Timeline! Your postpartum body will recover on its own schedule following childbirth, but there’s a general postpartum recovery timeline that applies to most women. Afterpains will stop in the first week, for example, and bleeding will subside during the first month. You may have breast tenderness, night sweats, and exhaustion, and if you’ve had a C-section, you’ll need additional recovery timeline. From one week to one year postpartum, here’s what to expect.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- One week postpartum
- Two weeks postpartum
- Six weeks postpartum
- Six months postpartum
- One year postpartum
You’ve entered your “fourth trimester” now and are on your way to recovering from pregnancy and childbirth. How that recovery timeline progresses is very individual, depending on everything from your age and overall fitness to what kind of pregnancy, labor, and delivery you experienced. Here are some general guidelines, though, so you know what to expect when it comes to recovering – both mentally and physically – during the postpartum period.
One week postpartum timeline
Your physical recovery timeline: vaginal birth
Bleeding: You may still have some spurts of vaginal bleeding on and off through the day. But, overall, the lochia – the combination of blood, tissue and mucus that your body sheds after birth – has decreased and may even already be just a watery, pinkish discharge. Many women continue to have a small gush of light bleeding a few times a day, especially while breastfeeding.
Your lochia will change into a white or yellow-white discharge and then keep tapering off until it stops in another two to four weeks. It’s very important that you call your provider immediately if you have extensive bleeding, which is a sign of postpartum hemorrhage.
Perineum soreness: If you had a vaginal birth without tearing, your perineum (which may have been swollen and sore at first) is probably fine by now. Depending on how your labor went and if you tore or had an episiotomy, though, you may still be sore and even have vaginal and perineal pain.
Cramping: Postpartum cramping happens as your uterus contracts and is usually most intense on days two and three after delivery. These afterpains should be gone by now.
Pelvic floor discomfort: You may have symptoms resulting from the stretching and/or injuring of your pelvic floor muscles during delivery. These symptoms – such as incontinence, difficulty walking, and pelvic pain – usually get better within weeks, but they don’t always return to pre-pregnancy strength without assistance. If you continue to have symptoms, ask your provider at your postpartum checkup if pelvic floor therapy might help.
Breast changes: Your breasts may have been tender, full, and/or engorged as your milk came in this past week. If you’re not breastfeeding, your breasts probably have stopped making milk by now, which means you’re more comfortable. If you’re breastfeeding, your breasts have likely adapted by now, although some women take a little bit longer to get the supply and demand equation just right. Talk with your provider, your baby’s pediatrician, or a lactation consultant for advice. You may feel nipple soreness as your baby latches onto your breast in the first week or so. (The pain shouldn’t last through the feeding, though.)
Swelling: Postpartum edema (swelling) should be going away now by now, though it may last a few days more, especially if you had excess swelling due to preeclampsia or pregnancy-related high blood pressure. If you had swollen labia during pregnancy, it should also be getting better now.
Your uterus is now half the size it was after you gave birth. You lost about 13 pounds after delivery, and you probably lost about 4 to 6 pounds of water weight this week.
Fatigue: Tiredness is common. You’re recovering from childbirth, experiencing a major life change, learning to take care of your baby, and likely not getting much sleep. It’s no surprise that you’re tired. Ask for help and talk with your healthcare provider about your level of fatigue.
Hot flashes and night sweats: These may be intense at times, and you may wake up to feed your baby and find your night clothes soaked. Your hormones have changed drastically in the past week, and just as your milk was coming in, the sweating started. This is normal and will pass within the next few days.
Your physical recovery timeline: C-section
In addition to most of the recovery timeline mentioned above for vaginal birth, you’re also recovering from major abdominal surgery. That means more healing and a slower recovery timeline.
You might be finding it difficult to move around very much, but it’s important that you do. Mild activity speeds healing, plus it prevents blood clots. Just take it slowly.
Your incision should be healing nicely, and your provider may schedule a post-op visit to make sure. It may still feel tender, but it should be a lot less painful now. (Most women are off painkillers by this point.) You may feel numbness and some twinges of pain around the incision for several months.
You’re able to lift your baby now (usually within two to four days), but nothing heavier.
Your mental health and postpartum hormones
Your hormone levels are changing – estrogen and progesterone levels are dropping, and prolactin and oxytocin levels rise and fall as baby nurses. Add sleep deprivation to the mix, and it’s no wonder you’re feeling a little unsteady.
It’s normal to feel exhausted and overwhelmed. In fact, many moms experience the baby blues – feelings of sadness, emotional sensitivity, and weepiness – in the days after giving birth. (Think of it like the worst PMS you’ve ever had.) These feelings can last up to two weeks.
Things to do if you’re feeling blue after delivery.
If you’re not feeling better in a couple of weeks, or if your feelings are intense, talk with your healthcare provider. You may be experiencing postpartum depression. It’s a treatable condition, and the sooner you get help the better.
Two weeks postpartum
Your physical recovery: vaginal birth
Your lochia (vaginal bleeding and discharge) is continuing to taper off and may be very light by now. You may still have occasional, small bursts of bleeding, though.
If you had a second-degree tear (involving skin and muscle), it’s probably healing this week and next. Any stitches for a tear may be feeling itchy now. This is a good sign that they’re healing.
