Your body after the birth (the first 6 weeks)

On this page

Going home

Your mental health after the birth

Your physical health after the birth

Is it something serious?

Your first breast milk

When will my periods start again after having a baby?

When can I have sex after having a baby?

When can I get pregnant after having a baby?

When can I drive after having a baby?

Taking care of your body after the birth

Your body has just been through a challenging experience, and you’ll probably feel sore and bruised. It may take a while to recover, so make sure you take things slowly and talk to your midwife or health visitor if anything worries you. 

This page talks about common experiences and questions during the first 6 weeks after giving birth. We also have information about possible body changes during the first few months after birth. 

Going home

If you’ve given birth in a hospital or midwife unit and you and your baby are well, you should be able to go home around 6 to 24 hours after your baby is born. You may need to stay longer if you had a c-section or a complicated labour.

If you’ve had a homebirth, your midwife will offer you support with feeding your baby and check that you and your baby are well. They’ll also give you information about what to expect in the coming days, what support is available and who to contact if you have any concerns.

However you give birth, your midwife should visit you several times during the first couple of weeks with your baby. Your health visitor will take over after that.

It will take time for your body to get used to not being pregnant anymore. Ask your midwife or health visitor any questions you have about what’s happening. No matter what the issue, they have lots of experience in helping new parents and are there to help you.  

If you’ve had a c-section, you'll need to take things easy at first and may need to avoid some activities such as driving until you’ve seen your GP. Find out about recovering at home after a c-section.

Your mental health after the birth

You’ll probably feel quite emotional for a while after you give birth. You may also experience the ‘baby blues’, which can leave you feeling anxious, low, irritable or wanting to cry for no apparent reason. All these symptoms are normal and usually only last for a few days.

Try to look after yourself as well as your new baby and ask for help if you feel anxious or overwhelmed. If you think you may be depressed, do talk to your midwife, health visitor or GP as soon as possible, to get some help.

Up to 1 in 5 people who’ve given birth, and 1 in 8 of their partners, experience mental health problems in the first year with their baby. There’s lots of support available, so don’t suffer in silence. 

Find out more about your mental health after the birth.

If you had a difficult birth

Sometimes, your baby’s birth may be different than you hoped for. This can make the experience difficult to process for you or your partner (if you have one).

Some parents feel traumatised by what they’ve been through. There is support available if you are struggling with your feelings about the birth.

Find out more about recovering from a difficult birth.

How you feel about your body after the birth

Some people may have negative feelings about their post-baby bodies. You may feel pressure to look like you’ve never had a baby. The reality is that most people’s bodies will change after giving birth. With time, you may come to see it as a sign of accomplishment. After all, you’ve done an incredible thing creating new life!

Try to focus on how you feel right now, rather than how you look. Your health and looking after your newborn baby are far more important.  

“I found one of the hardest things was that my clothes all looked weird/different/didn’t fit! It was like having a completely different body that I didn’t know how to dress to feel confident/comfortable.”
Kate

Your physical health after the birth

Postnatal contractions

You may have some tummy pain and cramping after giving birth. This is because your womb (uterus) is contracting and going back to its normal size.

These pains usually last for 2 or 3 days. You may find they get a bit worse when you’re breastfeeding, because of the hormones your body makes when you breastfeed your baby.

Paracetamol may help. Check with your midwife or health visitor before using other painkillers if you are breastfeeding.

Pelvic girdle pain

Pelvic girdle pain usually goes away within a month after you’ve had your baby, but around 1 in 10 people have ongoing pain. If you‘re in pain, it is important that you continue with treatment, take regular pain relief, and keep using any aids you’ve been given to help you get around.

If the pain isn’t going away, talk to your GP who may refer you to a specialist.  

Bleeding

You’ll bleed from your vagina after giving birth vaginally or by c-section. This bleeding – known as lochia - will be quite heavy at first and may be heavier during breastfeeding, which can make your womb contract.

