Day 28 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 28 postpartum?
On day 28 postpartum postnatal bleeding has lessened or is about to stop for many mothers; a yellowish-white discharge can continue until week 6. If you are not breastfeeding, your first period usually comes at weeks 6–8; if you are, it may be delayed for months. Ovulation returns before your first period, so you can get pregnant before one.
Day 28 postpartum – animated guide
Day 28: 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
≈ 120 g
Milk
Mature milk
Baby’s stomach (per feed)
93 ml
Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)
+14%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
6
Days until day 40
12 days
What’s happening in your body?
Your womb has shrunk to about 100 g and is now quite close to its pre-pregnancy size. As healing of the placental site completes, bleeding usually turns into brown spotting or a whitish discharge. Brief pink spotting may appear after a tiring day; this is usually harmless.
Your baby today
Your baby is nearly four weeks old; awake times are getting longer and they are beginning to follow your face with their eyes. In some babies, crying and fussiness in the evening may start to increase; this phase usually peaks within a few weeks and then eases.
Feeding and nutrition
Frequent, exclusive breastfeeding delays the return of periods thanks to the hormone prolactin; as gaps between feeds lengthen, ovulation can return. Keep eating iron-rich foods to replace what you lost through bleeding.
Emotions and rest
The end of bleeding gives many mothers a feeling of ‘getting my body back’; even so, give yourself time, remembering that healing continues on the inside.
Care and hygiene
If discharge has lessened you can switch to thin panty liners; tampons and douching are not recommended until bleeding has completely stopped and your 6-week check has been done.
Tips for today
- Mark bleeding and spotting days on a calendar and show your doctor at your check
- Start thinking about contraception early rather than waiting for your first period
- Choose breathable cotton underwear
When to seek medical help
See your doctor if bleeding that had eased becomes bright red and heavy again, you pass clots the size of a walnut, the discharge smells bad or your temperature reaches 38 °C or above.
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 many days does postpartum bleeding last?
It usually lasts 4–6 weeks; the red bleeding of the first days turns pinkish-brown over time, then into a yellowish-white discharge. For some mothers it stops sooner.
When do periods return when breastfeeding?
In mothers who exclusively breastfeed, periods can be delayed for months, sometimes not returning until breastfeeding reduces. With mixed feeding they may come back sooner.
Can postpartum bleeding start again after it stops?
Light pink spotting can happen with tiredness or activity. Bright red, heavy bleeding, however, is not normal and needs a doctor.
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