Your post-pregnancy body: common questions answered

What are normal postpartum symptoms?

Everyone is different, but there are some typical postpartum symptoms you may face.

• Vaginal bleeding (lochia).
• Cramping as your uterus shrinks back.
• Soreness around your vulva and perineum (the area between your vagina and anus).
• Full or tender breasts.
• Bowel or bladder issues such as leaking wee, constipation, or piles.
• Feeling emotional or low (‘baby blues’).
• Postpartum hair loss.
• Back pain.

It's also normal for your stomach to still look swollen after giving birth – it won't go back straight away. These changes are normal, but you don’t have to manage them alone. Your midwife, health visitor or GP can help with pain relief, pelvic floor support, and caring for stitches.

How long are you sore after giving birth?

After a vaginal birth, most grazes and tears start to heal well within a couple of weeks. Episiotomy stitches (a cut to the area between your vagina and anus) may take around 4 weeks to heal.

After a C-section (caesarean section), you may feel sore for several weeks. Your wound and the internal layers usually take about 6 weeks to fully heal.

While you’re healing, you can try to make things more comfortable by:

• using ice packs or numbing spray
• squirting water on your vulva when weeing, to reduce stinging
• holding a clean tissue against your stitches during a bowel movement
• taking painkillers – paracetamol is safe to use while breastfeeding
• bathing in plain water to keep stitches clean and prevent infection
• avoid carrying anything heavy, after a C-section
• going on gentle walks and resting when you need to

If you're worried or the pain is getting worse, speak to your midwife, health visitor, or GP.

How long do you bleed after giving birth?

After you give birth vaginally or have a C-section, you'll have vaginal bleeding. This is called lochia.

For the first week after birth the bleeding will be heavy and bright red – like the heaviest days of a period. It may get heavier and redder when you breastfeed or express milk. Over the following weeks it will get lighter, and turn reddish-brown or yellow. To avoid infection, it's best not to use tampons or menstrual cups before your 6 to 8 week postnatal check.

The bleeding should usually stop after 12 weeks. If it starts to smell or gets heavier, it's important to seek help straight away.

How long after giving birth can you have sex?

You can have sex when you feel ready to. But it's a good idea to let any stitches, tears or grazes to heal, and wait for your bleeding to stop. Waiting will reduce the risk of infection. If you've had a C-section, you may not feel ready until 6 weeks or so after birth.

If you don't feel like having sex, that's normal. Only have sex when you feel ready and comfortable - both physically and emotionally.

When you do start to have sex again, it might be painful the first few times. Hormonal changes can make your vagina feel drier than normal. If sex doesn't become more comfortable over time, make sure to get support from your GP or health visitor.

How soon after giving birth can you get pregnant?

You can get pregnant as soon as 3 weeks after birth, even if your periods haven't yet started again. If you don’t want to get pregnant, use contraception before you have sex.

Some forms of contraception can be used immediately after giving birth. But other forms can only be used after 3 to 6 weeks.

If you’re unsure about what contraception you can use, ask your GP or health visitor. You can also visit a sexual health clinic.

When do periods start after giving birth?

If you’re breastfeeding exclusively, you may not get your periods straight away, and this can vary between people. If you’re not breastfeeding, or you’re using formula or combination feeding, your periods can start as soon as 5 to 6 weeks after birth.

Your periods may be different after giving birth. For example, they might be heavier or you might have more or less cramping.

When do hormones regulate after pregnancy?

Baby blues are thought to be caused by hormones dropping rapidly after birth. It’s normal to feel more emotional than usual while your hormones settle. Plus you might be tired and overwhelmed. Baby blues usually get better by the time your baby is 10 to 14 days old.

However, if you’ve been feeling down for more than a couple of weeks, seek help. It could be a sign of postpartum depression or another mental health issue.

What postpartum symptoms should not be ignored?

If you experience any of the following symptoms, tell your GP, midwife or health visitor straight away:

• very heavy or sudden vaginal bleeding
• pain, swelling or redness in one leg
• chest pain or difficulty breathing
• high temperature (above 38°C)
• racing heartbeat
• feeling faint or dizzy
• severe pain in your tummy, pelvis or genital area
• severe headache
• shivering
• bad-smelling vaginal discharge or bleeding
• vision changes
• feeling or being sick
• confusion
• slurred speech

These could be signs of serious conditions such as haemorrhage, infection, or pre-eclampsia. If anything doesn’t feel right, reach out for support.