Lochia will carry on for a few weeks and will gradually turn a brownish colour and decrease until it finally stops. It should stop completely by the time your baby’s 12 weeks old. 

Do not use tampons until you’ve had your 6 week check, as they can increase your chance of getting an infection.  

Tell your midwife, health visitor or GP if the bleeding is sudden or gets heavier, you pass clots, your lochia smells bad or you feel unwell. You may need treatment. 

Stitches

You may have had stitches after tearing or an episiotomy (where the doctor or midwife makes a cut to make the opening of the vagina a bit wider) during the birth. Tell your midwife if the stitches are sore or uncomfortable. They can advise you on pain relief and discuss signs of infection to be aware of. 

To help prevent infection, it’s a good idea to change your sanitary pads often, and to bath or shower in plain water every day - carefully patting yourself dry afterwards.

Find out more about recovering from a perineal tear.

Difficulties going to the toilet

You may find it difficult to wee after giving birth. Your midwife will want to measure your first wee, to make sure your bladder is working well.

If you had an epidural, you may not be able to feel when your bladder is full. This is because the epidural affects the surrounding nerves. You may need a catheter until the epidural wears off.

Weeing may sting or feel a little sore at first. Drinking lots of water will dilute your wee, which can make it sting less. Many people also say it helps to squirt water on the area while weeing.  

You’re not alone if you’re feeling a bit anxious about your first poo after birth, especially if you’ve had stitches or a tear. You probably won’t have a poo for a few days. If you had stiches, it’s very unlikely that you’ll break them, open the cut, or tear again.

It might feel better if you hold a pad of clean tissue over the stitches when pooing. Try not to strain.

It’s important to try not to get constipated, which can be quite common after giving birth. Try to drink lots of water and eat food with plenty of fibre, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, and wholemeal or wholegrain breads and cereals. If you still struggle, your midwife or health visitor may advise about laxatives (medicines that treat constipation).

Tell your midwife or health visitor if you feel pain in or around your vagina, or if you notice an unpleasant smell, as these may be signs of infection.

Incontinence 

It’s common to leak wee (known as urinary incontinence) after having a baby, especially if you laugh, cough or move suddenly. This is more likely if you had a vaginal birth but can happen if you had a c-section too.

Things that can help:

• do your pelvic floor exercises
• cut down on caffeine
• drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day but no more (don’t avoid drinking fluids as this reduces your bladder capacity)
• don't smoke
• avoid lifting heavy things. 

It may also help to try and lose some weight slowly, if you are obese. This is easier said than done after having a baby and there is no rush. Remember that your body needs time to recover. 

Less commonly, you may have problems controlling your bowels (known as anal or faecal incontinence). This is more likely to happen after a third- or fourth-degree tear.  

If you have had a third-or-fourth-degree tear you should be offered a follow-up appointment at the hospital after 6 to 12 weeks and referred to a specialist if you are having problems controlling your bowels. Most people who have a third- or fourth-degree tear heal completely and have no lasting complications.

Don't be embarrassed to talk to your midwife, health visitor or GP about any incontinence problems. They can help you get the right care, such as bladder and bowel training, physiotherapy or surgery if needed.  

There are pelvic floor and bladder control apps that you can download to help remind you to do your pelvic floor exercises. You could ask your midwife to recommend one. 

Sweating

Up to 1 in 3 people may have night sweats or hot flushes after having a baby. This may be due to hormonal changes as your body gets used to not being pregnant anymore. 

Some sweating may be natural, but increased sweating can also be a sign of other medical problems such as anxiety or an overactive thyroid gland. If you are sweating because you have a high temperature, this may be a sign of infection.

Speak to your midwife, GP or health visitor if you have any concerns about sweating. 

Haemorrhoids (piles)

If you are sore or itching around your anus, or bleeding when you poo, you may have piles. These are lumps containing swollen blood vessels inside and around your bottom (anus). They are very common after giving birth.

Try to increase your fibre intake by eating fresh fruit and vegetables, and wholemeal or wholegrain breads and cereals. Also try to drink plenty of water and get some gentle exercise. This will help avoid constipation and make it easier to go to the toilet. It's also important to do your pelvic floor exercises.

