Healing

Day 11 postpartum

In short: what happens on day 11 postpartum?

On day 11 postpartum the aim of eating well is to support both your recovery and your milk supply. A breastfeeding mother needs about 450–500 kcal extra a day, which you can get from balanced meals of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, pulses, eggs, meat and dairy. Drink to thirst, include iron-rich foods and avoid dieting.

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Day 11 postpartum – animated guide

Day 11: 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

Yellowish-white (lochia alba)

Womb

≈ 380 g

Milk

Transitional milk

Baby’s stomach (per feed)

62 ml

Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)

-0.6%

Wet nappies (24 hours)

Days until day 40

29 days

What’s happening in your body?

Your bleeding starts turning yellowish-white around now, and your womb keeps shrinking until it can no longer be felt through your tummy. Blood lost at birth may have depleted your iron stores, which is a major cause of tiredness.

Your baby today

Your baby has most likely reached or is very close to birth weight and should now gain about 150–200 g a week. At least 6 wet nappies a day and yellow, seedy poos are the most reliable signs that they are feeding well.

Feeding and nutrition

How much milk you make depends far more on how often and how effectively your baby feeds than on any special food; 8–12 feeds in 24 hours is the best stimulus for supply. Eating red meat, eggs, lentils, chickpeas and dark leafy greens together with vitamin C-rich fruit improves iron absorption.

Emotions and rest

Going hungry and eating irregularly, combined with lack of sleep, can noticeably increase irritability and weakness. Keeping healthy, ready-to-eat snacks within reach steadies both your energy and your mood.

Care and hygiene

Put a bottle of water next to your feeding chair; taking a few sips at every feed is the easiest way to stay hydrated. If you are constipated, increase fibre and fluids together.

Tips for today

Keep a jug of water and a bowl of nuts where you feed
Drink tea and coffee between meals rather than with them
Ask relatives who offer to bring food for simple, nourishing meals

When to seek medical help

Extreme weakness, dizziness, palpitations or marked paleness may point to anaemia; see your doctor if so. Constant thirst despite drinking plenty, or passing very little urine, should also be checked.

Tradition and evidence

In Turkish tradition, ‘lohusa şerbeti’, a sweet red drink simmered with cinnamon and cloves, is a much-loved part of welcoming guests and celebrating a new mother; many cultures have similar ‘milk-making’ drinks. However, there is no scientific evidence that such drinks increase milk; supply rises with frequent, effective feeding. Enjoy them for pleasure, but because of their high sugar content they should not replace water and nourishing meals.

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

What should a breastfeeding mother eat?

A balanced, varied diet is enough: vegetables, fruit, whole grains, pulses, meat, fish, eggs and dairy. There is usually no need for a special diet or a list of banned foods.

Which foods cause wind in a breastfed baby?

There is no proof that foods such as cabbage or beans eaten by the mother give a baby wind. If you consistently notice marked fussiness after a particular food, speak to your doctor before cutting it out completely.

How much water should a breastfeeding mother drink?

There is no fixed amount; drinking to thirst and having pale urine is a good guide. Many mothers find it practical to drink a glass of water at each feed.

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.

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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