Day 35 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 35 postpartum?
On day 35 postpartum you can start building a flexible routine rather than a strict schedule. Bright, lively days and dim, calm nights help your baby learn the difference between day and night. Similar sequences for feeding, sleep and bath time settle you both; it is also a good time to start planning your return to work.
Day 35 postpartum – animated guide
Day 35: 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)
103 ml
Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)
+19.5%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
6
Days until day 40
5 days
What’s happening in your body?
For most mothers bleeding has become very light or is about to stop; your womb is now close to its pre-pregnancy size. Although your energy is gradually returning, tiredness from lack of sleep may still be noticeable.
Your baby today
Your baby’s body clock hasn’t settled yet; most babies develop a day–night pattern between months 2 and 4. Night waking may continue this week, but you may notice they stay awake for longer during the day.
Feeding and nutrition
Keep following your baby’s hunger cues rather than feeding by the clock; a routine shapes the flow of the day, not the timing of feeds. Keeping lights low and talk to a minimum during night feeds makes it easier for your baby to fall back asleep.
Emotions and rest
Setting aside time just for yourself, even 15–20 minutes a day, noticeably improves your mood. The routine won’t go the same way every day; don’t see the days it falls apart as failures.
Care and hygiene
Make your daily shower, a short walk and regular meals fixed parts of your routine. If going back to work is approaching, start discussing childcare options and an expressing plan a few weeks ahead.
Tips for today
- Keep the evening sequence of bath, feed and sleep the same every day
- Open the curtains in the morning and introduce your baby to daylight
- Draw up a weekly task list with your partner
When to seek medical help
If sleeplessness worsens over the months, you can’t sleep even when your baby sleeps, or you feel constant anxiety or can’t enjoy anything, be sure to tell 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
When do babies learn the difference between day and night?
Most babies settle into a day–night pattern between months 2 and 4. Bright, active days and dark, calm nights support this process.
When should I start a bedtime routine for a newborn?
A simple, calm evening sequence can be used from the first weeks. Strict timed schedules are not recommended at this stage; your baby’s needs come first.
When should I start preparing to go back to work?
Starting to express 3–4 weeks before you return, introducing your baby to their carer and trying feeds from a bottle or cup make the transition easier.
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