Day 8 postpartum
In short: what happens on day 8 postpartum?
On day 8 postpartum a warm shower is both safe and important for preventing infection. After a vaginal birth you can shower from day one, and usually 24 hours after a caesarean. Baths, swimming pools, the sea, steam rooms and saunas are usually postponed for 4–6 weeks, until bleeding has stopped and stitches or wounds have healed.
Day 8 postpartum – animated guide
Day 8: 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
Healing
Postnatal bleeding
Pinkish-brown (lochia serosa)
Womb
≈ 470 g
Milk
Transitional milk
Baby’s stomach (per feed)
54 ml
Baby’s weight (vs birth weight)
-3.3%
Wet nappies (24 hours)
6
Days until day 40
32 days
What’s happening in your body?
Bleeding is pinkish-brown and lighter; but as your cervix has not yet fully closed, sitting in bath water carries a risk of infection. Night sweats are common now, so a short morning shower can help you feel fresh.
Your baby today
Until the cord stump falls off, you can clean your baby with a soft cloth dampened with warm water instead of putting them in a bath; a top-and-tail wash 2–3 times a week is enough. Gently wipe skin folds such as the neck, armpits and groin and dry them well.
Feeding and nutrition
After showering, pat your breasts dry with a soft towel; don’t use soap on your nipples, as they can lose their natural oils and dry out. A warm shower helps milk flow, so you can take one just before a feed.
Emotions and rest
A few minutes in the shower rests a mind that is focused on your baby all day; enjoy it without guilt.
Care and hygiene
Keep the water warm and the shower fairly short; you may feel dizzy, so have someone nearby for your first few showers. Wash your caesarean wound gently with soapy water and dry it well, without rubbing.
Tips for today
- Put a non-slip mat in the bathroom and keep a stool to sit on if needed
- Dry your hair after a shower so you don’t get chilled, but don’t overheat the room
- Don’t douche; wash the area externally only
When to seek medical help
See your doctor if after showering you notice redness, discharge or opening at your stitches or wound, foul-smelling bleeding or a temperature of 38 °C or above.
Tradition and evidence
The belief that a new mother shouldn’t wash for 40 days, found in Turkish and many other traditions, may have arisen to protect mothers from getting cold in homes that couldn’t be heated. Today there is no scientific evidence that a short, warm shower does any harm; on the contrary, hygiene helps prevent infections of stitches, wounds and breasts. Keep the good parts of the tradition, such as keeping mum warm and rested, but don’t give up showering.
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 can you shower after giving birth?
After a vaginal birth you can take a warm shower from day one, and usually 24 hours after a caesarean. For a bath, wait until the bleeding has stopped and any wounds have healed.
Can I have a bath during the postpartum period?
Avoid baths, swimming pools and the sea while you are bleeding and before stitches or wounds have healed. This is usually 4–6 weeks; you can ask your doctor at the 6-week check.
When can I use a sauna or steam room after birth?
Wait until bleeding has completely stopped and wounds have healed; for most mothers this is after week 6. Very hot rooms can also make you feel dizzy.
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