6 Weeks Postpartum: Your New Normal After Pregnancy

At your six week postnatal check-up, you will have the opportunity to chat through any concerns you have about your post-baby body with your doctor or nurse, including your emotional and physical wellbeing. This appointment is also a great opportunity to introduce your baby to your doctor and make sure that everything is well with your little one.

Postpartum physical check up

Your doctor will want to ensure your body is recovering as it should be from pregnancy and after giving birth. Depending on the type of labour you experienced this could cover the following:

• Checking your abdomen to see that your uterus is shrinking back to its pre-baby size, and, if you had a C-section, making sure your scar is healing well.
• If you had an episiotomy when you delivered your baby, your doctor may also check that too is healing.
• Your doctor will ask you about any bleeding following the birth and how heavy this is, or if it’s still occurring.
• You may be asked about breastfeeding and how it’s going, any difficulties or symptoms you’re unsure of (like difficulty latching or low milk supply).
• If you didn't have a PAP smear before you fell pregnant, your health professional may offer to book you in for one, and, although it might be the last thing on your mind, they will also chat to you about contraception and what your options are going forward.
• They might also check your urine and your blood pressure

If you’re worried about how your vagina is healing after birth, or if your C-section wound is fine – these are legitimate medical concerns and should be seen to by your doctor. Don't ever feel like you need to suffer in silence or be ashamed. Be it bladder weakness, discharge or a lot of postpartum bleeding, your doctor or nurse would have heard about it a hundred times before!

Six-week postpartum check up with your baby

Your baby’s six-week check is a good time for your doctor or clinic nurses to meet your new arrival and check on their development. The doctor will check that they’re growing correctly and that their organs are developing as they should be.

Let your doctor know if you have any concerns about your little one and feel comfortable to ask any questions you like about your baby’s development, as well as your own recovery.

And remember, the six-week postnatal check isn't a deadline either. You’re not expected to feel completely normal again within this time frame but it’s a great opportunity to ask questions and find out how both you and your baby are doing

Postpartum tips and advice

Wondering when your menstrual cycle will return to normal after pregnancy? Read on.

1. You may wonder when your period will start again

It’s hard to predict when your periods will start again as it takes a while for your hormones to settle down. It might return after a month of giving birth, or not for another year. Both are normal.

For bottle-feeding mums, or mums that combine bottle-feeding with breastfeeding, menstruation often starts five to six weeks after you swap/start to bottle-feed.

If you continue breastfeeding, your period might not restart until you stop nursing altogether because breastfeeding is known to interrupt the ovulation process (and your period, in the process).

When your period does arrive, don't be surprised to find they are much heavier or irregular for a while, during this time you might want to use a combination of maternity pads and tampons until you’re sure of which products are best for your flow.

2. You can still get pregnant if you breastfeed

Please don’t rely on breastfeeding for contraception. If you're worried about your period after giving birth, speak to your doctor and be aware that even if you're not menstruating there's still a chance you might get pregnant if you're not using contraception.

3. You should wait before using a tampon

As the wound found at the uterine wall may not have healed yet and your muscles are much weaker, tampons are not recommended for a little while until you’ve had your six-week postpartum check-up. Your doctor or nurse will advise you on when you can begin using tampons again. 

4. You can safely have sex if you want after 6 weeks

At six weeks, your doctor will check your physical wellbeing and will be able to tell you whether or not it’s okay for you to have sexual intercourse. This depends on how well you’re healing, the kind of labour and birth you experienced, and if there were any complications or interventions during birth.

Maybe you’ve already had sex. Maybe you’re dreading it. Some moms don’t feel ready to start having sex again after birth, even if their healthcare professional tells them it’s perfectly fine. 

If you had a difficult or traumatic birth, sex might be the last thing on your mind. It can also be difficult to shift out of your ‘mom mindset’ and feel like yourself again, especially if you’re leaking breast milk and your menstrual cycle hasn’t returned to normal.

Take it easy, at your own pace, and remember that everybody is different. Be honest with your partner and don’t be afraid to communicate any concerns you have about sex to your nurse or midwife.