Milk comes in

Day 7 postpartum

In short: what happens on day 7 postpartum?

On day 7 postpartum your womb has shrunk to about 500 g, half its weight at birth. Bleeding has turned pinkish-brown and lighter. A health check for you and your baby is recommended this week; babies start to regain the weight lost in the first days, and their poo turns yellow.

← Previous day Postpartum day by day Next day →

Day 7 postpartum – animated guide

Day 7: 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

Milk comes in

Postnatal bleeding

Pinkish-brown (lochia serosa)

Womb

≈ 500 g

Milk

Transitional milk

Baby’s stomach (per feed)

52 ml

Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)

-4%

Wet nappies (24 hours)

Days until day 40

33 days

What’s happening in your body?

Your womb can still be felt low in your tummy but is noticeably smaller; for most mothers afterpains have eased. Pinkish-brown bleeding (lochia serosa) is lighter. Night sweats and passing urine often come from your body shedding the extra fluid built up in pregnancy.

Your baby today

Your baby’s stomach is now the size of an apricot and can take 45–60 ml per feed. Weight loss from the first days stops and weight gain begins; birth weight is usually reached by days 10–14. Spells of frequent feeding starting now herald the growth spurt around days 7–10.

Feeding and nutrition

Wanting to feed often does not mean your milk isn’t enough; supply rises with demand. While breastfeeding your daily energy needs rise by about 450–500 kcal, so add healthy snacks.

Emotions and rest

Completing the first week is a small but important milestone; noticing what went well this week will boost your confidence.

Care and hygiene

At the first-week check your blood pressure, bleeding, stitches or wound and breasts are assessed; note down your questions and take them along. You can gradually lengthen your short walks.

Tips for today

Take your baby’s feeding and nappy records to the check
Support your circulation with 10–15-minute walks during the day
If comfortable, start gentle Kegel exercises a few times a day

When to seek medical help

A severe headache, blurred vision or sudden swelling of the face and hands may be signs of postnatal pre-eclampsia; pain, swelling and redness in one leg suggest a blood clot. Seek medical care without delay if this happens.

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

How much does the womb shrink 1 week after birth?

By the end of the first week the womb weighs about 500 g, half its weight at birth. By days 10–14 it can no longer be felt through the tummy.

What colour is postpartum bleeding after 1 week?

Usually pinkish-brown (lochia serosa), and lighter. It may briefly increase when you move about; if bright red, heavy bleeding starts again, see your doctor.

When do babies get back to their birth weight?

Babies may lose up to 7% of their weight in the first 3–4 days and usually regain their birth weight by days 10–14. After that they gain about 150–200 g a week.

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.

Book an appointment Message us on WhatsApp

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