Your six-week postnatal check-up

Around six to eight weeks after the birth of your baby, you should arrange for a postnatal check-up with your GP, unless you have been offered an appointment to return to the hospital or midwifery unit where you gave birth. Along with ensuring that you are feeling well and recovering properly from your birth experience, this is also a great opportunity to introduce your baby to the GP as well as discuss any questions or problems you may have. It may help to write a list of questions beforehand to take along so that you don't forget what you need to ask.

About the check-up

There are no UK wide guidelines on what should happen at this check-up. Traditionally, it was scheduled six weeks after your baby was born and was nearly always done by a GP, although in some areas it may be done by a midwife. However, when the baby immunisation schedule was changed, some GPs changed mum's postnatal check to eight weeks to coincide with baby's first visit to the GP.

What’s covered at the check-up?

The check-up should consist of questions on the following issues:

• Your lochia (the discharge you have after birth) - is it still there or not and how heavy is it?
• Your breasts – if you are breastfeeding, is it going well? Do you need any support? Do you have any symptoms you are not sure about?
• Your perineum - does it feel OK? Did you have any stitches and if so does it feel as if it has healed?
• If you had a caesarean, has the scar healed well?
• Your bladder - have you got good bladder control back?
• Your general wellbeing - how have the first few weeks been for you? Are you coping OK? Do you feel you need extra support?
• Contraception should always be discussed at this check so now is the time to ask what your options are.
• Anything else which is causing you concern.

Traditionally new mum's would have a vaginal examination at this check to make sure the womb has gone back to its previous size. However, it is now recommended that this examination is only done if she is experiencing problems.

Further information

NCT's helpline offers practical and emotional support in all areas of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood: 0300 330 0700.

You might find attending one of NCT's Early Days groups helpful as they give you the opportunity to explore different approaches to important parenting issues with a qualified group leader and other new parents in your area.

Make friends with other parents-to-be and new parents in your local area for support and friendship by seeing what NCT activities are happening nearby.