Day 24 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 24 postpartum?
On day 24 postpartum tiredness may have built up while the stream of visitors has slowed; this is exactly when support from your partner and family makes the difference. A partner can do almost everything except breastfeed: winding, nappy changes, bathing, night shifts and housework. Openly agreeing and sharing tasks speeds recovery and lowers the risk of postnatal depression.
Day 24 postpartum – animated guide
Day 24: 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
≈ 170 g
Milk
Mature milk
Baby’s stomach (per feed)
84 ml
Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)
+10.7%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
6
Days until day 40
16 days
What’s happening in your body?
Although your bleeding has eased and your womb has shrunk, your body is still recovering and broken sleep multiplies tiredness. The hormones released by breastfeeding have a calming effect, but they don’t replace rest. Getting at least one unbroken block of sleep a day noticeably speeds your recovery.
Your baby today
Your baby is starting to tell voices apart and is getting used to their father’s voice and smell too. Skin-to-skin contact, carrying and talking with dad strengthen bonding, and your baby also learns to settle through this relationship.
Feeding and nutrition
Your partner can win you extra sleep during night feeds by bringing the baby to you and taking them back, winding them and changing their nappy. If grandparents take on cooking and shopping, you can focus on eating well and feeding.
Emotions and rest
The move to parenthood can create tension between couples; expressing your needs without blame, using ‘I’ statements, and spending a few minutes a day talking just to each other protects your bond.
Care and hygiene
Plan time that is yours alone with your partner, such as a shower, a walk or a nap; these moments are not a luxury but part of recovery.
Tips for today
- Draw up a simple rota for sharing night shifts
- Give people who want to help specific jobs, such as cooking or laundry
- Remember your partner may be sleep-deprived and anxious too, and ask how they are feeling
When to seek medical help
If you constantly feel alone, helpless or angry, or if you are in a relationship at home that is harming you, be sure to tell your doctor, midwife or someone you trust.
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
Can fathers get postnatal depression?
Yes, it can affect fathers too and is often missed. If there are signs such as loss of motivation, outbursts of anger and withdrawing from the family, it is important for fathers to get support as well.
What is the best way to help a new mum?
Taking on the housework, meals and all baby care other than breastfeeding is the most valuable support. Creating time for her to rest and listening without judgement also speed her recovery.
Is tension between partners normal after having a baby?
It is common in the first weeks because of lack of sleep and new roles. Most couples get through this period with open communication and shared tasks; if problems deepen, couples counselling can help.
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