Your postpartum recovery: a realistic guide to the first six weeks

The first six weeks after birth are an intense, non-linear healing process, and it is common to feel unprepared for the day-to-day realities of it. This guide is a realistic overview of what you might expect as your body recovers, week by week.

It is easy to feel frustrated when you do not "bounce back", or when your healing feels slow and uneven. The first six weeks are not a race to a finish line, but a gradual, and often messy, recovery. Your body is healing from a major event, all while you are sleep-deprived and navigating a massive hormonal shift.

The first week is almost always the most intense. You will experience heavy bleeding, called lochia, which is often bright red and requires heavy-duty maternity pads. You will also feel significant soreness, whether from a vaginal birth or a C-section incision. The hormonal crash is in full effect, so it is extremely common to feel weepy, anxious, and overwhelmed (the "baby blues"), and to wake up drenched in night sweats. Your only job this week is to rest, manage your pain with your doctor's approved plan, and stay hydrated.

As you move into the second and third weeks, you may start to feel a bit better, but you are still very much in recovery. Your bleeding should start to lessen and turn a pinker or brownish colour. If you had stitches, they may start to feel itchy as they dissolve. If you had a C-section, your incision will still be tender, but the sharp pain should be easing. You might feel "stir-crazy", but it is critical not to overdo it. Short, gentle walks, like to the mailbox and back, are often a good starting point, but listen to your body.

By weeks four through six, you are approaching a milestone, but you are not "done". Your bleeding will likely be tapering off, perhaps just to light spotting. You may have more energy, but it will be unpredictable. This is the time parents often overdo it: you feel a good day and try to clean the house, only to feel completely exhausted and sore the next day. This is a normal part of the process. This is a good time to start writing down any questions you have for your six-week checkup.

Your healing should generally be moving forward. You must call your doctor if you have a fever, if your bleeding suddenly becomes heavy and bright red again (soaking a pad in an hour), or if you pass very large clots. You should also call for any signs of infection, like a foul smell, or new, worsening pain, redness, or discharge from an incision or stitches. Finally, if your "baby blues" feel very dark or last longer than two weeks, please reach out for mental health support.

The six-week checkup is a milestone, not a magic finish line. It is a chance for your doctor to confirm you are healing well and to clear you for activities like exercise. Be honest with them about how you are really feeling, both physically and emotionally.

A gentle reminder: The content in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your pediatrician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you are facing a problem that feels sharp, persistent, or overwhelming, reaching out for professional help is a sign of strength.