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Postpartum recovery timeline: Stages & what to expect after birth

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Written by Dr. Kerry Krauss

Dr. Kerry Krauss

Dr. Kerry Krauss is a practicing board-certified OB-GYN who gained her MD from Thomas Jefferson University and completed her residency at Pennsylvania Hospital. Dr. Krauss currently serves as a Medical Director for Natural Cycles, where she helps advance the Natural Cycles mission of empowering women to take charge of their health. She was motivated to join Natural Cycles to help provide an effective non-invasive, non-hormonal birth control option to her patients. And after her own struggles with infertility and PCOS, she believes that Natural Cycles can help women struggling with these issues and learn about their own bodies.

Fact checked by Dr. Erica Brondolin PhD, Data Scientist at Natural Cycles

Dr. Erica Brondolin PhD

Dr. Erica Brondolin is an Italian physicist with a PhD in particle physics from the Technical University of Vienna. After a decade working at The European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), she's now a Data Scientist at Natural Cycles. Passionate about women's health, she has always been involved in initiatives dedicated to women's empowerment. She loves science, exploring new places, and biking around Geneva.

Last updated:

12 min read

Key Takeaways

  • The postpartum time period is often considered to be six weeks long, but recovery looks different for everyone. While the weeks directly after giving birth are a critical period, healing and adjustment can take several months to a year.
  • How long it takes to recover after giving birth can depend on a number of factors, including the kind of labor and delivery you had. 
  • Don’t forget to take care of yourself: It’s important to attend your postpartum appointments and talk to your doctor if you have questions about your situation.

Wondering what to expect in the weeks and months after giving birth? We’ll walk you through your postpartum recovery timeline, plus we’ll provide some tips on caring for your body and mind during this important period of change. Read on to learn more.

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