Short answer
After delivery you will bleed from the vagina for a few weeks; it starts heavy and slowly turns brownish and lighter. Most women recover over about 6 weeks, when a postnatal check-up is due. Get help quickly for heavy bleeding, fever, a painful or leaking wound, severe headache, leg pain or swelling, breathlessness, or low mood lasting more than two weeks.
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- Dhruva Hospitals, Kadapa
What is normal
- Bleeding (lochia) that is heavy at first and slowly becomes lighter and brownish over a few weeks
- Period-like cramps and redder bleeding while breastfeeding, as the womb contracts
- Tiredness, and soreness around stitches or the caesarean wound
- Piles, which are common and usually settle within days or weeks
- Feeling emotional or tearful for a few days (the “baby blues”)
Get medical help straight away if
- Bleeding is heavy, soaks pads quickly, or contains large clots
- You have a fever or feel shivery and unwell
- Your stitches or wound become red, swollen or more painful, or leak pus or smelly fluid
- You have a severe headache, blurred vision or sudden swelling, as pre-eclampsia can start after birth
- One leg is painful or swollen, or you are coughing or breathless, which can mean a blood clot
- Passing urine is painful, or you cannot control it
Call +91 90368 52311 at any hour.
Baby blues or postnatal depression?
Feeling low, tearful or irritable for a few days after delivery is common and usually passes within 2 weeks. If it lasts longer, gets worse, or you struggle to cope, it may be postnatal depression, which can start any time in the first year after birth. Fathers can be affected too.
Signs include low mood, losing interest in things, feeling hopeless or guilty, constant worry, poor sleep even when the baby is asleep, and difficulty bonding with the baby. It usually gets better with treatment, so tell your doctor; asking for help is not a sign of being a bad mother.
If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, get help immediately. India’s free Tele MANAS mental health helpline is 14416 or 1-800-891-4416.
The 6-week postnatal check-up
- How you are feeling, including your mood
- Bleeding, discharge and whether your periods have returned
- Blood pressure, if it was high in pregnancy or after delivery
- A check of your stitches or caesarean wound, if needed
- Feeding and any problems with breastfeeding
- Contraception
Contraception after delivery
You can get pregnant again as early as 3 weeks after birth, even if you are breastfeeding and your periods have not returned. Discuss contraception before you go home or at your 6-week check.
Common questions
When will my periods come back?
It varies. If you bottle-feed or mix-feed, your first period may come 5 to 6 weeks after birth. If you breastfeed fully, including at night, it may not come until you start to breastfeed less. You can get pregnant before your first period.
When can I return to normal activities after a caesarean?
Start with gentle walks soon after delivery. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity until you feel able, often around 6 weeks, and ask your doctor at your check-up.
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Sources
This article is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. In an emergency, call +91 90368 52311.