Congratulations! You’ve made it six weeks (or longer!) since your little one was born. Postpartum can be an intense time, but the good news is your recovery is well underway. You may or may not feel 100 percent back to "normal," but the six-week mark is a big milestone in your recovery.
You may have more energy at this time, but if not, it’s also totally fine to take it easy if you can. Prioritize slow activities, naps, and cuddling your baby. Postpartum recovery is not a race—take it day by day.
Here’s what you can expect from your postpartum body, including both physical and mental recovery, from about six to eight weeks after birth.
Your Physical Recovery if you Had a Vaginal Birth
Chances are, you are feeling considerably more like yourself at this point. If you had a vaginal birth, your recovery is well underway, although you may still feel like you’re not at full strength yet.
For most women, post-birth bleeding (officially known as lochia) has stopped by the 2-month mark. You may still see a bit of bleeding here and there, though, especially on a day when you’re more active. Your uterus has returned to its pre-pregnancy size, going from about 2.5 pounds at the end of pregnancy down to about 2 ounces! It’s now back to approximately the size of your fist.
Your pelvic floor may be feeling stronger at this time, too, but if you had a difficult birth that involved an injury, it can take longer to regain strength. If you had a third or fourth-degree tear during birth, your stitches should have dissolved and you should not be feeling much pain. If you are, be sure to address it with your provider at your six-week visit.
Many people have lost a good amount of their pregnancy weight at this point, but of course, that doesn’t apply to everyone. If you developed diastasis recti during pregnancy (a vertical bulge where the long, flat muscles running vertically down each side of your abdomen have separated), it should have resolved at least somewhat. The muscles may need more time to go back together or you may need assistance from a physical therapist to help things reset.
You’re probably gearing up for your six-week appointment with your doctor or midwife. Be sure to discuss any concerns you’re having with your provider, including your overall recovery from pregnancy and birth and any mental or emotional struggles you may be having. If you’re experiencing any pain, pressure, or leakage of urine, be sure to bring that up with them. Come with a list of questions so you don’t forget anything—brain fog is real when you have a newborn!
Your provider may tell you it’s ok to exercise and have sex again now, but don’t forget—there’s no rush to do either one. It’s fine to wait until you feel 100% ready.
If you’re exclusively formula-feeding your baby, you may get your first postpartum period in the next couple of weeks. This is because your body is not producing prolactin, which is a hormone that can inhibit ovulation.
Your Physical Recovery if You Had a C-section
If you had a Cesarean birth, you may be feeling mostly recovered from your surgery. Your incision scar should be healed. You should not be experiencing swelling or pain in or around your incision, although it may still feel itchy or give you a burning sensation occasionally. Some people also find their scar feels numb.
Check in with your provider at your 6 week appointment about whether or not it’s appropriate for you to begin lifting heavier objects, exercising, and having sex.
If you want, you can also start to do Cesarean scar massage at this time. There’s not a lot of research out there about this practice, but many moms swear by it and some evidence indicates it can help with numbness in the area and prevent pain.
Keep in mind that If there were any complications with your surgery, your recovery may take longer. A C-section is a major abdominal surgery and it’s completely normal to need a longer time to feel healed.
Your Mental Health and Postpartum Hormones
The mental and emotional experience of giving birth and caring for a newborn is a lot. You may be feeling more calm and confident by the two-month mark, or you may not. It’s still normal to feel tired and overwhelmed. Know that you can and will adjust to motherhood in your own time.
If you’re feeling off more than some of the time. It’s important to keep an eye out for the symptoms of a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS) include postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder, and postpartum psychosis. Symptoms include low mood, feelings of depression, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, anxiety, hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, feelings of harming your baby or yourself, and more.
Experiencing a PMAD is common. 1 in 5 parents in the US are diagnosed with one either before or after birth, so having a postpartum mood disorder is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.
Keep a close eye on your feelings and talk openly to your partner, friends, and family about how you’re feeling. If you feel you need support with your mental health, reach out to your healthcare provider ASAP. Whether it’s therapy, medication, or a support group (or all three!) there is help for you.
What Will my 2-month Postpartum Body Look Like?
Let’s be clear—your body will not look 100% like it did before you got pregnant. Most women don’t have a flat belly by six weeks postpartum and that’s ok! It takes time for your body to recover from birth. You may feel softer, rounder, less toned. That is all normal.