Depending on how breastfeeding is going, you may have sore nipples for a number of reasons. If your baby’s latch is shallow, for example, or if they have thrush or are tongue-tied, your nipples may hurt. Talk with a lactation consultant about possible causes and remedies.
Your uterus has now returned to your pelvis, and you’re continuing to lose water weight.
If you had bloodshot eyes from the pushing and straining of labor, these have resolved by now.
Your physical recovery timeline: C-section
While you’re still probably a little sore, you can probably move around a bit better now.
Your scar may be a little itchy as the incision heals.
If you had steri-strips (small, white, sticky bandages) on the incision, they should fall off now (if they don’t, you can gently remove them). If you have glue over your incision, you can probably remove it now, too. Both the steri strips and glue tend to get a little gross after three weeks, so make sure you remove them at that point. If you have trouble seeing your incision, you can ask your partner (or doctor) for help.
You may be able to drive now, if you’re no longer taking narcotic pain killers and if you can react quickly enough to drive safely. You can test to make sure you can move comfortably to check your blind spot, press the brake pedal, etc., by practicing the movements in the passenger seat. If you hesitate or wince prior to pretend braking or merging, it’s not quite time yet.
Your mental health and postpartum hormones
If you had the baby blues, they may be fading now. If you’re having extreme feelings of sadness or are crying often, or have other signs of postpartum depression, talk with your healthcare provider to get help as soon as possible.
Six weeks postpartum
Your physical recovery timeline: vaginal birth
You may or may not feel 100 percent back to “normal,” but six weeks is generally considered a postpartum milestone for recovery timeline. Here’s why:
- Though it can start up again once in a while, for most women postpartum bleeding has stopped.
- Your uterus is back to its pre-pregnancy size, having shrunk from about 2.5 pounds after childbirth to only 2 ounces now. That doesn’t mean your abdomen looks the same, though. Your abdominal muscles have stretched, and it takes time and exercise to get them back in shape.
- Most moms have lost about half their pregnancy weight at this point.
- Your healthcare provider may give you the go-ahead for exercise and sex at your six-week postpartum checkup.
- If you had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, you may have regained pelvic floor strength by now. (If you had a multiple birth or a birth injury during delivery, it can take longer.) Ask your provider about pelvic floor physical therapy if you note leaking of urine or signs of prolapse.
- If you’re exclusively formula feeding your baby, you may get your first postpartum period in the next couple of weeks.
- Even if you had a third- or fourth-degree laceration during childbirth, the pain should have subsided by now.
- If, during pregnancy, you had diastasis recti (a vertical bulge where the long, flat muscles running vertically down each side of your abdomen have separated), it should have resolved by now. If it hasn’t, a physical therapist can work with you to strengthen your muscles and reduce that gap between them.
Your physical recovery timeline: C-section
By your six-week mark, you should be feeling well recovered from surgery. You shouldn’t have pain, and your incision scar should be healed, though it may still occasionally feel itchy or burn. You can now lift most things (ask your provider for guidelines).
Your mental health and postpartum hormones
Hopefully you’re adjusting well to your new role and feeling settled in by now. Still, it’s normal to feel tired and upset now and then. But it shouldn’t be all the time. You still need to be on the lookout for signs of postpartum depression and contact your healthcare provider right away if you’re concerned.
Six months postpartum
Your physical recover: vaginal birth
Most women have lost one-half of their pregnancy weight gain by now (but remember, all women are different, so it may take more or less time for you).
Any melasma (dark spots) or stretch marks on your belly or breasts are beginning to fade. If you have linea nigra (a dark line down your abdomen), it will fade, too, though it may not completely go away.
On the negative side, you may have started noticing some hair loss in recent months, as your estrogen level dropped and your hair follicles entered their resting/shedding phase. (During pregnancy, when your estrogen climbed, the growing stage was prolonged. That’s why you may have had such luxurious locks during pregnancy.) You’ll notice the new hair growth as short, wispy bits.
Your physical recovery timeline: C-section
Don’t be alarmed if you’re still feeling tired. Many of your physical symptoms are vastly improved, and you should feel overall pretty recovered from surgery, but it’s not unusual to still be tired. In one study of over 1500 women, those who had a C-section were more likely to report extreme tiredness at 6 months postpartum and 12 months postpartum than those who had a spontaneous vaginal birth.
Your mental health and postpartum hormones
May be feeling pretty upbeat now, especially if your baby is sleeping more and you’re adjusting well. If you have any signs of postpartum depression, talk with your healthcare provider right away.
One year postpartum
Your physical recovery timeline: vaginal birth
Though they may not completely disappear, any stretch marks and linea nigra have continued to lighten.
You may have a period by now too, even if you’re breastfeeding.
Your physical recovery timeline: C-section
Your numbness around the scar will likely have resolved by now. The scar has healed, and while it’s appearance will continue to fade over time, it will do so much more gradually now.
Your mental health and postpartum hormones
Your baby is a toddler now! Your new life comes with new stresses, whether it’s balancing work and family, helping siblings get along, weaning your baby from breastfeeding, or deciding whether or not to have another baby. While you’re technically outside the definition of “postpartum” depression now, moms carry a lot for their families, and you deserve support. Reach out to your doctor if you’re experiencing symptoms of depression.
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