Day 18 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 18 postpartum?
On day 18 postpartum leaking urine when you cough, sneeze or laugh is common because the pelvic floor muscles are stretched during birth. Kegel exercises strengthen these muscles and reduce leaks, and can be started in the first days if you feel comfortable. With regular practice, most mothers see a clear improvement within a few weeks.
Day 18 postpartum – animated guide
Day 18: 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
Settling in
Postnatal bleeding
Yellowish-white (lochia alba)
Womb
≈ 240 g
Milk
Mature milk
Baby’s stomach (per feed)
76 ml
Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)
+5.9%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
6
Days until day 40
22 days
What’s happening in your body?
The pelvic floor is the layer of muscle that supports the bladder, womb and bowel from below, and it is stretched considerably by the load of pregnancy and by a vaginal birth. Even if you had a caesarean, pregnancy itself affects these muscles, so Kegel exercises benefit you too.
Your baby today
When awake, your baby now watches their surroundings more and is ready for their first short tries at tummy time. Doing Kegels while you sit on the floor beside them is an easy way to add the exercise to your daily routine.
Feeding and nutrition
Feeding is a great reminder to exercise: you can make a habit of doing 10 Kegels at the start of every feed. Drinking enough prevents urinary infections; don’t cut down on fluids for fear of leaking.
Emotions and rest
Leaking urine can feel embarrassing, but it is very common after birth and usually improves; don’t hesitate to talk about it.
Care and hygiene
For a Kegel, squeeze your pelvic floor muscles inwards and upwards as if stopping a wee, hold for 3–5 seconds and relax for the same time; 10 repetitions a few times a day is enough. Trying once to find the right muscles is fine, but don’t regularly stop the flow while passing urine.
Tips for today
- Don’t hold your breath while exercising; keep your tummy and buttock muscles relaxed
- Gradually increase the hold to 10 seconds over the weeks
- Get into the habit of tightening your pelvic floor just before you cough or lift your baby
When to seek medical help
See your doctor if passing urine burns, you need to go very often, you have a fever or you can’t pass urine at all. Being unable to control wind or stools, or a feeling of heaviness or a bulge in the vagina, must also be checked.
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
Does urinary incontinence go away after birth?
For most mothers it improves markedly within weeks as the pelvic floor recovers and with regular Kegel exercises. If it continues after the 6-week check, pelvic floor physiotherapy helps.
How do you do Kegel exercises?
Squeeze your pelvic floor muscles as if holding in a wee or wind, hold for a few seconds, then relax completely. 10 repetitions a few times a day is enough.
When can I start Kegels after giving birth?
If you feel comfortable, you can start from the first days after birth. Stop if it hurts, and build up gradually.
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