Settling in

Day 26 postpartum

In short: what happens on day 26 postpartum?

On day 26 postpartum breastfeeding is usually well established, making it a good time to start expressing; direct breastfeeding for the first 3–4 weeks is generally recommended. Expressed milk keeps for about 4 hours at room temperature, about 4 days in the fridge and about 6 months in the freezer. Never use a microwave to warm breast milk.

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Day 26 postpartum – animated guide

Day 26: 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

≈ 140 g

Milk

Mature milk

Baby’s stomach (per feed)

89 ml

Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)

+12.9%

Wet nappies (24 hours)

Days until day 40

14 days

What’s happening in your body?

Your supply has reached mature milk levels and is matched to your baby’s demand. Expressing sends your breasts the message that more milk is needed, so extra sessions can increase your supply. If expressing hurts, the funnel size or pump setting may not suit you.

Your baby today

Your baby has learned to latch effectively. Because milk flows more easily from a bottle than from the breast, some babies refuse the breast after bottles (bottle preference); a slow-flow teat and paced feeding at your baby’s rhythm reduce this risk.

Feeding and nutrition

Milk is usually more plentiful in the morning, so try your first expressing session after the morning feed. To avoid waste, store expressed milk in small portions (60–120 ml), labelled with the date.

Emotions and rest

Getting only a little milk in your first sessions can be disheartening; a pump isn’t as efficient as a baby, and the amount rises within a few days.

Care and hygiene

Wash your hands before expressing; clean pump parts in hot soapy water and dry them after every use, and keep storage containers closed.

Tips for today

Thaw frozen milk in the fridge or in a bowl of warm water, and never refreeze it
Don’t keep milk your baby has left for the next feed
When bottle feeding, hold your baby upright and pace the feed with pauses

When to seek medical help

If a painful, red, hot area develops on your breast after expressing and your temperature rises, it may be mastitis; keep draining the milk and see your doctor.

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 long does breast milk last in the fridge?

About 4 days at the back of the fridge, at around 4 °C. Avoid the door shelf, as its temperature changes frequently.

When should I start expressing breast milk?

Unless there is a particular reason, it is recommended to start once breastfeeding is established, usually at weeks 3–4. For premature babies or those who struggle to feed, expressing can start in the first days.

Can thawed breast milk be refrozen?

No, thawed milk should not be refrozen. If it was thawed in the fridge, use it within 24 hours.

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