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Postpartum recovery checklist: the first 6 weeks

The supplies, what is normal week by week, and the few signs that mean you call right away. Tick things off as you go: this page remembers on your phone.

By the Swaddle team · Reviewed October 25, 2026

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Your recovery checklist

Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, a seizure, or thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby.

Call your provider now if you: soak through one pad an hour or more, pass a clot the size of an egg or bigger, have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, a headache that will not go away or blurry vision, a red, swollen or painful leg, or a wound that is opening, red or leaking. Say you had a baby recently.

Have at home

Days 1-3: what is normal

Days 4-10: what is normal

Weeks 2-6: what is normal

General information, not medical advice. Your own doctor or midwife's instructions come first, especially after a C-section.

Why the first weeks feel so rough

Whether you had a vaginal birth or a C-section, your body is healing the spot where the placenta was attached, shrinking the uterus back down, and dropping the extra fluid from pregnancy, all while you are feeding a newborn around the clock. Bleeding, cramps, sweats, sore stitches and big feelings are all part of that.

Bleeding after birth (lochia)

Bleeding is heaviest in the first few days and usually bright or dark red. Over the next week or two it turns pink or brown, then yellow or white, and for most people it stops by about 4 to 6 weeks. It often gets a little heavier for a while when you are more active or when you breastfeed. Use pads, not tampons or menstrual cups, until your provider says otherwise.

Get help right away if you soak through one pad an hour or more, or pass clots the size of an egg or bigger. Call your provider if the bleeding smells bad, if you have a fever, or if it turns heavy and bright red again after it had calmed down.

The first poop

For a lot of people this is the scariest part, and that is normal. It usually happens around day 2 or 3. Drink plenty of water, eat fiber, and ask your provider about a stool softener. On the toilet, put your feet on a small stool, lean forward with your elbows on your knees and breathe out instead of pushing. If you have stitches, gently hold a clean pad against them.

Your mood

Most new moms have the baby blues in the first days: crying for no clear reason, worry, irritability. It usually fades within about two weeks. If it lasts longer, keeps getting worse, or you have scary thoughts, tell your provider. Postpartum depression and anxiety are common and treatable. In the US you can call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262), free and 24/7, or call or text 988 in a crisis.

Your checkups

ACOG recommends contact with your provider within the first 3 weeks after birth and a full postpartum visit no later than 12 weeks. If you had high blood pressure in pregnancy, ACOG advises a blood pressure check within 7 to 10 days of birth, or within 72 hours if it was severe.

Questions parents ask

How long does bleeding last after birth?

Usually a few weeks. It is heavy and red for the first few days, then turns pink or brown and finally yellow or white, and for most people it stops by about 4 to 6 weeks. Call your provider if it turns bright red and heavy again after it had slowed down, or if it smells bad.

When is bleeding after birth an emergency?

Get help right away if you soak through one pad an hour or more, or pass clots the size of an egg or bigger. That can be a sign of postpartum hemorrhage, which can happen days or weeks after birth.

Is it normal to be scared of the first poop after birth?

Very. Most people go for the first time around 2 to 3 days after birth. Drink plenty, eat fiber, put your feet on a stool, lean forward and avoid pushing hard. Ask your provider about a stool softener. If you have stitches, holding a clean pad against them can help.

What is the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression?

Baby blues are common, start in the first days and usually fade within about two weeks. If low mood, anxiety, or not feeling like yourself lasts longer than two weeks or gets in the way of caring for yourself or your baby, talk to your provider. It is common and treatable.

Sources

  1. CDC Hear Her: Urgent maternal warning signs
  2. Lamaze International: POST-BIRTH warning signs (AWHONN)
  3. ACOG Committee Opinion 736: Optimizing postpartum care
  4. ACOG: Postpartum depression (patient FAQ)
  5. NHS: Your post-pregnancy body
  6. HealthLinkBC: Managing bowel movements after pregnancy
  7. HRSA: National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

This page is general information from the sources above, written by the Swaddle team and last reviewed October 25, 2026. It is not medical advice and it is not a substitute for your pediatrician. Every baby is different. If something feels wrong, call your doctor. In an emergency, call 911 (US) or your local emergency number. How we write these pages.

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