Recovery by week
Postpartum recovery, week by week
Twelve weeks, one page each. What tends to be happening physically, what is most worth attending to, and what movement is generally appropriate at that point — which is not the same after a caesarean as after a vaginal birth.
General guidance, not medical advice. Follow your own provider’s clearance. Read our Medical Disclaimer and Editorial Policy.
Week 1 · Gentle Beginnings
The heaviest week, and the one to sleep through
Week 2 · Gentle Beginnings
Bleeding lightens and the first stitches start to go
Week 3 · Initial Healing
The first noticeably better day
Week 4 · Initial Healing
One month, and the end of bleeding for many
Week 5 · Initial Healing
Quiet consolidation before the six-week check
Week 6 · Initial Healing
The postnatal check, which is a milestone and not a finish line
Week 7 · Recovery Progress
After clearance, adding one thing at a time
Week 8 · Recovery Progress
Light cardio, and the first direct core work
Week 9 · Recovery Progress
Consistency beats intensity
Week 10 · Recovery Progress
Load tolerance improves, impact still waits
Week 11 · Recovery Progress
The last week of the fourth trimester
Week 12 · Recovery Progress
Twelve weeks, and what comes after