Postpartum calculator: how many weeks postpartum am I?

Enter your baby’s birth date to see exactly how far you are into the postpartum period, the date of your postnatal check, and what’s typical for recovery week by week. Nothing is saved or sent.

Baby’s date of birth

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How to use it

Postpartum recovery timeline

Typical postpartum recovery timeline
When	What’s typical
Days 1–3	Bleeding (lochia) is heaviest: dark red, possibly with small clots, but it should soak less than one maxi pad every 2 hours.
First 2 weeks	Bleeding lightens and turns brownish to pink; after about day 10 discharge becomes yellowish-white or brown.
By 3 weeks	ACOG recommends contact with your care provider. Fertility can return from 3 weeks — you can get pregnant before your first period.
2–6 weeks	Lochia usually stops within this window. Call your provider if it lasts longer than 6 weeks, doesn’t lessen or smells bad.
4–9 weeks	If you’re not breastfeeding, periods usually return in this window. Exclusive breastfeeding often delays them.
6–8 weeks	NHS postnatal check: mood, bleeding, healing of stitches or a caesarean wound, blood pressure if needed, contraception and feeding.
By 8 weeks	Separated tummy muscles usually come back together; see your GP if the gap is still obvious at 8 weeks.
By 12 weeks	The “fourth trimester” ends. ACOG recommends a comprehensive postpartum visit no later than 12 weeks after birth.

Get urgent help for very heavy bleeding (soaking a pad in an hour or less), large clots, a high temperature, severe tummy pain, a severe headache or vision problems, chest pain or breathlessness, a painful swollen leg, or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. Call your emergency number or local maternity service.

Recovery is different for everyone

These timings are typical, not targets. Recovery after a caesarean, a difficult birth or a premature birth often takes longer, and it’s common to feel low or anxious in the first weeks. Talk to your midwife, health visitor or doctor about anything that worries you — you don’t need to wait for your check. If your baby arrived early, track their milestones with the corrected age calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How many weeks postpartum am I?

Count from the day your baby was born: the calculator shows the exact weeks and days. The day of birth is day 0, so one week later you are 1 week postpartum.

When is the 6-week postnatal check?

In the UK the NHS postnatal check is due 6 to 8 weeks after the birth. In the US, ACOG recommends contact with your care provider within the first 3 weeks and a full postpartum visit no later than 12 weeks after birth.

How long does bleeding last after birth?

Bleeding and discharge (lochia) usually last about 2 to 6 weeks, starting dark red and becoming lighter, brownish-pink and then yellowish-white. Contact your provider if it doesn’t lessen, smells bad, or lasts longer than 6 weeks.

When will my period come back?

If you’re not breastfeeding, periods usually return about 4 to 9 weeks after the birth. If you’re exclusively breastfeeding they may not return for months. You can ovulate before your first period.

How soon can I get pregnant after giving birth?

You can get pregnant as soon as 3 weeks after the birth, even if you’re breastfeeding and your periods haven’t returned. Use contraception if you don’t want another pregnancy; it’s usually recommended to wait at least 12 months before becoming pregnant again.

Sources

Last meaningfully updated: 2026-10-20.