You likely don’t look pregnant anymore, because your uterus has shrunk. Your belly is likely smaller and a bit less squishy.
The first few months postpartum is an intense time when your body restores muscle tone and connective tissue. This period can last up to six months and changes are generally pretty subtle. Your whole body is on its own timeline, based on your individual situation, including what happened during your birth, your health, your life circumstances, and much more.
You may find yourself wanting to exercise again. It can feel great to move your body gently and then gradually ramp up to more vigorous exercise. By about three months postpartum, you may find you’re able to work out more intensely. Stay mindful of your pelvic floor and be sure to protect your ligaments and joints, as they may still be loose due to the hormone relaxin released during pregnancy.
If you’re breastfeeding, don’t worry too much about the impact of exercise on your milk supply, as it should not affect composition or production of milk. A good nursing sports bra will be a must, though!
When Will My Periods Start Again?
There’s no one answer as to when you will start to bleed again. It’s different for everyone.
Generally, people who are breastfeeding will start to cycle later than people who are exclusively feeding formula or feeding a combination of formula and breastmilk. This is because the hormones involved with breastfeeding (particularly prolactin) can keep your body from ovulating. No ovulation, no period.
If you’re exclusively formula feeding or combining formula with breastmilk, you could get your period as soon as a few weeks after giving birth. But again, the timing is individual and could be much longer for you.
If you exclusively breastfeed (including overnight), you may not get your period again until your baby is 3-6 months (or sometimes even older). This may or may not be the case if you’re exclusively pumping.
How Soon After Giving Birth Can I Get Pregnant?
You can’t get pregnant again until you start ovulating again. Of course, there’s no way to know exactly when you’re ovulating, unless you are carefully looking for the signs of ovulation. And let’s be real—that’s probably not a top priority when you’re caring for a newborn and recovering from birth!
Still, it is possible to ovulate and get pregnant again as little as 3 weeks after giving birth, even if you haven’t yet had a period and you’re breastfeeding.
If you don’t want another pregnancy yet and you are sexually active, it’s important to use contraception. Condoms, birth control pills, IUDs, and more are all options for postpartum contraception. Talk to your doctor or midwife about what’s right for you, including your health, lifestyle, and your breastfeeding goals.
How Soon Can I Use Tampons After Giving Birth?
It’s important to avoid using tampons, menstrual cups, menstrual discs, or any other products that you insert into your vagina for at least the first six weeks after birth. This is so you can avoid introducing any bacteria into your body. Your vagina, cervix, and uterus are still healing and are more susceptible to infection in the first weeks after birth.
Use pads or period underwear while your body is healing from birth. You can check in with your provider during your six-week visit to discuss using tampons and other period products. Chances are, it will be just fine to use a tampon after the six-week mark.
How Long Does it Take for Your Postpartum Belly to go Away?
Real talk—it’s going to take a while. Yes, your uterus has shrunk down at this point and your diastasis may be lessening, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to have a flat tummy just a few weeks after birth. And that’s more than ok!
For most women, it takes months to lose weight and see the “pregnancy pouch” disappear. For some women, especially those who have had a Cesarean, it never goes away completely. For C-section moms, the famous “C-section pooch” happens because of scar tissue that accumulates in the lower belly after surgical birth.
It took nine months for your body to grow and nourish your baby—it will likely take around that same amount of time for your body to fully return to what it was like before pregnancy.. Be patient with yourself and your body.
A healthy diet and a regular exercise routine can help you feel your best after birth. Some people will lose weight rapidly after birth, while others will have a slower process. It’s an individual experience that depends on how much weight you gained during pregnancy, your own health, your genetics, your life situation, and more.
Although some women will lose weight while they’re breastfeeding, lactation isn’t a weight loss strategy for this time of life. In fact, it’s even more important to eat enough calories and stay hydrated when you’re breastfeeding, because the act of making milk increases your energy expenditure 15-25%.
Focus on eating healthy and nourishing foods that you love and staying hydrated. Prioritize your well-being and be kind to yourself and your body. You’ll get there!
If you’d like support to help your body feel best during your postpartum recovery, consider taking our postpartum supplements, which can help with lactation, sleep, immunity, and more.
