The 6-week postnatal check

Around six weeks after birth, you’ll usually have a postnatal check with your GP — an important appointment that’s easy to deprioritise when you’re knee-deep in newborn life, but well worth keeping. It’s a chance to make sure you are healing and supported, not just the baby.

Physically, your GP may check how your body is recovering: that your bleeding has settled, any stitches or caesarean wound have healed, your blood pressure (especially if you had high blood pressure in pregnancy), and how your pelvic floor and tummy are doing. It’s the time to raise anything that doesn’t feel right — pain, leaking, ongoing bleeding, or anything you’re unsure about.

It’s also a key check on your emotional wellbeing. Your GP will often ask how you’re really coping, and may use a simple questionnaire to screen for postnatal depression and anxiety. Be honest — this is exactly the moment to mention if you’re struggling; it’s common and very treatable.

Contraception usually comes up too, which can feel surprising so soon — but it’s possible to fall pregnant again before your periods return, even while breastfeeding, so it’s worth discussing your options if you’re not ready for that.

Come to the appointment with a list, because “newborn brain” is real and it’s easy to forget what you wanted to ask. Jot down questions as they crop up in the weeks beforehand — about your recovery, feeding, exercise, sex, mood, anything at all.

Two things are worth knowing around this check. First, you don’t have to wait for it — if something’s wrong before six weeks (heavy bleeding, signs of infection, low mood, pain), see your GP sooner. Second, sex often comes up: there’s no set timetable, and it’s fine to wait until you feel ready, physically and emotionally. When you do, going slowly and using lubricant helps (breastfeeding can make things drier), and persistent pain is worth raising rather than quietly enduring. If your cervical screening is due, your GP may do it at this visit or arrange it soon after. Think of the appointment as your dedicated time to ask the awkward questions — nothing you raise will surprise them.

Your baby has their own separate checks with your GP and child health nurse, including immunisations around six to eight weeks. But this appointment is for you — please don’t skip it, even if you feel fine. You matter in this too.