Day 33 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 33 postpartum?
On day 33 postpartum it is the right time to think about contraception, because ovulation can return before your first period. Breastfeeding only counts as protection if your baby has nothing but breast milk, your periods haven’t returned and your baby is under 6 months (LAM). Breastfeeding-friendly methods exist; choose one with your doctor at your 6-week check.
Day 33 postpartum – animated guide
Day 33: 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
≈ 90 g
Milk
Mature milk
Baby’s stomach (per feed)
98 ml
Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)
+18.4%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
6
Days until day 40
7 days
What’s happening in your body?
If you are not breastfeeding, ovulation can start as early as weeks 3–4; if you are, it takes longer but is not certain. Because you can get pregnant before having a period, it is important to choose a method before you first have sex.
Your baby today
Your baby has started to tell sounds apart and can be soothed by your voice. Talking to them a lot, just as you did in pregnancy, supports their language development.
Feeding and nutrition
For LAM to work, your baby must feed often, day and night, on breast milk alone; adding formula or long gaps at night reduce its protection. Some hormonal methods can affect milk supply, so ask your doctor which ones suit you while breastfeeding.
Emotions and rest
Thinking about a new pregnancy now can be worrying; making a plan eases that worry. Leaving at least 18 months between pregnancies is recommended for your health and the next baby’s.
Care and hygiene
Read up on contraception options in advance (condoms, the coil/IUD, breastfeeding-compatible pills, the injection or the implant) and note down your questions. Until you decide, condoms are a safe interim method.
Tips for today
- Take your contraception questions to the 6-week check in writing
- If you have introduced formula, remember that breastfeeding alone no longer protects you
- Talk about the choice of method together with your partner
When to seek medical help
If you notice nausea, new breast tenderness or a late period after unprotected sex following the birth, take a pregnancy test and speak to 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
Can you get pregnant while breastfeeding?
Yes, you can. Breastfeeding is only considered reliable when your baby has breast milk alone, your periods haven’t returned and your baby is under 6 months; if any of these changes, you need another method.
When does ovulation return after birth?
In mothers who aren’t breastfeeding it can start as early as weeks 3–4. In breastfeeding mothers it returns later, but because it can happen before your first period, waiting for a period is not safe.
When can a coil (IUD) be fitted after birth?
A coil is usually fitted at the 6-week check, once the womb has recovered; in some cases it can be fitted straight after the birth. Your doctor will advise on timing.
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