After Birth

Contact your maternity unit, GP or 111 straight away — or 999 in an emergency — if you have:

Heavy or sudden bleeding · Large clots, or bleeding that smells offensive · Fever, or feeling shivery and unwell · Severe headache or vision changes · Chest pain or breathlessness · A painful, red, swollen leg · Severe tummy pain · Wound problems

Infection, blood clots and pre-eclampsia can all happen after you go home. You know your body, and it is always right to get checked.

Bleeding (lochia) is normal and can last up to six weeks, gradually getting lighter. Sudden heavy bleeding, large clots or an offensive smell need urgent attention.

After a caesarean: keep the wound clean and dry, watch for redness, swelling or discharge, avoid heavy lifting, and accept help. This is major abdominal surgery and full recovery takes at least six weeks.

Perineal stitches usually heal within a few weeks. Warm baths and regular pain relief help. Tell your midwife or GP if pain gets worse rather than better.

Your pelvic floor: start gentle exercises as soon as you feel able. If you have leaking, heaviness or pain, ask for a physiotherapy referral. This is treatable, and you should not be told to simply put up with it.

Breastfeeding is a learned skill for both of you. Pain, cracked nipples and worries about supply are common early on, and skilled help makes a real difference. Support is free — your midwife, health visitor, local groups and the National Breastfeeding Helpline.

If you formula feed or combination feed, you deserve the same support and clear guidance on safe preparation, without judgement.

Struggling at 3 am? The helplines and peer groups in our directory exist for that moment.

🔗 National Breastfeeding Helpline · 🔗 La Leche League GB · 🔗 NHS breastfeeding help

Up to 8 in 10 new mothers experience the ‘baby blues’ in the first days — tearfulness, mood swings, feeling overwhelmed. This usually passes within two weeks.

If low mood, anxiety, intrusive thoughts or hopelessness last longer, or feel intense, this may be postnatal depression or anxiety. It is common, it is treatable, and it is nothing to be ashamed of. It is not a failure of love for your baby, and it does not mean you are a bad mother.

Many women from minority communities describe fearing judgement, or worrying about what speaking up might lead to. Culturally sensitive support exists. Asking for help is a sign of strength.

You do not need a diagnosis to ask for help. Tell your GP, midwife or health visitor how you actually feel — not how you think you should feel.

🔗 PANDAS Foundation — perinatal mental health support for mothers, fathers and partners
🔗 NHS mental health support after having a baby
🔗 The Motherhood Group · Muslim Women’s Network UK

If you feel you cannot keep yourself or your baby safe, or you have thoughts of harming yourself, this is an emergency and help is available right now.

Contact your GP urgently · Call 111 and choose the mental health option · Call 999
Samaritans: 116 123, free, any time

You matter. Help works, and people recover.

Your GP practice should offer a postnatal check for you, separate from your baby’s check, at around 6–8 weeks. It is your appointment.

Raise anything: healing, bleeding, feeding, contraception, mood, birth trauma, sex, pain. Write your questions down beforehand, and do not let yourself be rushed.

If you are only offered a baby check, ask directly: “When is my own postnatal check?”