Day 32 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 32 postpartum?
On day 32 postpartum there is no fixed timetable for having sex again; what matters is that the bleeding has stopped, stitches or wounds have healed and you feel ready. Most couples start after the 6-week check. Because oestrogen is low while breastfeeding, vaginal dryness is common; lubricant and patience reduce pain.
Day 32 postpartum – animated guide
Day 32: 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
≈ 100 g
Milk
Mature milk
Baby’s stomach (per feed)
97 ml
Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)
+17.3%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
6
Days until day 40
8 days
What’s happening in your body?
While you breastfeed, oestrogen levels stay low, which can thin the vaginal tissue and cause dryness and tenderness. Even if an episiotomy or tear has healed, it is normal to feel some tightness the first few times.
Your baby today
Your baby now stays awake longer during the day and may show the first signs of social smiling. It is still too early to expect a night-time sleep pattern; gaps between feeds vary from baby to baby.
Feeding and nutrition
Milk leaking from your breasts during sex is normal and due to oxytocin release; feeding or expressing beforehand can help. Breastfeeding doesn’t get in the way of intimacy, but on its own it may not be reliable contraception.
Emotions and rest
Tiredness, a changed body image and focusing on your baby can lower desire for a while; this is very common and temporary. Talking openly with your partner about how you feel is the best way to balance expectations.
Care and hygiene
Using a water-based lubricant and taking things slowly the first few times markedly reduces pain. If you are still bleeding or your stitches are still tender, it is better to wait.
Tips for today
- Plan the first time for when you are rested
- Don’t persist with positions that feel uncomfortable; try ones that let you stay in control
- Decide on contraception before you have sex
When to seek medical help
See your doctor if you notice sharp or persistent pain during sex, bleeding afterwards, foul-smelling discharge or opening at your stitches.
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 you have sex after giving birth?
Once the bleeding has stopped, your stitches or wound have healed and you feel ready. Most people prefer to start after the 6-week check.
Is it normal for sex to hurt after birth?
Some tightness and dryness are common the first few times. If pain is severe or doesn’t ease over the weeks, it should be checked for pelvic floor or stitch problems.
Why does breastfeeding cause vaginal dryness?
Oestrogen stays low while breastfeeding, so the vaginal tissue thins and becomes less moist. Water-based lubricants are usually enough, and it improves as breastfeeding reduces.
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