For this stage

Postpartum

Recovering and reconnecting with my body.

Lochia, mood (postnatal depression check-ins), return of periods.

What we track for you

Lochia (postnatal bleeding)
Mood (postnatal depression check-ins)
Pelvic floor symptoms
Return of periods

Red flags we surface

· Heavy bleeding after 6 weeks
· Persistent low mood or intrusive thoughts
· Pelvic pain or incontinence

When any of these show up across your logs, you get a prompt and the GPS opens with the right questions ready.

What's happening

The fourth trimester is real. Your body just did something massive — recovery isn't 6 weeks, it's a year.

The first 12 weeks postpartum (the 4th trimester) are the steepest learning curve. Your body is healing while you're caring for a newborn on broken sleep.

Lochia, leaking, mood swings, hair shedding, hot flushes, big feelings — all part of it. But not all of it should be tolerated quietly.

Postpartum week by week

Week 1
Heavy lochia (red). Cramping as womb shrinks. Milk comes in day 3–5. Baby blues peak around day 5.
Week 2–3
Lochia turns pink/brown. Stitches healing. Visitors slow down. Watch for low mood that isn't lifting.
Week 4–6
Lochia ends. 6-week check with GP — push for a proper one, not a baby check.
Week 7–12
Energy slowly returns. Sex 'allowed' after 6w but no rush. Pelvic floor work matters.
3–6 months
Hair shedding. Periods may return (sooner if not breastfeeding). Diastasis can still be improving.
6–12 months
Body is still recovering. PND can land anytime in the first year.

Symptoms you might notice

Lochia

Postnatal bleeding. Red → pink → yellow → white over ~6 weeks.

Afterpains

Cramping as the womb shrinks. Stronger with second+ babies and while breastfeeding.

Engorgement

Hard, painful breasts when milk comes in. Feed/express, cold cabbage leaves help.

Mastitis

Hot, red, sore breast + flu-like symptoms. Keep feeding, get help fast.

Pelvic floor changes

Leaking, heaviness, prolapse symptoms. Refer yourself to a women's health physio.

Postnatal depression

More than baby blues — persistent low mood, anxiety or intrusive thoughts. Tell someone.

Self-care that actually helps

Eat and drink to thrive

Hot meals. Snacks within reach. Water bottle bigger than your head.

Pelvic floor work

Start gentle squeezes in week 1. Refer yourself to a women's health physio.

Sleep when, not if

30 minutes is enough to reset cortisol. Take the help.

Mood is data, not weakness

Track it. If it's not lifting by week 2–3, tell your HV/GP.

Sex on your terms

There's no 6-week deadline. Lubricant helps massively — breastfeeding lowers oestrogen.

When to see a clinician

Call now

· Soaking a pad an hour 2+ hours running
· Foul-smelling lochia + fever
· Calf pain or swelling (DVT)
· Chest pain or breathlessness (PE)
· Intrusive thoughts of harming yourself or baby

Same week

· Hot, red, painful breast (mastitis)
· Stitches not healing
· Persistent low mood, anxiety or rage
· Pelvic heaviness or leaking

Questions to ask your doctor

Can I have a proper 6-week check (mum-focused, not just baby)?
Can I be referred to a women's health physio?
What contraception is right for me right now?
Can we screen for PND properly?

Myths vs facts

Myth: Bouncing back is the goal.

Truth: There's nothing to bounce back to. Forward is the goal.

Myth: Breastfeeding stops you getting pregnant.

Truth: It's not reliable contraception. Pick a method.

Myth: Baby blues = PND.

Truth: Baby blues lift by ~2 weeks. PND doesn't.

Quick FAQs

When will my periods come back?

6–12 weeks if not breastfeeding; can be months later if exclusively breastfeeding. Ovulation comes before the first bleed.

Can I get pregnant before my first period?

Yes. Use contraception from week 3 if you don't want to.

What you walk into appointments with

A 1-page summary built from your logs, ready to hand over. See what it looks like:

See a sample summary

Start here

Postpartum body changes

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