What To Expect While Healing After Giving Birth

It’s been 40(ish) weeks. You’ve finally made it and you’re holding your new bundle of joy. What’s next? This is probably the biggest question swirling around in your head. It’s OK. Take a deep breath…

Many things will change in the days, weeks and months following your pregnancy and delivery. You probably expected sheer exhaustion, frequent nighttime feedings and diaper change after diaper change. But one shift that you might not have anticipated is how your body reacts and heals after birth. Not only are you welcoming your little one into the world, but your body is also going through a major adjustment.

Midwife Elizabeth Beach, CNM, gives us a look at the next six weeks postpartum and what to expect as you recover.

How long does it take to heal after giving birth?

Um, 18 years? But seriously. In total, it takes about six weeks to fully heal from giving birth. And while we have a good idea of how your body transitions during this time, everyone’s journey may be a little bit different. (Had a C-section? Your recovery will look different.)

Here’s what you can expect each week after a vaginal birth:

Postpartum recovery timeline

1–3 days postpartum

“Your postpartum recovery process actually starts right in the same room that you deliver in,” says Beach. “Your nurses will check your vitals and make sure you’re stable before you get transferred to the postpartum unit.”

From the day you give birth to the last day of the six-week period, your body will begin a healing transition.

Hospital care

Unless you choose to have a home birth, your first couple of days of healing after birth will be in the hospital. Most people stay between 24 and 48 hours after a vaginal delivery. “Once you’re in the postpartum unit, they’re still checking for your bleeding and vitals to make sure you’re all good,” explains Beach.

This can also be a good time to talk to a nurse or lactation specialist for advice if you choose to breastfeed (chestfeed) your baby at home.

“Sometimes, this time in the hospital can last a little longer if you’re waiting on additional labs or testing,” Beach notes. This usually happens if your baby needs to get some extra tests done or has jaundice.

Cramping

The first few days after delivery, you may still have contractions or cramping — these are sometimes called “afterpains.” While the pain is unpleasant (especially after just giving birth), it’s nothing to be alarmed about. This happens because your uterus is working hard to shrink down to its original size.

“A lot of people think that once the baby’s out and the placenta is out, it’s totally over,” says Beach. “But your body is still doing things to try to make sure that you stop bleeding. So your uterus is cramping, and you can feel it.”

This cramping should stop after a couple of days, but you can try putting a heating pad on your belly to make yourself more comfortable. If the pain becomes too much to handle, your healthcare provider should have sent you home with some over-the-counter pain relievers (usually ibuprofen or Tylenol®) to manage the pain as well.

1–2 weeks

The motto for the first two weeks after birth is “take it slow.” From feeding your baby to adjusting to how you don’t feel quite like you yet, it’s crucial to not rush your body into healing and to handle it with care. Depending on what your healthcare provider recommends, you’ll likely have a two- or three-week check-in to see how you’re doing post-delivery.

Breastfeeding (chestfeeding)

If you’ve decided to breastfeed (chestfeed), you probably have a lot on your mind. How do I know if they’re latched right? Is it right to be this sore — or is something wrong? But know that breastfeeding isn’t something you have to go at alone. You have the support of lactation consultants and your other breastfeeding moms to lean on.

“When you leave the hospital, chances are your milk has not come in yet,” says Beach. “It’s always a good idea to make a separate lactation visit within your first week because they can help with different feeding positions and any latching issues that might arise after coming home from the hospital.”

Your body will start producing milk about three to four days after giving birth — whether or not you’re choosing to breastfeed. If you do choose to breastfeed, you can expect to feel tender around the nipple area, but you can use nipple cream after every feeding to help with this.

Beach warns that if you’re having intense breast pain or soreness or notice a red area (warm to the touch) this could be a sign of mastitis. If you are experiencing this, be sure to talk to your Ob/Gyn provider.

If you’re not breastfeeding, your milk will dry up on its own. But you can speed up this process and feel more comfortable if you wear a tight sports bra (for as many hours as possible and as soon as you deliver) and avoid stimulating your nipples.

Postpartum bleeding and discharge

During the first couple of weeks, it’s normal to experience some vaginal bleeding and discharge — called lochia. This is a natural process your body goes through after birth. By the end of the second week, this should start to taper off (become less frequent).

“Your bleeding starts out like a really bad period, and it should progress like a period,” explains Beach. “So, it should always be getting a little lighter each day.”

The other thing you’ll notice, Beach points out, is a change in the color of your discharge. This reflects the three stages of lochia that your body is going through to get rid of blood, tissue and mucus.

