Your Six-Week Postnatal Check: What It's For and What to Ask

What the six-week check is actually for

The six-week postnatal check exists because the weeks after birth involve real physical and emotional change, and it's easy for smaller concerns to get pushed aside once you're focused on a new baby. Under NICE's postnatal care guideline, this window covers routine care for both you and your baby, including spotting and managing health problems that can develop after birth.

In practice, this usually means a GP appointment focused mainly on you, sometimes alongside a separate check for your baby. It's a dedicated slot to talk about how your body is healing, how you're feeling emotionally, contraception, and how feeding is going, rather than a quick tick-box visit.

Physical recovery: what's worth raising

Recovery after birth looks different for everyone, and the six-week check is a natural point to ask about anything that still feels unresolved, whether that's from a vaginal birth or a caesarean. It's fine to raise something even if it feels minor or you're not sure it's worth mentioning.

• How stitches, tears or a caesarean scar are healing, and whether ongoing soreness is expected
• Whether your bleeding pattern sounds within the usual range for this stage
• Bladder control, including any leaking when you cough, laugh or move suddenly, since pelvic floor exercises don't always fully resolve this on their own
• Tummy muscles and any doming or gap you've noticed, especially if you're planning to return to exercise
• Ongoing tiredness, pain or anything that simply doesn't feel right to you

Mood and emotional wellbeing

This appointment is also a chance to talk honestly about how you're coping emotionally, not just physically. Many parents find it easier to describe practical symptoms than to say they're finding things harder than expected, but the check is designed to make space for both.

If you'd rather talk mood through with someone you already know, your health visitor is another route in, and they can also point you towards local groups or support. For more general reading between appointments, our journal at /blog covers postnatal wellbeing topics you might find useful to think through beforehand.

Contraception and periods

It's possible to become pregnant again from as early as three weeks after birth, even if you're breastfeeding and your periods haven't returned, which is why contraception is a standard part of this check. It's worth thinking in advance about what matters to you, whether that's compatibility with breastfeeding, convenience, or simply understanding your options properly.

This is also a good moment to ask about anything related to periods returning or using tampons again, since NHS guidance suggests waiting until after this check before using them, to allow the site where the placenta was attached time to heal.

Feeding questions worth bringing

Feeding, whether breast, bottle or a mix, often throws up questions that feel too small to mention elsewhere. The six-week check is a reasonable place to ask general questions about how feeding is settling, any discomfort you're experiencing, or where to get more specialist support if things aren't going smoothly.

If a feeding concern feels more specific or urgent, your midwife, health visitor or GP practice are all appropriate people to speak to sooner rather than waiting for this appointment.

Preparing your own list of questions

Appointments can move quickly, and it's common to leave thinking of the one thing you meant to ask. Writing questions down beforehand, even roughly, makes it far more likely you'll actually raise them, and it's a habit that's genuinely encouraged rather than seen as overpreparing.

• Keep a running note on your phone in the days before the appointment
• Group questions loosely under recovery, mood, contraception and feeding so nothing gets missed
• Note down anything that's been bothering you even if it feels minor
• Mention if English isn't your first language, since support may be available
• Ask for anything explained again if you don't fully follow it, or ask for it in writing