Medically reviewed content. Last updated: April 2026.
Medically reviewed content. Last updated: April 2026.
Around six to eight weeks after birth, you will be invited for a postnatal check with your GP. This appointment is your chance to have your physical and emotional recovery assessed, discuss contraception, and raise anything that has been worrying you. This guide explains what to expect so you can make the most of it.
The weeks after birth are focused almost entirely on the baby. Midwife and health visitor appointments centre on feeding, weight gain, and your baby's development. The six-week check is one of the few appointments that is specifically about you.
It is an opportunity to check that your body is healing well, screen for postnatal depression and anxiety, discuss contraception (you can become pregnant again very quickly, even before your periods return), address any ongoing issues from pregnancy or birth, and get referrals for further support if needed.
NICE recommends that all people who have given birth are offered a postnatal check at six to eight weeks.
Your GP will ask about your general health and recovery. They may check your blood pressure (especially important if you had pre-eclampsia or gestational hypertension during pregnancy), your caesarean wound or perineal healing if relevant, any ongoing pain or discomfort, and bladder and bowel function (including any incontinence).
If you had a caesarean section, your GP will check that the wound is healing well and that there are no signs of infection. If you had stitches from a tear or episiotomy, they will ask whether you are comfortable and whether the area has healed.
Your GP should ask about your emotional wellbeing. This may include formal screening using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) or the PHQ-9 questionnaire, or it may be a more general conversation about how you are coping.
Be honest. This is not a test, and there are no wrong answers. If you are struggling with low mood, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, difficulty bonding, or feeling overwhelmed beyond the normal adjustment period, saying so is the first step towards getting support. Your GP can refer you for talking therapy, prescribe medication if appropriate, or connect you with specialist perinatal mental health services.
Even if family planning feels like the last thing on your mind, your GP will want to discuss contraception. Ovulation can return before your first period, so if you do not want to become pregnant again straight away, starting contraception early is important.
Options available at six weeks include the progesterone-only pill (safe while breastfeeding), the implant (can be fitted at this appointment), the coil (IUD or IUS, can be fitted from four weeks postpartum), the contraceptive injection, condoms, and the combined pill (if you are not breastfeeding and have no risk factors for blood clots).
Your GP can discuss which option suits your circumstances. If you are breastfeeding, progesterone-only methods are generally recommended, as oestrogen-containing contraceptives can affect milk supply.
If you had gestational diabetes, your GP should arrange a fasting blood glucose or HbA1c test to check that your blood sugar has returned to normal. This should be done at six to thirteen weeks postpartum, with annual screening recommended afterwards, as previous GD increases your long-term risk of type 2 diabetes.
If you had pre-eclampsia, your blood pressure should be monitored and a plan made for ongoing checks if it has not fully normalised.
If you were anaemic during pregnancy, your iron levels may be rechecked.
Your baby usually has their six-week check at the same appointment (or a separate one with the same GP). This includes a general physical examination, checking the heart for murmurs, examining the hips for developmental dysplasia, checking the eyes for cataracts or other abnormalities, checking testicular descent in boys, reviewing growth and weight gain, and discussing feeding and development.
Your baby's first vaccinations are also due at eight weeks (booked separately with the practice nurse).
Six-week check appointments are often short (10 to 15 minutes), so preparation helps.
Write a list of questions in advance. It is easy to forget what you wanted to ask once you are in the room. Common questions include how your recovery is progressing, when you can resume exercise, sex, or driving (after a caesarean), and whether ongoing symptoms like incontinence or pain need investigation.
Be honest about how you are feeling. If you are struggling, this is the time to say so. Your GP cannot help with what they do not know about.
Ask for referrals if needed. If you have pelvic floor issues, a referral to a women's health physiotherapist can be life-changing. If you are struggling emotionally, ask about NHS Talking Therapies or perinatal mental health support.
Raise anything you are not sure about. There is no such thing as a silly question at this appointment. Whether it is about a symptom, your scar, your mood, or your sex life, your GP has heard it before.
In some areas, the postnatal check is not proactively offered, or it may get lost in the system during a busy period. If you have not been contacted by eight weeks after birth, call your GP surgery and book it yourself. You are entitled to this appointment, and it matters.
The weeks after birth are focused almost entirely on the baby. Midwife and health visitor appointments centre on feeding, weight gain, and your baby's development. The six-week check is one of the few appointments that is specifically about you.
### Your physical recovery
Six-week check appointments are often short (10 to 15 minutes), so preparation helps.
In some areas, the postnatal check is not proactively offered, or it may get lost in the system during a busy period. If you have not been contacted by eight weeks after birth, call your GP surgery and book it yourself. You are entitled to this appointment, and it matters.
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