“It might start out bright red. Then, it will progress to a brownish, darker red. And then, it might go to a light pink,” she continues. “It might get to a yellowish discharge color at some point. And those are all within the realm of normal.”

Vaginal pain

Your body just completed a huge feat, so it’s normal to feel a bit sore down there. A little bit of pain in the vaginal area can be expected. This will vary, depending on if you experienced a vaginal tear during delivery or if you had an episiotomy done.

You can relieve some of this pain or discomfort at home by:

• Applying ice packs wrapped in a towel on the area for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Use a pillow, cushion or inflatable ring when sitting down.
• Take any pain recommendations your healthcare provider recommends.

During the first or second week of recovery, it’s important to not overexert yourself. Though you may be eager to shed those pregnancy pounds, the gym can wait! Try taking small, slow walks each day to stay active as the pain subsides. “You should start to feel better each day,” reassures Beach.

Bowel movements

Another symptom you may experience within the first couple weeks after birth is a change in your bowel movements. During this time, you may have some difficulty having bowel movements due to the weakening of your pelvic muscles.

Mood and mental health

One minute you’re feeling fine. The next, you feel a rush of emotions hit you like a tidal wave.This is something many people experience during the first couple of weeks after birth — often called the “baby blues.” It can be common for your moods to be on a bit of a roller coaster as your hormones are balancing out and you’re adjusting to a new routine with your baby.

But if these feelings of sadness or depression go beyond the first couple of weeks, you should talk to your healthcare provider to ensure you aren’t experiencing postpartum depression.

Mood swings are natural during the first two to four weeks after giving birth because your hormones are really changing, says Beach. “But if these mood swings persist and you’re starting to feel down or depressed — or like you don’t want to take care of yourself, your baby or your other kids — that’s something you should talk to your healthcare provider about.”

Physical status

After about one week, you should have also lost most of your “delivery weight.” (We’re talking the weight of your baby, placenta and fluids here, NOT necessarily any extra pounds you may have gained.) Slowly, your body is transitioning back to how it was before you got pregnant, but this can look different for every person.

“The weight loss after pregnancy is really different for everybody,” says Beach. “Some people will have more of a visual change — their belly size will visibly reduce within the first couple of weeks. And some people come home from the hospital and look like they are still pregnant. So, it really depends.”

3 weeks

Three weeks means that essentially, you’re halfway there to a full post-partum recovery. Phew! By now, you’ve probably gotten more acquainted with your baby’s routine and are settling into breastfeeding or bottle feeding.

Physical strength

At this time, you should still be gentle with your body. The good news? You can slowly start going back to normal activities — but that half marathon may still have to wait though.

“At three weeks, you should start to feel like you’re starting to return to a more normal state,” says Beach. “Your body takes a while to repair completely after the process.”

Exercise and sex

After three weeks, you should start to feel your strength coming back. “You should feel comfortable taking a walk around the block,” says Beach. If you’re eager to get back on that treadmill, ask your healthcare provider about what exercises they recommend starting with. At the same time, your vagina is probably still in the process of healing, so your body may not be ready to return to sexual activity just yet.

Postpartum bleeding

A little bit is still OK, but there should be a noticeable decrease in your bleeding at this point. “Your bleeding should have stopped or at least slowed significantly,” states Beach.

6 weeks

Wow, does the time fly or what? Now, you’re six weeks in and you’ll have a chance to check in with your Ob/Gyn provider to see how you’ve been doing. By this point, you’re likely feeling mostly healed, and you’ll be asked about your physical and mental status.

Here are some things you should expect with your physical status at six weeks:

• Your bleeding should have stopped and gone down to just spotting, at most.
• Your uterus should be back to the size it was before your pregnancy.
• You should expect to be cleared for sex and exercise (take it slow for both).
• Your menstrual cycle may return to normal, or may not come back for some time yet if you’re breastfeeding.
• You may notice slight hair loss, as your hormones are leveling out.

When to see a doctor

Before your six-week check-up, be sure to pay attention if your body is sending you any signals. Beach recommends seeing your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing any of the following:

• Yellow or green discharge with a foul smell.
• A fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
• Severe headaches that don’t go away with Tylenol
• Nausea, dizziness or lightheadedness.
• Passing blood clots larger than an egg or filling a pad in less than an hour.
• Inability to control bowel movements or poop leakage.
• Vision changes.

Of course, we realize that an official “recovery” from giving birth might take six weeks, but your life will never look the same again. It’s important to spend those first weeks postpartum taking care of yourself, paying attention to your body’s signals and being patient with how you heal. And don’t hesitate to give your healthcare provider a call if you notice something is off or strange throughout your recovery.