Postpartum Recovery Timeline

Week-by-week recovery after vaginal or caesarean birth. Free, private and instant.

How to use the Postpartum Recovery

  1. Pick date of birth.
  2. Choose type of birth: Vaginal birth or Caesarean birth.
  3. Choose feeding: Breastfeeding, Mixed or Formula.
  4. Press Calculate to get an instant result with a colour scale, chart and plain-English explanation.

About the Postpartum Recovery

Recovery after birth takes weeks to months. Enter your delivery date and type of birth to see a dated timeline for bleeding, healing, baby blues, your postnatal check, return to exercise and your first period, plus warning signs that need urgent care.

Also known as: postpartum recovery calculator, after birth recovery, postnatal recovery timeline, C-section recovery timeline.

Worked example

Dates in this example are worked out as if today were 5 Nov 2026.

Weeks since birth: 2.0 weeks (Weeks 2-6). You are 14 days (2.0 weeks) after birth. Your body is still healing. Increase activity gently.

Formula and cut-offs

Lochia (bleeding) lasts up to 6 weeks. Perineal healing 2-6 weeks; caesarean wound 6-8 weeks. Postnatal check at 6-8 weeks. First period 6-12 weeks if not breastfeeding. The "fourth trimester" is the first 12 weeks.

Frequently asked questions

How long does postpartum bleeding last?

Up to 6 weeks, changing from red to pink to white-yellow.

How long does a C-section take to heal?

The wound heals in about 6 to 8 weeks; full recovery can take longer.

When can I exercise after birth?

Gentle walking early on, and more vigorous exercise after the 6-week check (about 8 to 12 weeks after a C-section).

Sources and references

Written and checked by the MediHub editorial team against the sources above. Read how we build and review our calculators.

More health calculators

Last updated . This calculator is for education only and is not medical advice. See the medical disclaimer.