Bleeding, stitches, tiredness

Lochia (postnatal bleeding) lasts two to six weeks and turns from red to pink then brownish. Stitches from a tear or caesarean ache for a week or two; keep the area clean and dry. Broken sleep is expected: rest whenever the baby sleeps, and accept help with everything that is not feeding.

Call the same day if

Bleeding soaks a pad in an hour or contains large clots, you have a fever above 38 °C, a foul-smelling discharge, a red, hot, painful breast, a painful swollen calf, a severe headache with vision changes, chest pain or breathlessness. These are the danger signs listed by the WHO for the first weeks.

Feeding settles in

Eight to twelve feeds a day are normal in the first weeks. Sore nipples usually mean the latch needs adjusting rather than a shorter feed; a midwife or lactation consultant can fix it in one visit. Full breasts on days three to five are milk coming in and ease with frequent feeds.

The small discomforts nobody mentions

Beyond bleeding and stitches, your body goes through several adjustments in the first days. Afterpains, the cramps of the womb shrinking back, are felt mostly during feeds and fade within a few days. Constipation is common: drinking often, eating fibre and not holding on when you need to go all help, and you can support the perineum with a clean pad the first time you open your bowels.

Piles, night sweats and stinging when you pass urine are also common after birth. Discomfort that gets worse rather than better, sharp pain when passing urine or being unable to pass urine at all are not things to put up with quietly: tell your midwife or doctor. These topics are a normal part of postnatal care, and you do not have to wait to be asked.

What the first-week visit covers

WHO recommendations include several contacts with a health professional over the first weeks, one of them in the first days after you get home. At this visit, the midwife checks your bleeding, your stitches, your blood pressure, your breasts and how the baby is feeding, and takes time to ask how you are feeling, both physically and emotionally.

Use it to ask everything, even the questions that feel trivial. Prepare a short list: what worries you, what you cannot manage, what has changed since you left the maternity unit. If no appointment has been offered, ask for one. And between visits, keep the number to call for any concern within reach, including at night and at the weekend.

Moving, washing, resting

Getting up and walking a little every day helps circulation, digestion and mood, and lowers the risk of blood clots in the legs, especially after a caesarean. Listen to your body: a few trips around the house are enough at first, with no heavy lifting or prolonged effort. The pelvic floor recovers gently with simple squeezes, as if holding on when you need to go, which you can start as soon as you feel ready.

For washing, a daily shower is enough; pat the stitched area dry gently and change your pad regularly. No special products are needed. Rest is not only sleep: lying down, letting someone else answer the door or cook, and turning down tiring visits are all part of recovery. If you cannot rest at all, tell your midwife.

The role of your partner and those around you

The first weeks go better with company. A partner or relative can take on everything that is not breastfeeding: nappies, taking the baby out, shopping, managing visitors, and above all making sure you eat and drink enough. This practical support is recognised as a factor in good recovery, physically and emotionally.

The people around you also have a watching role. A new mother with a fever, heavy bleeding or a severe headache is not always in a position to judge how serious it is herself. If someone close notices that you are very pale, confused, breathless, or seem very different from usual, they should call your midwife, doctor or emergency services, even if you say you are fine. Agree on this together in advance: it takes a weight off everyone.

Frequently asked questions

When can I have a bath after giving birth?

A shower is fine from the moment you get home. For a bath, ask your midwife, particularly if you have stitches or a caesarean scar, so the area can heal properly. Always pat yourself dry carefully after washing.

Which clots are normal in postnatal bleeding?

Small clots, especially in the morning or after a feed, are common in the first days. Large clots, or bleeding that soaks a pad in an hour, are among the warning signs: call your midwife or emergency services the same day.

My stitches pull and sting: is that normal?

Discomfort that eases day by day is expected. Pain that increases, redness, swelling, discharge or an unpleasant smell can signal an infection or a wound that is not healing well: show the area to your midwife or doctor without delay.

Can I drive or go out with the baby?

Short walks are good for you as soon as you feel able. After a caesarean, wait until you can move without pain and do an emergency stop before driving, and check with your doctor and your insurer. Get someone to drive you at first if needed.

How do I know my baby is getting enough milk in the first days?

The signs are wet nappies that increase in number over the days, stools that change from black to yellow, and a baby who sucks and swallows actively then relaxes. Weight gain is checked by the midwife. If in doubt, ask for a feed to be observed.

What if I cry for no reason in these first days?

Feeling very emotional between day three and day ten is very common and linked to hormonal changes and tiredness. It usually fades within two weeks. If it persists, gets worse or comes with intense anxiety, talk to your midwife or doctor.

This article gives general information. It does not replace advice from a healthcare professional.

Sources

Sources checked on 2026-09-06.