Day 19 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 19 postpartum?
On day 19 postpartum night sweats and hot flushes may still continue. The rapid fall in oestrogen and progesterone after birth, and your body shedding the extra fluid stored in pregnancy, cause this sweating. It is usually heaviest in the first two weeks, then gradually eases. Without fever it is harmless; with a fever, see a doctor.
Day 19 postpartum – animated guide
Day 19: 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
≈ 220 g
Milk
Mature milk
Baby’s stomach (per feed)
78 ml
Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)
+7.2%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
6
Days until day 40
21 days
What’s happening in your body?
Oestrogen and progesterone, which are high in pregnancy, drop sharply within a few days of birth, while prolactin, the breastfeeding hormone, stays high. This hormonal shift affects the brain’s temperature control centre, causing sudden hot flushes and sweating, especially at night.
Your baby today
Even while you are feeling hot, avoid overwrapping your baby; a newborn needs just one layer more than you are comfortable in. If the back of their neck is hot and sweaty, your baby is overdressed.
Feeding and nutrition
Sweating and breastfeeding increase your fluid loss; keep water by your bed and take a few sips when you wake at night. Prolactin and oxytocin can cause a brief feeling of warmth during feeds; this is normal too.
Emotions and rest
Hormonal swings can cause not just sweating but also sudden changes of mood; be patient with yourself.
Care and hygiene
Use cotton nightwear and sheets, lay a towel over your pillow and keep the room cool. When you wake up sweaty, a short warm shower refreshes you and prevents skin irritation.
Tips for today
- Keep spare nightwear and a towel ready beside your bed
- Keep the room cool and use layers of bedding so you can remove one when needed
- Get into the habit of checking and noting your temperature when you sweat
When to seek medical help
If sweating comes with a temperature of 38 °C or above, shivering, foul-smelling discharge or a painful red area on the breast, it may be an infection; see your doctor. Sweating that increases rather than eases over the weeks, with palpitations and weight loss, should be checked for thyroid problems.
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
How long do night sweats last after birth?
They are usually heaviest in the first two weeks and gradually ease over the following weeks. For some mothers, especially those breastfeeding, mild hot flushes can last a few weeks longer.
Why do you sweat so much after giving birth?
The main causes are the rapid fall in oestrogen and progesterone and your body shedding the extra fluid stored in pregnancy through sweat and urine.
When is postpartum sweating a concern?
If sweating comes with a fever, shivering, foul-smelling discharge or a painful red area on the breast, you need to see a doctor to check for infection.
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