Caring for yourself after childbirth: a postpartum guide
What to expect from postpartum bleeding, how to stay comfortable, and when to call your midwife or doctor.
What is postpartum bleeding (lochia)?
After giving birth — whether vaginally or by caesarean section — your body sheds the lining that built up during pregnancy. This discharge is called lochia and it is completely normal. It looks and feels like a heavy period at first. Lochia is not something to worry about; it is your body healing and returning to its non-pregnant state.
How long does postpartum bleeding last?
For most women, heavy lochia lasts 3–5 days after delivery. By the end of the first week it usually lightens to a pink or brownish discharge. Over the following weeks it becomes lighter still — pale yellow or white — before stopping altogether, typically by 4–6 weeks postpartum. Every woman is different: some have lighter lochia earlier, and some continue to have a light discharge for up to eight weeks. Breastfeeding can also trigger a brief increase in flow as the uterus contracts during feeds.
Choosing the right pad after delivery
The first days after delivery are too heavy for an ordinary sanitary pad. Use Faytex Maternity — an extra-large, extra-absorbent maternity pad that is soft against tender, healing skin and free from chemicals that could irritate. Stock up before your due date: 2–3 packs of maternity pads for the first week is a good starting point. As your lochia lightens, you can switch to Faytex Classic for regular days. Never use tampons or menstrual cups during the postpartum period — the cervix is still open and internal protection increases the risk of infection.
Staying comfortable after a vaginal birth
Vaginal birth leaves the perineum sore and sometimes sutured. Keeping the area clean and dry is the priority. Change your pad frequently — every 2–4 hours in the first days — even if it is not fully soaked, to maintain hygiene. Use a clean warm rinse with water after going to the toilet rather than wiping, which can be uncomfortable on healing tissue. Pat dry gently. A lightly chilled maternity pad can help reduce perineal swelling in the first day or two. Wear loose, comfortable underwear that holds the pad securely without rubbing the incision or sutures.
After a caesarean section
A caesarean section is abdominal surgery, and recovery involves both the wound site and postpartum bleeding. The lochia is the same as after a vaginal birth — your uterus sheds its lining in the same way. You still need maternity pads. Avoid anything with a tight waistband that sits on your incision; use high-waisted briefs that cover the scar or soft loose shorts, whichever is more comfortable. Keep your incision site clean and dry. Do not lift anything heavier than your baby for the first few weeks, and rest as much as possible.
When should I call my midwife or doctor?
Postpartum bleeding is normal, but certain signs need prompt medical attention. Contact your midwife or doctor if you soak more than one pad an hour for two or more consecutive hours; if you pass clots larger than a small coin; if you develop a fever above 38 °C (100.4 °F); if the discharge has a foul or unusually strong smell; if you feel faint, dizzy or short of breath; if bleeding had lightened and then becomes heavy again; or if you have unusual or severe pain. These may indicate a postpartum haemorrhage, infection or another complication that needs prompt care. When in doubt, call.
Common questions
How long does postpartum bleeding last?
Most women experience heavy lochia for the first 3–5 days, lightening to a pink or brownish discharge over 1–2 weeks and tapering off by 4–6 weeks. Some women have a light discharge for up to 8 weeks. If your bleeding is still heavy after the first week or returns heavily after lightening, contact your midwife or doctor.
Which Faytex pad is best after childbirth?
Faytex Maternity — an extra-large, extra-absorbent pad made without chemicals that could irritate healing postpartum tissue. Stock 2–3 packs for the first week. As lochia lightens (usually around week 2), you can transition to Faytex Classic.
Can I use regular sanitary pads after delivery?
Regular pads are often not absorbent enough for the first days of postpartum bleeding. A maternity pad like Faytex Maternity is larger and more absorbent, designed for heavy lochia. Once the flow lightens significantly — usually around week 2 — a regular pad may be adequate.
When should I be worried about postpartum bleeding?
Seek urgent help if you soak more than one pad per hour for 2 or more hours in a row; pass large clots; develop a fever, foul-smelling discharge or severe pain; feel faint or short of breath; or if heavy bleeding returns after lightening. These can be signs of a postpartum haemorrhage or infection — call your midwife or go to hospital.
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