Day 23 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 23 postpartum?
On day 23 postpartum most mothers who had a vaginal birth are back to daily tasks, but avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby. After a caesarean the tummy wall heals more slowly. To drive, you must be able to do a pain-free emergency stop, look over your shoulder and wear a seatbelt comfortably; decide with your doctor.
Day 23 postpartum – animated guide
Day 23: 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
≈ 180 g
Milk
Mature milk
Baby’s stomach (per feed)
82 ml
Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)
+9.6%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
6
Days until day 40
17 days
What’s happening in your body?
Your womb is approaching its week-4 size of about 100 g, but your tummy and pelvic floor muscles have not yet regained full strength. Heavy lifting strains these muscles and can cause a temporary increase in bleeding. After a caesarean, even if the outer wound looks closed, the inner layers take weeks to heal.
Your baby today
Your baby may be half a kilo to a kilo heavier than at birth, and with the car seat the load you lift is more than you think. In the car your baby must travel in the back seat in a rear-facing, age-appropriate car seat; travelling on a lap is not safe.
Feeding and nutrition
On long journeys, stop and park to feed your baby; never take your baby out of the car seat to feed in a moving car. Remember to take your water bottle before setting off.
Emotions and rest
Needing help from others can test your patience; but a few weeks of care now will spare you back and tummy problems in the months ahead.
Care and hygiene
When picking something up from the floor, bend your knees and squat rather than bending at the waist, keep the load close to your body and don’t hold your breath as you lift.
Tips for today
- Leave the car seat base in the car and lift just your baby rather than carrying the seat
- Split shopping into small bags or have it delivered
- Before driving, practise an emergency stop and a shoulder check while parked
When to seek medical help
See your doctor if your bleeding turns bright red and heavier after lifting something, your caesarean wound becomes painful, swollen or starts to ooze, or you feel pressure or a lump bearing down in your vagina.
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
When can I drive after a caesarean?
There is no fixed day; most mothers drive again after a few weeks, once they can do an emergency stop without pain. Ask your doctor whether any painkillers you take affect your alertness, and check your car insurer’s conditions.
How much weight can I lift after giving birth?
For the first weeks, it is advised not to lift anything heavier than your baby. After a caesarean, this limit usually applies until week 6.
Can I use the stairs after giving birth?
Yes, going up and down slowly while holding the handrail is safe. If you are carrying your baby, always keep your other hand free.
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