Your body after birth: what's normal, and the signs that need help

The confinement month is built around one idea: a mother's body needs time to recover. That's true — and it helps to know what recovery normally looks like, so you can rest without worrying and spot early when something isn't right.

Bleeding after birth (lochia)

After birth you'll bleed from where the placenta was attached, whether you had a vaginal birth or a caesarean. It's heavy at first, then gradually gets lighter and turns pinkish, then brownish. The NHS says it usually stops after 6 to 8 weeks, but it can last longer.

Use super-absorbent maternity pads, change them often, and don't use tampons until after your 6-week postnatal check — they can increase the risk of infection.

Afterpains

As your womb shrinks back, you may feel period-like cramps, often stronger while breastfeeding and after second or later babies. They usually ease within a few days. Ask your midwife which painkillers are suitable for you.

Stitches and the perineum

If you tore or had a cut (episiotomy), the area can be sore for a few weeks.

• The NHS advises a bath or shower with plain warm water every day to help prevent infection; pat dry gently.
• Pouring warm water over the area while you pee can stop it stinging.
• Change pads often and wash your hands before and after.

Tell your midwife or GP if the pain gets worse, the area becomes hot, red or swollen, or there's discharge or a bad smell — these can be signs of infection.

Recovering from a caesarean

A caesarean is major surgery. Most women go home after 1 or 2 days, and full recovery takes longer.

• Gently clean and dry the wound every day; wear loose clothes and cotton underwear.
• Driving, exercise, carrying anything heavier than your baby, and sex may have to wait. Start again when it doesn't hurt — the NHS notes this may not be for 6 weeks or so.

Moving, resting and exercise

Rest matters — but so does moving. Getting up and walking around the home a few times a day helps your circulation and recovery.

The NHS suggests starting gentle exercise — walking, stretching and pelvic floor exercises — as soon as you feel up to it. Build up pelvic floor exercises to 10 repeats, at least 3 times a day. Check with your GP at your 6-week check before high-impact exercise, and wait until 7 days after your bleeding has stopped before swimming. After a caesarean or a complicated birth, talk to your midwife, health visitor or GP first.

Tiredness and emotions

Exhaustion is normal with a newborn. Accept help, sleep when your baby sleeps when you can, and let visitors wait.

Many new mothers have the baby blues in the first days after birth — feeling teary, irritable or anxious. It usually passes within two weeks. If low mood lasts longer or starts later, it may be postnatal depression, which is common and treatable. Read our guide to baby blues and postnatal depression.

Warning signs that need urgent help

Serious problems are uncommon, but some can develop in the days and weeks after birth.

Call 999 or go to A&E if you have:

• sudden, very heavy bleeding, or you feel faint, dizzy or have a pounding heart;
• chest pain or upper back pain, severe difficulty breathing, or a very fast heartbeat;
• signs of sepsis: very fast breathing, confusion or slurred speech, or blue, pale or blotchy skin;
• thoughts of harming yourself or your baby that you feel you might act on.

Call NHS 111, or your midwife or GP, urgently if you have:

• a bad headache, problems with your vision, or vomiting — pre-eclampsia can develop in the days or weeks after birth;
• pain, swelling or redness in one leg, usually the calf (a possible blood clot) — call 999 if you're also breathless or have chest pain;
• a fever or a tender tummy;
• bleeding or discharge that smells unpleasant, or stitches or a wound that are red, hot or leaking.

Your 6-week check

At around 6 to 8 weeks after the birth, your GP surgery offers you a postnatal check. It covers how you're feeling emotionally, your bleeding, stitches or caesarean wound, blood pressure if needed, and contraception. Your baby has their own physical check at a similar time. If you haven't been offered one, ask — and bring up anything that's worrying you, however small.