Your recovery in the weeks and months following your baby's birth is a time of tremendous physical and emotional change. Focusing on healing and reaching out for support when you need it will help you regain strength and grow in confidence as you care for your new baby. Your recovery and well-being matter—for you, your baby, and your whole family.

Immediate Postpartum Care

From the moment your baby is born, your health care providers will monitor you closely to ensure your safety, comfort, and healing. During your hospital stay, you can expect:

  • Vital Signs: Checking your blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and breathing to watch for risk factors for infection or other health complications.

  • Perineal Care: For vaginal delivery, your provider will check for tears, provide stitches if needed, and suggest comfort measures like ice packs or topical creams.

  • Uterine (Fundal) Checks: Gently pressing on your abdomen to confirm your uterus is shrinking and bleeding is controlled.

  • Vaginal Bleeding (Lochia): Assessing the amount, color, and flow of bleeding after birth to make sure everything is normal.

  • Bladder Function: Making sure you can urinate comfortably, since some postpartum women experience difficulty or temporary urinary incontinence after birth.

  • Pain Management: Offering over-the-counter or prescription medications and providing comfort measures to aid in healing.

  • Breastfeeding Support: Encouraging skin-to-skin contact and assisting with breastfeeding, including guidance on latch, positioning, and breast milk production.

  • Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH): Monitoring for heavy postpartum bleeding and giving medicine (like pitocin) if needed. 

  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Encouraging early movement, using leg compression devices after a cesarean delivery, and checking for swelling or leg pain.

Hospital Discharge

Typically, most new mothers are ready to leave the hospital 24–48 hours after a vaginal birth and 48-72 hours after a cesarean delivery, though the exact timing can vary. Before heading home, your provider will review your recovery and make sure you feel comfortable with your postpartum care plan. This can feel like a lot of information all at once—having a partner, family member, or friend with you can be helpful. During this time, your care team will:

  • Recheck Vital Signs: Blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and bleeding to ensure stability.
  • Assess Your Uterus: Making sure it continues to shrink back to its normal size and position.
  • Review Incision or Perineal Care:
    • Vaginal birth: your provider will check perineal tears or episiotomy sites and give instructions for healing and comfort.
    • Cesarean birth: your provider will review care for your abdominal incision, signs of infection, and pain management at home.
  • Mental Health Screening: Identifying early signs of postpartum depression or anxiety, offering referrals if needed.
  • Breastfeeding Support: Checking for signs of engorgement, cracked nipples, or mastitis. Counseling on breastfeeding techniques and positioning, answering questions, and providing community or hospital resources for follow-up.
  • Gestational Diabetes Follow-Up: Women with a history of gestational diabetes may undergo an oral glucose tolerance test to screen for ongoing diabetes mellitus prior to discharge or at a follow-up office visit.
  • Schedule Pediatrician Visit: Your baby should be scheduled for a follow-up office visit with their healthcare provider 3–5 days after birth, or sooner if advised by the pediatrician in the hospital.

Early Postpartum Care

Your Lactation Consultant may be the only healthcare provider you see after that first office visit with your baby's pediatrician and your first postpartum checkup with your OB or midwife. Many lactation consultants make home visits or have office appointments available for breastfeeding help or monitoring baby's weight, in between doctor's appointments. A lactation provider will help you understand what to expect in these first weeks, monitor how breastfeeding is going, and can connect you with community resources, such as breastfeeding support groups or postpartum mental health services.

When Are Your Follow-up Appointments?

Postpartum care used to consist of a single checkup four to six weeks after birth. However, it’s difficult to cover all of a new mother’s health needs in just one 30-minute visit. Today, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends all new moms have multiple postpartum checkups during the first 12 weeks after birth.

  • First Visit: Ideally within three weeks after delivery to address any early concerns and support your recovery.

  • Earlier Visit for High-Risk Conditions: If you had high blood pressure during pregnancy, delivered by cesarean section, or have other health conditions, a checkup may be needed sooner.

  • Follow-up Visits: Additional appointments can be scheduled as needed, with a final comprehensive postpartum visit around six weeks, but "no later than 12 weeks from birth" to ensure your recovery is on track.

This approach helps ensure that maternal health, physical recovery, and emotional well-being are supported throughout the postpartum period. Contact your healthcare provider anytime if you have concerns before your scheduled visits.

Scheduled Follow-up with Your Provider

After leaving the hospital, your postpartum checkups with your OB or midwife help ensure your recovery is progressing well and give you the opportunity to address any common postpartum concerns. What happens at these visits can vary depending on whether you had a vaginal or cesarean birth:

2-Week Check (Cesarean Birth)

  • Incision Check: Your provider will examine your cesarean incision for healing and signs of infection.

  • General Recovery: Monitoring bleeding, pain levels, bladder and bowel function, appetite, and energy.

  • Emotional Health Screening: Checking for signs of postpartum depression or anxiety, from common baby blues to mood swings, and providing emotional support resources.

  • Breastfeeding Support: Addressing any challenges with poor latch, breast engorgement, milk supply, or nipple discomfort, and referring to lactation consultants as needed.

6-Week Postpartum Visit (Vaginal or Cesarean Birth)

  • Comprehensive Physical Exam: Your OB or midwife will check your uterus, perineum or incision site, vaginal discharge, breasts, and overall maternal health and recovery.

  • Family Planning: Information about safe birth control options while breastfeeding, discussing optimal birth spacing, and addressing any fertility concerns.

  • Mental Health Evaluation: Screening for postpartum depression, anxiety, or other emotional health issues and connecting you with support if needed.

  • Comprehensive Health Review: Addressing ongoing or new health issues such as thyroid disorders or gestational diabetes.

  • Lifestyle Guidance: Reviewing diet, hydration, physical activity, and pelvic floor rehabilitation if needed.

These follow-up visits are a chance to ask questions, discuss any lingering symptoms, and make a plan for continued support. Your provider can also connect you with resources like lactation consultants, postpartum mental health services, or community support groups to help you navigate recovery with confidence.

Ongoing Recovery and Postpartum Care

During the first few months postpartum—often called the fourth trimester—it's important to honor your body's healing and recovery. A good healthcare provider will be able to offer you advice on these priorities also.

  • Sleep and Rest: Prioritizing rest despite the challenges of caring for a new baby.

  • Dietary Guidance: Eating enough calories and drinking plenty of water to support energy, recovery, and breast milk production. Coordination with your healthcare provider, lactation consultant, or dietitian can help support both weight loss and breastfeeding goals.

  • Physical Activity: Gentle exercise, such as walking, can often begin around six weeks postpartum. Before resuming high-impact or intense activities, discuss your plan with your healthcare provider. Many women benefit from pelvic floor therapy, which can help restore strength, improve comfort, and support overall recovery.

Prioritizing your postpartum recovery—physically, emotionally, and socially—is not just important, it’s essential. By honoring your body’s healing, seeking support when you need it, and attending follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider, you’re giving yourself the best chance for a healthy, confident recovery.

Disclaimer: Our classes and accompanying materials are intended for general education purposes and should not replace medical advice. For personalized recommendations, please consult your healthcare provider and/or lactation consultant.