Day 2 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 2 postpartum?
On day 2 postpartum your baby is still feeding on colostrum. This yellow first milk comes in small amounts, but it is enough for a cherry-sized stomach, is packed with antibodies and helps your baby pass meconium. The cramping pains you feel while feeding are normal afterpains, a sign your womb is shrinking, easing within a few days.
Day 2 postpartum – animated guide
Day 2: 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
First 72 hours
Postnatal bleeding
Red (lochia rubra)
Womb
≈ 940 g
Milk
Colostrum (first milk)
Baby’s stomach (per feed)
12 ml
Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)
-5%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
2
Days until day 40
38 days
What’s happening in your body?
Your womb shrinks by about 1 cm a day, and you feel this as cramping, especially during feeds; afterpains are stronger after second and later births. Bleeding is still red but should be a little lighter than on day one. After a caesarean, trapped wind and a pulling feeling around the wound are common on day 2.
Your baby today
Expect black-green, sticky meconium in your baby’s nappy; this is the first poo that built up in the womb. There should be at least 2 wet nappies today. Losing a little weight in the first days is normal, so don’t be alarmed by a small drop on the scales.
Feeding and nutrition
Colostrum may look scant but it is highly concentrated and meets your baby’s needs; feed whenever your baby wants, 8–12 times in 24 hours. For yourself, drink plenty and include fibre-rich foods.
Emotions and rest
The first sleepless night after the birth may catch up with you today; when your baby sleeps, put your phone down and rest your eyes.
Care and hygiene
After a caesarean you can usually shower after 24 hours, and the dressing is cared for as your doctor advises. After a vaginal birth, warm showers and frequent pad changes soothe the perineum.
Tips for today
- Breathe slowly and deeply through afterpains and keep your bladder empty
- After a caesarean, hold a pillow against your tummy when you cough or laugh
- Note feeds and nappy changes in a notebook or an app
When to seek medical help
See your doctor if you have severe tummy pain that continues outside feeds, a temperature of 38 °C or above, or redness and discharge from your caesarean wound. Also tell your midwife if your baby has not passed any meconium in the first 24 hours.
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
Is colostrum enough for my baby?
Yes. On day one your baby’s stomach holds only 5–7 ml; colostrum comes in small amounts but is very concentrated and meets a healthy baby’s needs.
How long does colostrum last?
Colostrum is usually produced for the first 1–3 days. Transitional milk then starts as your milk comes in; after a caesarean this change may be a little later.
Why does my tummy hurt when breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding releases oxytocin, which makes your womb contract. These cramps, called afterpains, show your womb is shrinking and ease within a few days.
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