Day 40 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 40 postpartum?
On day 40 postpartum the postpartum period is largely complete. Your womb has shrunk to about 60–80 g, close to its pre-pregnancy size, and bleeding has stopped for most mothers. At the 6-week check around now, your recovery is reviewed and a plan is made for exercise, sex and contraception. Even so, full recovery can take months.
Day 40 postpartum – animated guide
Day 40: 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)
+23.5%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
6
Days until day 40
40 days complete
What’s happening in your body?
Your womb is close to its pre-pregnancy size, your cervix has closed and postnatal bleeding has mostly ended. Stitches or a caesarean wound may look healed on the outside, but the inner tissues take a few more months to regain full strength.
Your baby today
Your baby is 6 weeks old; they may feed more often with another growth spurt, and their social smiles are becoming clearer. Trying to lift their head briefly during tummy time is a lovely sign of their development.
Feeding and nutrition
For most mothers breastfeeding has now settled into a routine; your milk keeps adjusting to your baby’s needs. Even though the postpartum period is over, keep eating a balanced diet and drinking enough for as long as you breastfeed.
Emotions and rest
Getting through these 40 days is an achievement in itself; remember to give yourself credit. It is completely natural to need support in this new chapter too.
Care and hygiene
Once your doctor gives the go-ahead, you can return to baths, swimming pools and swimming. Start exercise with walking and pelvic floor work and build up the intensity gradually.
Tips for today
- If you haven’t booked your 6-week check yet, book it today
- Say a small thank you to those who supported you through the postpartum period
- Set yourself realistic goals for the months ahead
When to seek medical help
If your bleeding is still continuing or has started again, or you have a fever, foul-smelling discharge, pelvic pain or ongoing emotional difficulties, be sure to tell your doctor at your check.
Tradition and evidence
In Turkish culture, ‘kırk çıkarma’ (completing the forty) is a lovely tradition celebrating mother and baby safely through the postpartum period: the baby is washed with ‘forty water’, taken on a first visit to relatives, and prayers are said. Similar 40-day customs exist in Middle Eastern, Greek, Latin American and many other cultures. Resting and supporting the mother for 40 days is also medically valuable. However, day 40 is not a magic line; recovery varies from person to person, and at busy family gatherings it is important to keep your baby away from anyone who is unwell.
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
Exactly how many days does the postpartum period last?
Medically, the postpartum period is considered to be about 6 weeks after birth, or 40–42 days. However, some aspects of recovery can take months.
Is the womb back to normal after 40 days?
Yes, by week 6 the womb has shrunk to about 60–80 g, very close to its pre-pregnancy size. Recovery of the pelvic floor and tummy muscles takes longer.
Can I do everything again after 40 days?
Most activities are resumed gradually with your doctor’s go-ahead at the 6-week check. Intense exercise starts later after a caesarean, and contraception should be planned at this check.
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