Your uterus is returning to its usual size

After your baby is born, your uterus begins a real recovery process. In the first few days, it remains quite large, and it is normal to be able to feel it at around the level of your belly button. Over the following weeks, it will gradually shrink in size until it returns to its pre-pregnancy size.

During this process, there will be some vaginal bleeding, called lochia. In the first few days, it is usually heavier and bright red. As the weeks go by, it will decrease, gradually becoming brownish, pinkish, and finally whitish. For many women, this bleeding stops between 3 and 6 weeks after giving birth.

If you are breastfeeding, you might notice that during or just after a feed, your uterus seems to contract and the flow of lochia increases slightly. This happens because breastfeeding stimulates the release of oxytocin, a hormone that helps the uterus contract and recover more quickly. This is a completely natural process and, after a few minutes, the flow should return to normal.

When should you contact a healthcare professional? If the lochia suddenly becomes very heavy, you notice large clots, it has an unpleasant smell, or if you have a fever, you should seek medical advice, as these can be signs of a complication that needs treatment.

Your uterus spent about nine months growing to hold your baby. Now, day by day, it is returning to its usual size. Every contraction is a small step in this recovery process.