Day 29 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 29 postpartum?
On day 29 postpartum walking, Kegels and deep breathing exercises are safe for most mothers and support recovery. More demanding activities such as running, jumping, weights and intense tummy workouts usually start after the 6-week check, or a little later after a caesarean. Listen to your body, start with short sessions and build up gradually.
Day 29 postpartum – animated guide
Day 29: 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
Recovery and day 40
Postnatal bleeding
Yellowish-white (lochia alba)
Womb
≈ 120 g
Milk
Mature milk
Baby’s stomach (per feed)
94 ml
Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)
+14.3%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
6
Days until day 40
11 days
What’s happening in your body?
Ligaments and joints loosened in pregnancy can stay more flexible for a while during breastfeeding, so sudden, strenuous movements raise the risk of injury. Your pelvic floor muscles are not yet fully ready to take load. Regular walking, meanwhile, improves circulation, bowel movements and your mood.
Your baby today
You can take your baby along on walks in a pram or a suitable sling; fresh air and gentle motion calm most babies. In a sling your baby’s face should be visible, their chin should not drop onto their chest and their airway should stay open.
Feeding and nutrition
Feeding before exercise reduces breast fullness and makes moving more comfortable. Moderate exercise doesn’t reduce your milk supply; simply replace the fluid you lose through sweat by drinking water.
Emotions and rest
Even a short walk lifts your mood and reduces anxiety; see movement not as a weight-loss race but as a break just for you.
Care and hygiene
Choose a supportive sports bra and comfortable shoes, and don’t go swimming until bleeding has stopped; if your caesarean wound pulls or hurts, ease off that day.
Tips for today
- Start with 10–15-minute walks a day and add a little more each week
- Make Kegels a daily habit while feeding or brushing your teeth
- Before returning to running, ask for a pelvic floor and diastasis check at your 6-week review
When to seek medical help
Stop exercising and see your doctor if bleeding increases during or after exercise, or you have chest pain, breathlessness, pain and swelling in your calf, urine leakage or a feeling of pressure 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 start exercising after a vaginal birth?
Walking and Kegels can be done from the first days. For running and intense sport, you usually wait for your doctor’s go-ahead at the 6-week check.
When can I exercise after a caesarean?
Gentle walking can start straight away, and breathing and pelvic floor exercises once you feel comfortable. Exercises that load the tummy muscles are usually introduced gradually after week 6, on your doctor’s advice.
Does exercise reduce breast milk?
Moderate exercise doesn’t affect the amount or quality of milk. Getting enough fluid and calories is all you need.
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