Day 5 with your newborn
Your body is recovering 🌿
Your body is doing quiet, important work: healing, contracting the uterus, regulating hormones, and producing milk or adapting after birth.
Rest is productive today. Lying down, eating, drinking, and accepting help are not luxuries; they are part of recovery.
How you might feel
How you might feel
Bleeding should gradually reduce, though it can increase briefly after standing, feeding, or doing more. Passing large clots, soaking pads quickly, fever, or feeling very unwell needs urgent advice.
Today's tip
Today's tip
If you can, spend part of the day in bed or on the sofa with everything you need nearby. Recovery is easier when you are not constantly getting up.
Coming up
Coming up
Soon your milk may come in, emotions may intensify, and the first week may feel more real. Support matters now.
Checks and key dates around now
- Register the birthWithin 42 days in England and Wales
This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice. Talk to your midwife, health visitor or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby has a high temperature, isn't feeding or is unusually sleepy, or you're worried about your own bleeding, pain or mood, get advice straight away from NHS 111 or your GP. In an emergency, call 999.