Settling in

Day 22 postpartum

In short: what happens on day 22 postpartum?

On day 22 postpartum it is normal for your tummy to still look soft and rounded; stretched muscles and skin need weeks to recover. A gap between the tummy muscles (diastasis recti) is common now. A support belt or binder may feel supportive but doesn’t work the muscles; good posture, breathing exercises and gradual movement bring real recovery.

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Day 22 postpartum – animated guide

Day 22: 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

≈ 200 g

Milk

Mature milk

Baby’s stomach (per feed)

81 ml

Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)

+8.8%

Wet nappies (24 hours)

Days until day 40

18 days

What’s happening in your body?

While your womb keeps shrinking, the muscles and connective tissue of your tummy wall slowly recover from the stretch of pregnancy. Bleeding is now a light, yellowish-white discharge. After a caesarean, numbness and slight firmness around the wound can last for months; this is usually normal.

Your baby today

When awake, your baby watches their surroundings for longer and starts to focus on your face. Short spells of supervised tummy time while awake strengthen neck and back muscles; for sleep, always lay your baby on their back.

Feeding and nutrition

To avoid straining your tummy muscles, sit upright with a cushion behind your back while feeding and bring your baby to your breast rather than leaning forward. Balanced meals containing protein also help repair connective tissue.

Emotions and rest

Making peace with the tummy in the mirror can take time; this body carried a baby for nine months, and every woman recovers at her own pace.

Care and hygiene

To get out of bed, roll onto your side first and push up with your arm; sit-ups or sudden sitting up can widen the gap between your tummy muscles.

Tips for today

Lie on your back with knees bent, lift your head slightly and feel for a gap above your belly button with your fingers
Keep your shoulders back and your tummy gently drawn in while feeding and carrying your baby
If you use a binder, choose one loose enough not to restrict your breathing and don’t wear it all day

When to seek medical help

See your doctor if a noticeable, painful bulge appears around your belly button, your caesarean wound is red, oozing or opening, or tummy pain comes with a fever.

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 it helpful to wear a postpartum binder?

It can give support and comfort when moving, especially in the first weeks after a caesarean. But it doesn’t strengthen the muscles, and wearing one too tight or too long can put pressure on the pelvic floor.

Does diastasis recti get better by itself?

For most mothers it lessens markedly in the first 8 weeks. If a gap wider than two fingers persists, it should be assessed at the 6-week check and you may be referred to physiotherapy.

Can I do sit-ups after giving birth?

Traditional sit-ups aren’t recommended until the gap in your tummy muscles has healed. Start with gentle core exercises such as deep breathing and drawing your tummy in.

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