Day 10 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 10 postpartum?
On day 10 postpartum most babies’ umbilical cord stump has dried, darkened and is about to fall off, or already has; it usually separates on its own between days 5 and 15. Keeping it clean and dry, putting nothing on it and folding the nappy below it is all it needs. Your baby is also nearing their birth weight now.
Day 10 postpartum – animated guide
Day 10: the 40-day postpartum dial, your womb shrinking, postnatal bleeding, your baby’s stomach capacity and weight change (illustrative animation).
What the animation shows
- RING
- Coloured ring: the 40-day postpartum period and its stages; the gaps in the ring mark the weeks
- LOCHIA
- Inner band and pad: the colour of postnatal bleeding (red → pinkish-brown → yellowish-white) and how heavy it is
- BLUES
- Blue arc: days 3–14, when the baby blues may appear
- UTERUS
- Womb: its weight (g) and height relative to the belly button (cm); the dashed line marks the belly button
- STOMACH
- Circle: roughly how much milk your baby can take per feed (ml); dashed rings show day 1, day 3, week 1 and month 1
- FEED
- Drop and nappy: feeds in 24 hours and the minimum number of wet nappies to expect
- WEIGHT
- Graph: your baby’s weight compared with birth weight (%)
- ICONS
- Outer icons: first feed, milk coming in, heel prick test, cord falling off, back to birth weight, 1 month, 6-week check
Stage
Healing
Postnatal bleeding
Pinkish-brown (lochia serosa)
Womb
≈ 400 g
Milk
Transitional milk
Baby’s stomach (per feed)
60 ml
Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)
-1.2%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
6
Days until day 40
30 days
What’s happening in your body?
Between days 10 and 14 your womb withdraws behind the pubic bone and can no longer be felt through your tummy. Bleeding is pinkish-brown, lighter and odourless; within a few days it will start turning yellowish-white. Most episiotomy stitches have dissolved or are about to.
Your baby today
After the cord falls off you may see a few drops of blood or slight moisture at the belly button, which dries within a few days. Your baby has regained most of the weight lost in the first days and should reach birth weight between days 10 and 14. The growth spurt may still make them want to feed often.
Feeding and nutrition
A sudden increase in feeding now is a typical sign of a growth spurt; a few days of frequent feeds increase your supply to match. You can tell whether your milk is enough from at least 6 wet nappies a day and steady weight gain.
Emotions and rest
Seeing your baby grow is the reward for all your effort; remember these small steps forward in the harder moments.
Care and hygiene
If the belly button gets dirty, clean it with plain warm water, dry it well and fold the front of the nappy below it. Once the cord has fallen off and the belly button is completely dry, you can give your baby their first bath.
Tips for today
- Don’t pull or twist the cord to make it come off
- Don’t cover the belly button with a bandage or binder; let the air get to it
- Note the date the cord falls off and mention it at the next check
When to seek medical help
See a paediatrician without delay if there is spreading redness, swelling, a bad smell, yellow-green discharge or bleeding that won’t stop around the belly button, or if your baby has a fever and won’t feed. Also get it checked if the cord hasn’t come off after 3 weeks.
Tradition and evidence
In Turkish tradition, burying the fallen cord stump in the garden of a mosque, school or hospital is a symbol of good wishes for the baby’s future and is harmless. Many cultures keep similar customs. But putting salt, oil, coffee or powder on the belly button, placing a coin on it or binding it tightly increases the risk of infection. The best care for the belly button is keeping it clean and dry.
Postpartum day-by-day table
| Day | Topic | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | The First Day After Birth | First 72 hours |
| Day 2 | Colostrum (First Milk) | First 72 hours |
| Day 3 | Milk Coming In and Jaundice | First 72 hours |
| Day 4 | Breast Engorgement | Milk comes in |
| Day 5 | The Baby Blues | Milk comes in |
| Day 6 | Stitch Care and the Toilet | Milk comes in |
| Day 7 | The End of Week One | Milk comes in |
| Day 8 | When Can I Have a Bath? | Healing |
| Day 9 | Sleep and Tiredness | Healing |
| Day 10 | The Umbilical Cord Falls Off | Healing |
| Day 11 | Eating Well After Birth | Healing |
| Day 12 | Yellowish-White Discharge | Healing |
| Day 13 | Caesarean Wound Care | Healing |
| Day 14 | The End of Week Two | Healing |
| Day 15 | Postnatal Depression | Settling in |
| Day 16 | Cracked Nipples and Mastitis | Settling in |
| Day 17 | Visitors and 40-Day Beliefs | Settling in |
| Day 18 | Pelvic Floor and Kegels | Settling in |
| Day 19 | Night Sweats and Hormones | Settling in |
| Day 20 | Can I Go Out With My Baby? | Settling in |
| Day 21 | The Three-Week Growth Spurt | Settling in |
| Day 22 | Tummy, Binders and Diastasis | Settling in |
| Day 23 | Lifting and Driving | Settling in |
| Day 24 | Support From Partner and Family | Settling in |
| Day 25 | Medicines, Tea and Coffee | Settling in |
| Day 26 | Expressing and Storing Milk | Settling in |
| Day 27 | Anaemia After Birth | Settling in |
| Day 28 | Week 4: Is the Bleeding Ending? | Settling in |
| Day 29 | Exercise After Birth | Recovery and day 40 |
| Day 30 | Your Baby’s First Month | Recovery and day 40 |
| Day 31 | Losing Weight After Birth | Recovery and day 40 |
| Day 32 | Sex After Birth | Recovery and day 40 |
| Day 33 | Contraception After Birth | Recovery and day 40 |
| Day 34 | Hair Loss and Skin Changes | Recovery and day 40 |
| Day 35 | Week Five: Building a Routine | Recovery and day 40 |
| Day 36 | Preparing for Your 6-Week Check | Recovery and day 40 |
| Day 37 | Pelvic Floor and Core Strength | Recovery and day 40 |
| Day 38 | Saunas and 40th-Day Bath Rituals | Recovery and day 40 |
| Day 39 | What to Watch for After Day 40 | Recovery and day 40 |
| Day 40 | Day 40: The End of Postpartum | Recovery and day 40 |
Frequently asked questions
On what day does the umbilical cord fall off?
The cord stump usually falls off on its own between days 5 and 15. If it is still there after 3 weeks, show it to your paediatrician.
Can I bathe my baby before the cord falls off?
Until the cord falls off, wiping your baby with a warm damp cloth is recommended rather than a bath. Once it has come off and the belly button is dry, you can move on to baths.
Should I use alcohol or antiseptic on the cord?
For healthy babies, current advice is simply to keep the cord clean and dry; alcohol or antiseptic is not routinely needed. Follow any specific advice from your doctor.
Postnatal 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