New Baby

GP 6 to 8 Week Postnatal Check

Around 6 to 8 weeks after you’ve had your baby, you’ll be offered an appointment with your GP. This is a chance to talk about your health, your baby’s health and any questions or concerns you have. It’s a good opportunity to check how you’re both recovering and adjusting after birth.

What will the appointment cover?

Every GP might do things slightly differently, but your check will usually include:

Your physical health and recovery from birth
Your mental health and emotional wellbeing
Your sexual health
Your baby’s health
Your future health

Top tips for your appointment

Write down any questions before your appointment so you don’t forget
You can download our checklist to help you decide what is important to you to talk about
Remember to take your baby’s red book with you

Dive Deeper

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You might still feel sore, tired or achy after giving birth – this is normal as your body heals. Pregnancy and childbirth cause a lot of physical changes. You may have had a straightforward birth and recovered quickly, or it may have been more complicated and taken longer.

Some things you could talk to your GP about include:

How you are feeling physically after birth (including any stitches, bleeding, or pain)
Your recovery after a Caesarean section or assisted birth
Any bladder, bowel or vaginal changes or worries (your pelvic health)
Your periods returning

Becoming a parent is a big life change and can bring a mix of emotions – joy, pride and sometimes worry or feeling overwhelmed. It’s common to have days where you feel low or tearful due to tiredness, hormones or worries about getting it right. If you find these feelings last more than a couple of weeks or feel intense, help is available.

Telling someone you are feeling low or anxious can mean you get the right help to stop it getting in the way of you doing the things you want and need to do.

You could talk to your GP about:

How you’re feeling emotionally and coping with the changes
Signs of low mood, anxiety or postnatal depression
Support options if you need them

It is up to you to decide when you feel ready to have sex after the birth of your baby. Feeling ready physically and emotionally will be different for everyone.

You can get pregnant again soon after birth, even before your first period. Unless you plan on having another baby straight away, it is important that you use contraception.

You could talk to your GP about:

Safe options for contraception after having a baby
When it’s safe to have sex again and what might feel different
When your next smear test is due

The GP will check your baby’s health at the same appointment. They will check your baby’s weight, length and head size. They’ll look at your baby’s movement, hearing, early development and they will repeat the Newborn Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) screening.

Your baby will likely have had a NIPE screening in hospital before you and your baby were discharged. This is a head-to-toe check focusing on your baby’s eyes, heart, hips and – for boys – the testicles. The examination is repeated now as some conditions may develop or can’t be picked up just after birth. If your baby was referred for extra checks at birth, the GP will confirm these have been completed too.

You can also ask about your baby’s general health and development. Common queries include feeding your baby, sleep and immunisations. You could talk to your GP about:

Your baby’s immunisations
Feeding your baby
Sleep
Any other health needs

Your GP can help you plan for your ongoing health and wellbeing. This might include checking any long-term health conditions and reviewing your medication.

If you’re thinking about having more children in the future, you can talk about pregnancy planning and any extra support you might need next time.

Your GP can also arrange referrals to other services, such as pelvic health physiotherapy, counselling, or specialist clinics, if you need further help. You could talk to your GP about:

Any ongoing medication needs
Planning for future pregnancies
Onward referrals – for instance to get support with your pelvic health or your mental health

Who Can Help?

If you feel worried and would like more advice you can speak to your midwife throughout your pregnancy and up to 28 days after the birth of your baby.

If you live in Norfolk

You can contact the Healthy Child Service team for advice and guidance by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting Parentline on 07520 631590. Our opening hours are 8am-6pm Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays).

If you live in Suffolk

You can contact the health visiting team by calling 0345 607 8866, texting 07312 277020 or emailing childrenshealth@suffolk.gov.uk. Our opening hours are 9am-5pm Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays).