Your postnatal health appointment - PDF preparation checklist
This checklist helps you prepare a conversation about your health after birth and further support. It is not for diagnosing conditions and does not replace earlier contacts or an individual plan. Agree the timing and scope of care locally; do not wait for a routine appointment if you have worrying symptoms.
Care is more than one appointment
A routine health review is part of care that begins soon after birth. It does not replace earlier contacts or later follow-up. Who leads the appointment, when it happens and which checks it includes depend on your country and situation. Your care remains important if your baby is in hospital or you have experienced a loss.
You do not have to prove you are coping
Say what hurts or makes everyday life difficult, even if it feels embarrassing. Emotions, sleep, anxiety and the birth experience belong in a health conversation. Describe how you feel rather than diagnosing yourself. Ask about available support and whether further assessment is needed. If you wish, ask to have part of the conversation without your companion.
Readiness for activity has no single date
An appointment is not automatic clearance for every workout or an obligation to resume sex. The type of birth, healing, symptoms and your readiness matter. Ask about a gradual return to activity and any assessment needed before greater exertion; report pain during sex. Fertility can return before your period, including while breastfeeding, so discuss contraception before you need it.
Leave with a clear next step
Ask for an explanation of recommendations, how results will be shared and when the next contact should be. Note where to get help on days when services are closed and if your condition suddenly worsens. If symptoms worry you, do not wait to complete the card. Tell healthcare staff when you gave birth, including when seeking help outside maternity care.
Preparation checklist
Arrange contact and prepare information
- Confirm the date, place and professional; check where to get help sooner and outside clinic hours.
- Prepare your discharge summary, available results and a list of medicines and supplements; highlight advice following complications.
- Note symptoms, when they began and changes: pain, bleeding, wound healing and difficulty passing urine or stools.
- Choose your main questions; arrange care for your baby, travel and any need for an interpreter or support person.
Discuss your body and wellbeing
- Say what makes daily life, sleep and rest difficult; describe emotions, anxiety and difficult memories of the birth too.
- Discuss healing after birth, difficulty controlling urine or stools and pain during sex; include intimate concerns.
- Ask about feeding support and breast problems; say how your current feeding method affects your wellbeing.
- Discuss returning to activity, pain during sex and contraception; the appointment date alone does not mean readiness for every activity.
Record the ongoing care plan
- Ask which tests, reviews or referrals you need; do not assume there is one set for everyone.
- Agree who shares results, how to check recommendations and when to make contact again.
- Note which changes need earlier help and who to contact outside the routine appointment.
- Agree practical support at home and help for mental health; add a next step if problems persist.
Questions to discuss with a professional
- What needs further assessment, and what is my care plan?
- What support can I get for recovery, emotions and feeding?
- Who should I contact if symptoms change, and how quickly?
Frequently asked questions
Should I wait for my appointment if something worries me?
No. Contact your care team sooner. Warning symptoms need immediate help, regardless of the appointment date.
Does my baby's check replace my appointment?
No. These are different health needs. Even if appointments are combined, confirm that time is planned for your physical health and emotions too.
Does everyone need the same tests?
No. Your care team decides the scope based on pregnancy and birth, symptoms and earlier advice. The checklist is not a referral or a set of compulsory tests.
Private questions and appointment notes
Print and complete by hand. Record only necessary questions and arrangements. This is a personal conversation aid, not a medical form or treatment plan.
- Date, place and professional
- My main questions
- Pain, worries or difficulties in everyday life
- Emotions, sleep and support I want to ask about
- Feeding, activity, sex and contraception - questions
- Results and recommendations to discuss
- Next step and further contact
- Where to get help sooner and outside clinic hours
Keep the card private and do not publish a photo of it. Keep recommendations and medical records separately. The card does not replace direct contact when symptoms worry you.
How to use this checklist
Tick the points you have discussed or prepared and add your own arrangements. Ticking a box does not confirm safety, health status or completion of a medical procedure. Revisit the checklist as your family's needs change.
Sources and updates
- NHS - Your 6-week postnatal check
- Health Service Executive (HSE) - Postnatal check-up
- World Health Organization (WHO) - WHO urges quality care for women and newborns in critical first weeks after childbirth
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HEAR HER Campaign - Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms
- NHS - Keeping fit and healthy with a baby
- NHS - Sex and contraception after birth