Recovery after childbirth

After birth, your body recovers from pregnancy and childbirth and you begin caring for your baby. Many changes are normal, but serious complications may also develop days or weeks later. Take warning signs seriously and always say you have recently given birth.

• Vaginal bleeding, afterpains, tiredness and pain around the vagina, pelvic floor or caesarean wound are common and should gradually improve.
• Bleeding should decrease and change colour over days and weeks. Suddenly losing a great deal of blood or passing large clots needs urgent assessment.
• Fever, strong-smelling discharge and increasing abdominal or wound pain may indicate infection.
• Severe headache, blurred vision, upper abdominal pain, breathlessness or sudden swelling may indicate high blood pressure or another serious complication, even after a normal pregnancy.
• Low mood or irritability in the first days is common. Severe or persistent symptoms, or symptoms interfering with care of yourself or the baby, need help.
• Thoughts of self-harm, confusion, delusions or hallucinations are a psychiatric emergency.
• Rest, food, fluids and gradual movement help, but recovery does not have to be perfect or fast.
• Arrange and attend checks for yourself and the baby, and discuss contraception before sex or ovulation may resume.