In 60 seconds
What to know now
- The first week is for protecting recovery, checking feeding and weight in context, and noticing infection or mental-health warning signs.
- Bleeding should be discussed if it becomes heavier again, smells unpleasant, contains very large clots or comes with faintness or fever.
- A safe sleep space and a realistic night-care plan matter more than trying to establish a rigid newborn routine.
What you may notice
Your recovery and mind
Perineal or caesarean wounds should be getting no worse; opening, discharge, spreading redness, fever or escalating pain needs review.
Breast or chest redness, a painful hard area, fever or flu-like symptoms may need feeding support and clinical assessment without delay.
What is happening
Baby care and development
Feeding effectiveness is judged with the baby's examination, weight pattern, output and behaviour—not by feed length alone.
Keep the baby's face and head uncovered during sleep and avoid sofas or armchairs when an adult may fall asleep holding them.
A short checklist
What to do now
- Prepare one-handed food, drinks, medicines and care supplies where the parent usually rests.
- Ask for hands-on feeding help when there is pain, clicking, repeated slipping off, very long feeds or concern about intake.
- Choose one protected rest period and assign another adult to non-feeding care and household decisions.
Pause and check
What not to do—or what to ask first
- Do not dismiss intense sadness, panic, agitation, confusion or frightening thoughts as something every new parent must tolerate.
- Ask before restarting driving, strenuous exercise, tampons, penetrative sex or wound-submerging baths after complications or surgery.
What may be coming up
Appointments, tests and decisions
At the one-week contact, bring unresolved discharge questions and ask what parent and newborn follow-up happens next.
For the support person
One useful thing a partner can do
- Create uninterrupted opportunities for sleep and food, screen visitors, clean feeding equipment as directed and make the call when help is needed.
Contact your care team
Contact your doctor or maternity team promptly
Some concerns need advice before the next routine appointment even when they do not feel like an emergency. If a symptom becomes severe, sudden or frightening, use urgent care instead.
See when to contact careUrgent or emergency
Urgent signs during pregnancy or within a year after birth
Get medical care immediately for these symptoms. The list is not exhaustive; if something feels seriously wrong, seek help.
Open urgent warning signs