Recovery after birth: what is normal

Your body needs weeks, sometimes months, to recover after the birth. Bleeding usually lasts up to 6 weeks, stitches heal within a few weeks, and feeling exhausted is completely normal. The postnatal check usually happens between weeks 6 and 8.

Bleeding after the birth

After the birth, whether vaginal or by caesarean, you will have vaginal bleeding. At first it is red and heavy, sometimes with small clots. Over the days it gets lighter and the colour changes to brown, then pale yellow. Use pads, not tampons, until it stops.

Pain and stitches

• In the first days you may have period-like pains, especially while breastfeeding. They happen because your womb is shrinking.
• If you have stitches in your perineum, keep the area clean and dry and change your pad often. Most stitches dissolve on their own.
• After a caesarean, keep the wound clean, avoid heavy lifting and ask your doctor when you can drive.
• Constipation is common. Drink plenty of water and eat fruit, vegetables and wholegrains.

Your pelvic floor and tummy muscles

Pelvic floor exercises help stop urine leaking. Squeeze the muscles as if you were stopping yourself peeing and passing wind, hold for up to 10 seconds, then relax. Do quick squeezes too. Aim for 10 of each, at least 3 times a day, breathing normally.

Your tummy muscles often separate a little in pregnancy. They usually come back together by around week 8. Until then, avoid hard tummy exercises and heavy lifting.

The postnatal check

Around 6 to 8 weeks after the birth, have a check-up with your doctor. Talk openly about:

• how you are feeling, including your mood and anxiety
• any bleeding or discharge that continues
• pain in your perineum, your wound or during sex
• problems holding in urine or wind
• contraception

You can get pregnant as early as 3 weeks after giving birth, even if you are breastfeeding and your periods have not come back. If you do not want another pregnancy straight away, talk to your doctor about contraception before you have sex again.

When to get help straight away

Go to emergency care or call emergency services (127 in Albania) if:

• your bleeding suddenly gets heavier, or you soak a pad in an hour or less
• you pass large blood clots
• you feel dizzy, your heart is pounding or you feel faint
• you have chest pain or difficulty breathing

Call your doctor as soon as you can if:

• your discharge smells unpleasant
• you have a high temperature or shivers
• you have tummy pain that is getting worse
• you have pain, swelling or redness in one leg
• your wound or stitches become red or more painful, or ooze pus
• you have a severe headache or problems with your vision

Recovery is not only physical. Read about the baby blues and postnatal depression too.

Sources we consulted

• NHS: Your 6-week postnatal check
• NHS: Your post-pregnancy body
• NHS: Sex and contraception after birth

Written by the mam.al editors as general information. It does not replace advice from your doctor or midwife. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.