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After the birthWeeks 37–42

How Does Your Body Recover After Birth? Bleeding, Stitches and Checks

Bleeding, soreness and stitches heal over days to weeks, with a check in the weeks after. Some symptoms, like heavy bleeding or chest pain, need a call at once.

  • MyPregnancy editorial
  • Updated
  • 2 min read
  • 9 sources

Not yet medically reviewed. This article sums up published guidance from the sources at the end. It is not medical advice: follow your own midwife or doctor.

On this page
  1. Bleeding
  2. Stitches and soreness
  3. Postpartum checkups
  4. Warning signs
A mother holding her newborn up in front of a bright window.
Photo by Olivia Anne Snyder on Unsplash

Your body needs time to heal after giving birth, however the birth went. Some changes last a few days and others a few weeks.

Bleeding

After the birth you will have bleeding and discharge called lochia. It starts bright red and becomes lighter and more pink within a few days. Breastfeeding helps your uterus contract, which may reduce the bleeding. You may also feel cramps, called afterpains, as your uterus shrinks. A heating pad can help.

Stitches and soreness

Your perineum (between your vagina and anus) may be swollen and sore for a few weeks, and longer after a tear or episiotomy. These can help:

  • A cold pack, held on for 10 to 20 minutes, which helps most in the first 3 days
  • A sitz bath, which means sitting in warm, shallow water
  • A squeeze bottle of warm water to clean yourself on the toilet
  • Sitting on a pillow or cushion

Postpartum checkups

ACOG advises several visits with your ob-gyn in the 12 weeks after birth. The first should be within 3 weeks, or 3 to 10 days after birth if you had high blood pressure in pregnancy. A final checkup comes around 12 weeks. Expect a physical exam, including a pelvic exam, and questions about your mood, sleep, pain, bleeding, feeding, leaking urine and birth control. Check before the birth how many visits your insurance covers.

Warning signs

Warning signs can appear up to a year after the birth. If you are seen by anyone other than your ob-gyn, tell them that you gave birth recently.

Sources

  1. NHSYour body after the birth
  2. NHSEarly days
  3. NHSEpisiotomy and perineal tears
  4. NHSYour 6-week postnatal check
  5. ACOG3 Conditions to Watch for After Childbirth
  6. ACOGPostpartum Pain Management
  7. ACOGBreastfeeding Your Baby
  8. ACOGWhat to Expect at a Postpartum Checkup—And Why the Visit Matters
  9. CDCUrgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms

Last checked .

Written by the MyPregnancy editorial team from the sources above.

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