Healing

Day 12 postpartum

In short: what happens on day 12 postpartum?

On day 12 postpartum postnatal bleeding (lochia) has turned into a yellowish-white discharge for most mothers; this is called lochia alba and is a normal stage of healing. It can continue for up to 4–6 weeks in total. A bad smell, fever, large clots or bright red bleeding that returns after easing mean you should see a doctor.

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Day 12 postpartum – animated guide

Day 12: 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

≈ 350 g

Milk

Transitional milk

Baby’s stomach (per feed)

65 ml

Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)

Wet nappies (24 hours)

Days until day 40

28 days

What’s happening in your body?

As the placental site inside your womb heals, the discharge changes from red to pinkish-brown and now to cream, yellowish or white. The amount gradually lessens, although after a long walk or a busy day you may notice brief pink spotting.

Your baby today

When awake, your baby now looks at your face for longer and responds to your voice. In most babies the cord has fallen off, and the small belly button wound left behind dries completely within a few days.

Feeding and nutrition

Your milk supply is well established and moving from transitional to mature milk. A slight increase in discharge during feeds is caused by oxytocin, the hormone that helps your womb shrink, and is normal.

Emotions and rest

The change in colour is a tangible sign that your body is healing; noticing this small progress can lift your spirits.

Care and hygiene

You can now use thinner pads, but keep changing them every 4–6 hours. Don’t use tampons or douche until the bleeding has completely stopped.

Tips for today

Note the colour and amount of discharge for a few days to track the change
Choose breathable cotton underwear
If pink spotting increases, rest a little more that day

When to seek medical help

See your doctor straight away if the discharge smells bad, or you have a temperature of 38 °C or above, pain low in your tummy, clots the size of a walnut, or bright red bleeding that soaks a pad an hour. These can signal a womb infection or retained tissue.

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

When does postpartum bleeding stop?

Postnatal bleeding and the discharge that follows usually last 4–6 weeks. For some mothers it stops sooner; for others light spotting continues until week 6.

Is yellow discharge normal after birth?

Yes, an odourless yellowish-white discharge (lochia alba) from around day 11 is normal. If it is greenish, frothy or smells bad, it should be checked for infection.

Can postpartum bleeding stop and start again?

Brief pink spotting after being active can happen and settles with rest. Bright red, heavy bleeding that returns after easing is not normal, and you need to see a 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.

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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