Postpartum day by day
What happens to your body, your baby and your emotions in the 40 days after birth? Work out which postpartum day you are on, then read on day by day and week by week.
The postpartum period is the roughly 6-week (40-day) recovery time after birth. It unfolds in five stages:
Postpartum week by week
Week 1Bleeding, Colostrum and Milk
Week 2Womb Shrinking, Cord Falling Off
Week 3Growth Spurt and Emotional Health
Week 4Bleeding Easing, First Month
Week 5Exercise, Sex and Contraception
Week 6The 6-Week Check and Day 40Postpartum day by day
First 72 hours
Milk comes in
Healing
Settling in
Day 15Postnatal Depression
Day 16Cracked Nipples and Mastitis
Day 17Visitors and 40-Day Beliefs
Day 18Pelvic Floor and Kegels
Day 19Night Sweats and Hormones
Day 20Can I Go Out With My Baby?
Day 21The Three-Week Growth Spurt
Day 22Tummy, Binders and Diastasis
Day 23Lifting and Driving
Day 24Support From Partner and Family
Day 25Medicines, Tea and Coffee
Day 26Expressing and Storing Milk
Day 27Anaemia After Birth
Day 28Week 4: Is the Bleeding Ending?Recovery and day 40
Day 29Exercise After Birth
Day 30Your Baby’s First Month
Day 31Losing Weight After Birth
Day 32Sex After Birth
Day 33Contraception After Birth
Day 34Hair Loss and Skin Changes
Day 35Week Five: Building a Routine
Day 36Preparing for Your 6-Week Check
Day 37Pelvic Floor and Core Strength
Day 38Saunas and 40th-Day Bath Rituals
Day 39What to Watch for After Day 40
Day 40Day 40: The End of PostpartumPostnatal care at SoftCare Clinic
Book an appointment with our specialist doctors for a postnatal check, breastfeeding problems, a stitch or wound check, or support with postnatal depression.
The information on this page is general guidance for an uncomplicated postpartum period and does not replace a medical examination. Heavy bleeding, fever, breathlessness, chest pain, or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby are emergencies: call your local emergency number (999 / 911 / 112).
Medical content editor: Op. Dr. Şükrü Sanus