Postnatal care

Care continues after delivery—for the mother as well as the baby.

The first six weeks involve physical healing, hormonal change, feeding, sleep disruption and adjustment within the family. Postnatal care should assess recovery and emotional wellbeing, support newborn care and identify complications early.

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Illustration of a clinician checking on a new mother and her swaddled baby

Detailed guide Clinically reviewed

What to know

Understand your care and know what to do next.

Recovery depends on the birth

Follow-up may review bleeding, uterine recovery, perineal or caesarean wounds, pain, bladder and bowel symptoms, blood pressure and anaemia. Recovery is not a race, and advice should reflect the birth and any complications.

Seek prompt advice for worsening wound pain, redness or discharge; fever; foul-smelling vaginal discharge; severe abdominal pain; or pain and swelling in one leg. A hot, painful or swollen breast with fever also needs prompt assessment.

Wound and bleeding review
Pain, bladder and bowel care
Gradual return to activity

Mental health belongs in postnatal care

Postpartum blues (baby blues) can cause tearfulness, irritability or feeling overwhelmed in the first days after birth and usually settle within two weeks. Rest, practical help and emotional support can help. Symptoms lasting longer than two weeks, starting later, becoming severe or interfering with daily life need assessment for postnatal depression or another mental health condition. You do not need to wait two weeks to ask for help.

Thoughts of harming yourself or the baby, confusion, hallucinations or markedly unusual behaviour require immediate emergency support. Families should take these symptoms seriously and stay with the mother while arranging help.

Ask directly about mood and anxiety
Include the support person when wanted
Escalate frightening thoughts immediately

Plan beyond the six-week check

Postnatal review can address contraception, sexual health, pelvic-floor symptoms, nutrition, blood pressure, glucose after gestational diabetes and longer-term follow-up for pregnancy complications.

Conditions such as hypertension or diabetes identified in pregnancy can affect future health and future pregnancies. Keep the discharge summary and ensure ongoing medical follow-up is not lost once newborn visits become the priority.

Contraception based on preference and feeding
Follow-up of pregnancy complications
Preconception planning for a future pregnancy

This guide provides general education, not a diagnosis or an individual pregnancy plan. Follow the advice given for your pregnancy and seek urgent assessment when warning symptoms occur.

Complete maternity pathway

Return to the pregnancy hub for the whole journey.

Explore antenatal care, tests, daily life, delivery, urgent warning signs, postnatal recovery, feeding support, insurance and consultation details.

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Sources for this guideWHO postnatal care recommendations NHS: baby blues and postnatal depression CDC: urgent maternal warning signs