First 72 hours

Day 3 postpartum

In short: what happens on day 3 postpartum?

On day 3 postpartum many mothers’ milk starts to come in: breasts feel warm and full, and the milk turns whiter. Around the same time, many babies develop mild yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. This physiological jaundice usually peaks on days 3–5 and fades within two weeks. Emotional ups and downs may also begin now.

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Day 3 postpartum – animated guide

Day 3: 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

First 72 hours

Postnatal bleeding

Red (lochia rubra)

Womb

≈ 810 g

Milk

Colostrum (first milk)

Baby’s stomach (per feed)

25 ml

Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)

-6.8%

Wet nappies (24 hours)

Days until day 40

37 days

What’s happening in your body?

The drop in progesterone after the placenta is delivered clears the way for prolactin, the hormone that drives milk production; milk usually comes in between days 2 and 5, and may be a little later after a caesarean. Bleeding is still red and your womb has dropped a few finger-widths below your belly button.

Your baby today

Your baby’s stomach is now the size of a walnut and can take 22–27 ml per feed. A yellowish tinge may appear on the skin and eyes; good feeding and frequent poos help clear the bilirubin that causes jaundice. You may see greenish changing stools in the nappy as meconium gives way to yellow.

Feeding and nutrition

Once your milk comes in, feeding often and effectively helps jaundice fade and stops your breasts becoming overfull. To wake a sleepy baby for a feed, take off a layer of clothing and gently stroke the soles of their feet.

Emotions and rest

Welling up for no reason is very common these days and is a natural result of hormonal change; share how you feel with those close to you.

Care and hygiene

You don’t need to wash your breasts with soap often; a daily shower is enough. Your bra should be comfortable, non-restrictive and made of cotton.

Tips for today

Check your baby’s skin colour in daylight by gently pressing their skin with a finger
If you notice jaundice, keep a closer eye on feeds and nappies
Start each feed on the breast you finished on last time

When to seek medical help

Jaundice that starts in the first 24 hours, a baby who is very yellow and drowsy, won’t feed, or passes pale, putty-like poo is an emergency; see a paediatrician without delay.

Tradition and evidence

In many cultures, including Turkish tradition, families place a jaundiced baby by a sunny window, cover them with a yellow cloth or tie a yellow scarf on their head. But sunlight does not treat jaundice safely: it can burn a baby’s skin, chill them and delay proper treatment. A yellow cloth has no effect; jaundice levels are measured with a blood or skin test, and light therapy (phototherapy) is given in hospital if needed.

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

What day does breast milk come in?

Milk usually comes in between days 2 and 5 after birth. It may be a day or two later after a caesarean or a difficult birth; frequent feeding speeds things up.

How long does newborn jaundice last?

Physiological jaundice starts on days 2–3, peaks on days 3–5 and usually fades within 2 weeks. It can last a little longer in breastfed babies, in which case a doctor’s check is advised.

Is sunlight good for a baby with jaundice?

No. Putting your baby in the sun is not a treatment for jaundice and can harm their skin. See a paediatrician to have the jaundice level measured.

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