The postnatal check is an appointment about you, roughly six weeks after the birth, separate from the baby's checks. It usually covers how you are recovering physically, how you are feeling, feeding, bleeding, bladder and bowel, contraception, and any problems from the birth. It is often short, so going in with a written list changes what you get out of it. This page helps you prepare, and it is not a substitute for the appointment itself.

Why it exists

The weeks after birth are when serious problems can appear and be missed, because attention has moved to the baby. ACOG argues for postnatal care as an ongoing process rather than a single visit, with earlier contact for people who need it.

WHO's postnatal guidance also sets out multiple contacts across the first six weeks, not one appointment at the end of them.

So the six-week check is a backstop, not the only chance. Anything worrying before then deserves a call at the time.

What usually happens

The details vary by country and service, and commonly include:

• How you are feeling emotionally, sometimes with a short questionnaire.
• Bleeding, and whether periods have returned.
• Wound or scar healing, and pain.
• Bladder and bowel control.
• Feeding, and any pain with it.
• Contraception and plans for future pregnancies.
• Blood pressure, especially if it was raised in pregnancy.
• Any blood tests you were told you would need, such as iron or thyroid, or a repeat glucose test if you had gestational diabetes.
• Vaccinations and cervical screening if either is due.

An examination is not always part of it and is not always necessary. Ask if you want something looked at.

What to raise, even if nobody asks

Bring these up yourself. They are the most commonly missed:

• Mood. Say the true version, not the polite one. See your mood after birth.
• Leaking urine, wind or stool, or a heavy dragging feeling. Ask about a pelvic health physiotherapy referral — see your pelvic floor after birth.
• Pain during sex, or fear of it.
• Scar or perineal pain that is not settling.
• Exhaustion that feels beyond broken sleep, especially with breathlessness or dizziness.
• The birth itself, if it was frightening or you have unanswered questions. You can ask for a debrief with the maternity service.
• Contraception, even if sex feels remote — see contraception after birth.

NICE's postnatal guidance lists physical and emotional recovery, bladder and bowel function, and contraception among the things postnatal care should cover, so none of this is off-topic.

How to prepare in five minutes

Write three things you most want answered, in order, and say them at the start. Appointments drift, and the last item on a list often does not get reached.

Bring notes on symptoms, bleeding, mood and sleep. If you have logged them in Femio, bring that. A record of three bad weeks is more persuasive than trying to remember a bad Tuesday.

Take someone with you if you can, especially for a difficult conversation. And arrange the appointment for a time when the baby is usually settled, or take someone who can hold them.

If the appointment does not cover you

Some checks turn into a baby appointment with a question about you at the end. If that happens, say plainly: "I have something about my own health I need to discuss."

If you do not get anywhere, ask for a separate appointment for yourself. That is a reasonable request, and it is what the check is meant to be.

After six weeks

Six weeks is not the end of recovery. Pelvic floor strength, scar comfort, sleep, mood and cycles can all take months longer, and problems that appear later are still postnatal problems.

The first six weeks after birth describes the timeline, and postpartum warning signs lists what should not wait for any appointment.

When to see a doctor

Do not wait for the six-week check for bleeding that is getting heavier, a wound that is more painful or red, a fever, calf pain or swelling, a severe headache, low mood lasting beyond two weeks, or any thought of harming yourself or your baby. Seek urgent care for the emergency signs in the warning-signs guide, and use Femio's global Need help now page if you feel unable to stay safe.

Ask for an earlier appointment if you had a complicated birth, raised blood pressure, gestational diabetes, heavy blood loss, or a previous mental health condition.

Frequently asked questions

Is the six-week check about me or the baby?

It is meant to be about you. The baby usually has separate checks, though services sometimes combine them.

Will I be examined?

Not always, and not necessarily. Ask if there is something you want looked at.

What if I am not offered a check?

Ask for one. Contact your doctor's surgery or your postnatal service and say you would like your postnatal appointment.

Can I bring up something months later?

Yes. Postnatal problems do not stop at six weeks, and it is not too late to raise them.

What should I take with me?

Your three main questions, notes on symptoms and mood, your maternity notes if you have them, and a list of any medicines you take.