When you go to the toilet, try not to strain, as this can make piles worse. Afterwards, gently pat the area with damp toilet paper to clean it.  

There are also creams which can help to soothe the symptoms of piles, but always check with your midwife or pharmacist before using one.

Headaches

Around 4 in 10 people will get headaches after giving birth. Hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, eating irregularly and increased stress can all trigger headaches. The chances of getting headaches increases with age, the number of pregnancies you’ve had, if you have had headaches in the past and if you had a short second stage of labour (the pushing stage of a vaginal birth).

Remember to check with your midwife or health visitor before using painkillers other than paracetamol if you are breastfeeding.

If you have a headache and changes in your vision, nausea or vomiting, tell your midwife, health visitor or GP straight away, as these could be signs that you have pre-eclampsia.

Is it something serious?

Contact your GP or call 111 if you have any symptoms that may indicate the following problems.  

Call 999 if you or your baby needs emergency medical help.

Haemorrhage

• Sudden or very heavy blood loss
• pain in your tummy, pelvis or genital area
• faintness
• dizziness
• your heart starts beating very fast.

Infection 

• High temperature (above 38°C)
• shivering
• pain in your tummy, pelvis or genital area
• bad-smelling vaginal discharge or bleeding.

Pre-eclampsia

• Headache
• changes in your vision
• nausea or vomiting. 

Sepsis

• Fast heartbeat
• difficulty breathing or breathing fast
• confused or not making sense
• slurred speech
• not had a wee in the past 12 to 18 hours
• rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it
• blotchy blue grey or pale skin – on Brown or Black skin this may be easiest to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet.

Deep vein thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition where a blood clot forms in a vein, usually in the leg.

The first 6 weeks after you’ve had a baby is a time when you are more at risk of getting a DVT.

Call your midwife, GP or maternity unit if you have:

• pain, swelling and tenderness in 1 leg, usually at the back of your lower leg (calf) – the pain may be worse when you walk
• warm skin in the painful area
• red skin, particularly at the back of your leg below the knee (this may be harder to see on Brown or Black skin)
• swollen veins that are hard or sore to touch,

These can be signs of deep vein thrombosis. It usually happens in only 1 leg, but not always.

Pulmonary embolism

Call 999 immediately if you have DVT symptoms (above) and:

• breathlessness
• chest pain.  

These can be signs of a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism).

Your first breast milk

It’s up to you how you feed your baby. Find out about how to feed your newborn baby.  

In the first few days after your baby is born, your breasts will produce yellow fluid called colostrum. This is concentrated food so, if you are breastfeeding, your baby may want to feed quite often (maybe every hour).

Your milk supply starts after about 3 days and you’ll notice that your breasts get much fuller. The amount of milk you make will increase or decrease depending on your baby’s needs and whether you are breastfeeding, bottle feeding or combining the two. It can take a few days for your milk supply to match these needs.  

If you start breastfeeding, your breasts may sometimes become overly full (engorged). This can make them feel hard and painful. It can help to:

• feed your baby often
• wear a well-fitting breastfeeding bra  
• put warm flannels on your breasts or take a warm bath or shower
• take some paracetamol (this is safe to take while you’re breastfeeding).

If you are not breastfeeding, you can express just enough milk to ease any discomfort. Don’t express any more than necessary, as this will increase your milk supply and make you more uncomfortable.

Learn more about pumping and expressing breastmilk. 

Breast awareness 

Your breasts change a lot during and after pregnancy, so it’s important to check them regularly and be aware of any unusual changes. This is called ‘breast awareness’. Breast awareness is important because some breast changes might be a sign of breast cancer. 

In collaboration with Tommy's, CoppaFeel! has produced a resource about your breasts during and after pregnancy, about natural breast changes, tips on how to check your breasts and what to do if you notice any changes. 

When will my periods start again after having a baby?

