor activation

No impact. No sustained standing. Pelvic floor assessment built into onboarding. Perineal healing tracked through symptom check-ins.

Weeks 6–12
Low-impact reintroduction

Walking, mobility, gentle strength. Progression gated by symptom absence — not calendar date. Return to impact only after pelvic floor loading assessment.

Month 3+
Progressive load & strength building

Full strength programme with progressive overload. Return to running pathway (POGP guidelines) from month 3 minimum, subject to symptom clearance.

Caesarean Section
Abdominal Surgical
Recovery
Weeks 1–6
Surgical healing — strict restrictions

No trunk rotation. No lifting beyond infant weight. No sustained standing exercise. Breathing mechanics and wound awareness from day one. Scar tissue education begins.

Weeks 6–12
Scar mobilisation & deep core reactivation

Scar tissue desensitisation exercises. Deep abdominal wall reactivation. No surface abdominal exercises until scar and fascia are cleared. Lower body strength begins.

Month 3+
Full programme with scar-aware loading

Progressive strength with ongoing scar awareness. Return to impact later than vaginal pathway — typically 4–6 months minimum. All loading decisions consider lower abdominal wall integrity.

Under Clinical Review

The complete MamaFlow clinical framework — exercise phasing, nutritional calculations, pathway gating, and contraindication logic — is being reviewed by a registered women's health physiotherapist before public launch. MamaFlow will not launch until the framework is formally signed off. A clinical briefing document is available for endorsement review.

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