Day 20 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 20 postpartum?
On day 20 postpartum, if you feel well, you can go for short walks with your baby. Fresh air and gentle movement benefit both your mood and your circulation. The key things are to avoid crowded indoor places, dress your baby for the weather and protect them from extreme heat or cold.
Day 20 postpartum – animated guide
Day 20: 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
≈ 210 g
Milk
Mature milk
Baby’s stomach (per feed)
79 ml
Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)
+8.1%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
6
Days until day 40
20 days
What’s happening in your body?
After a vaginal birth most mothers manage short walks comfortably by now; after a caesarean, build up the distance gradually. A noticeable increase in discharge after a walk shows that you should slow the pace a little.
Your baby today
A newborn’s temperature control is still immature; they need protecting from direct sun and heat in summer and from cold and wind in winter. In a pram or sling, make sure their face is uncovered and they can breathe easily.
Feeding and nutrition
Feeding just before you go out helps the walk go more calmly. On longer outings, remember to take water and a light snack.
Emotions and rest
Getting out of the house eases the cooped-up feeling of days within the same four walls and helps you feel part of the world again.
Care and hygiene
Wear comfortable shoes and keep your first walks to 10–15 minutes; if you get tired, remember you still have the walk home.
Tips for today
- Take your first walks close to home at quiet times
- Dress your baby in one layer more than an adult, but no more
- Put off crowded indoor places such as shopping centres for the first weeks
When to seek medical help
Go to A&E straight away if during or after a walk you have pain, swelling and redness in one leg, chest pain or breathlessness. Bleeding that becomes bright red and heavy again is also a sign to contact your doctor.
Tradition and evidence
The tradition of mother and baby staying at home for 40 days, found in Turkish culture and in many others (such as the Latin American ‘cuarentena’ or Chinese ‘sitting the month’), reflects a valuable care for the mother’s rest and the newborn’s protection from illness. However, a short walk in the fresh air does no harm; the real risks are crowded indoor places and contact with people who are unwell. You can go for quiet walks while keeping the heart of the tradition: rest and protection.
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 soon can you go out after giving birth?
There is no set limit; you can go for short walks when you feel well. Limiting crowded indoor places in the first weeks is enough.
Can I take my newborn baby outside?
A healthy baby can go for short outdoor walks as long as they are dressed for the weather and kept away from crowds. They should be protected from direct sunlight.
What happens if you go out before 40 days after birth?
Scientifically, going out does no harm. What matters is not overtiring yourself, avoiding contact with people who are ill and staying away from crowded indoor places.
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