Day 39 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 39 postpartum?
On day 39 postpartum the postpartum period is ending, but some problems can appear after 6 weeks. Postnatal depression can start at any point in the first year; bladder leaks, painful sex, and tiredness or palpitations from thyroid inflammation can also occur. These are all treatable; don’t ignore them just because your 40 days are over, and tell your doctor.
Day 39 postpartum – animated guide
Day 39: 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
≈ 70 g
Milk
Mature milk
Baby’s stomach (per feed)
110 ml
Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)
+23.1%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
6
Days until day 40
1 days
What’s happening in your body?
Although most of your body has recovered, full healing of your hormones, pelvic floor and tummy muscles can take months. In the first year after birth, temporary inflammation of the thyroid gland (postpartum thyroiditis) can develop.
Your baby today
Your baby will soon be 6 weeks old; they may have another growth spurt now and want to feed often. Take care to keep up with your baby’s own checks and vaccination schedule too.
Feeding and nutrition
As long as you are breastfeeding, your extra energy and fluid needs continue; don’t cut down on meals just because the postpartum period is over. If your doctor recommended supplements such as iron or vitamin D, ask before stopping them.
Emotions and rest
Postnatal depression can start not only in the first weeks but months later; lasting unhappiness, loss of enjoyment or feeling unable to bond with your baby need help. Asking for help is a sign of strength.
Care and hygiene
Even once bleeding has stopped, return gradually to heavy lifting, intense exercise and sex, listening to your body. Add your yearly gynaecology check-ups to your calendar too.
Tips for today
- Track your mood by jotting a short note once a week
- Keep up Kegel exercises after the postpartum period ends
- Ask about thyroid and blood count tests if you have unexplained tiredness
When to seek medical help
See your doctor without delay if you have low mood lasting more than two weeks, thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, palpitations, trembling, marked weight change or constant bladder leaks; for thoughts of harm, get emergency help.
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 does postnatal depression start?
It usually starts in the first weeks but can appear at any time in the first year. Symptoms lasting more than two weeks should be assessed; it is a treatable condition.
Can giving birth affect your thyroid?
Some women develop temporary thyroid inflammation in the first year. If you have palpitations, irritability, extreme tiredness or weight changes, it should be checked with a blood test.
Is painful sex normal after the postpartum period?
Mild tenderness can occur in the first months, but ongoing pain should not be considered normal. It needs assessing for dryness, scar tissue or pelvic floor tension.
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