There’s no exact answer to this because everyone is different.  

If you breastfeed and/or express exclusively, your periods may not start until you reduce breastfeeding, but they can start again at any time. If you feed your baby formula, or combine formula feeding with breastfeeding, your first period could start 5 or 6 weeks after you give birth.

When can I have sex after having a baby?

Don’t feel you have to rush to have sex again. It’s a good idea to wait until you have stopped bleeding, because of the risk of infection. You may be feeling sore and tired. If it hurts when you have sex, stop.  

You may not feel like having sex for a while after giving birth – that’s totally normal. If you have a partner, they may feel anxious about hurting you. Try other ways to be close and intimate until you’re ready.

Don’t forget to talk to each other if there is anything you’re worried about. You can also talk to your health visitor or GP. 

Find out more about your sexual and reproductive health after having a baby. 

When can I get pregnant after having a baby?

You can get pregnant 3 weeks after you’ve given birth, even if you’re breastfeeding and your periods haven’t started again. 

Unless you want to get pregnant again, it’s important to use contraception every time you have sex. Your midwife will give you a chance to talk about this after your baby is born. You can also talk to your GP, health visitor or family planning clinic. 

If you’re thinking about having another baby, find out more about find out more about planning a pregnancy. 

When can I drive after having a baby?

There is no rule or legal requirement about when you can start driving again after giving birth vaginally. But it is best to wait until any medication is out of your system, you’re not in pain and you feel comfortable and confident before you drive. It’s worth checking with your insurance provider in case they have a clause about driving after giving birth.  

You shouldn’t drive home from the hospital after giving birth.  

If you had a c-section, you must meet the DVLA guidance for driving after surgery. Find out more about driving after a c-section.

Taking care of your body after the birth

In the early weeks and months after giving birth, it’s easy to be so overwhelmed with looking after your baby that you forget to take care of yourself. But staying fit and healthy will help you to give your baby the best possible care.

It’s not selfish to look after your own health and wellbeing as a new parent. It’s the best thing for you and your family.

Exercise

Doing some gentle exercise may help your physical and mental health. If you had a straightforward birth, you can start gentle exercise as soon as you feel up to it. This could include walking and gentle stretches. It’s also important to do your pelvic floor exercises.

It’s usually a good idea to wait until after your six-week postnatal check before you start any high-impact exercise, such as aerobics or running. Swimming is good exercise but wait until at least a week after your postnatal bleeding has stopped.

Getting out and about with your baby is great for your mind and body. Even a gentle walk with the pram around your neighbourhood will benefit you and your baby.

Diet

It can be hard to find the time to eat well when you have a new baby but try to make it a priority. A healthy, balanced diet will give you the energy you need to look after your little one, and help your body recover from the birth.

Aim to eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Fruit and veg can make convenient snacks that you can eat even while you’re busy with your baby.

Rather than cooking from scratch at every mealtime, it’s a great idea to batch-cook more than you need, so you can freeze the extra portions. If friends or family ask how they can help in the early weeks with your baby, ask them to make food for you.  

Some people are low in iron (anaemic) after having a baby, so try to include iron-rich foods in your diet if you can. These include:

• dark-green leafy vegetables like watercress and curly kale
• cereals and bread with extra iron in them (fortified)
• meat
• dried fruit like apricots, prunes and raisins
• pulses (beans, peas and lentils).

Read more about anaemia during and after pregnancy.

Your midwife or health visitor can give you more tips and advice on how to care for your body after giving birth.

Where to get more support

Don’t forget, if you’re worried about any of your postnatal symptoms, you can always speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP. If you can’t get hold of them, call NHS 111 for advice at any time. Trust your instincts – it’s always better to seek advice to be safe.

If you want more general information or support, you can also call Tommy’s midwives on 0800 0147 800 (9am-5pm, Monday to Friday), or email [email protected].  We also have a specialist helpline, the Tommy's Midwives Helpline for Black and Black-Mixed Heritage women and birthing people, for information and support for any aspect of your pregnancy journey.