6-Week Postpartum Checkup - Everything You Need to Know
Six weeks after giving birth, it's time for an important follow-up appointment. This is your opportunity to check that your body is healing as it should, talk about how you're really doing, and ask all the questions you've been accumulating.
You are entitled to a free checkup 4–6 weeks after birth with a midwife or your general practitioner. But you need to book it yourself.
What Is the 6-Week Checkup?
The 6-week checkup, or postpartum follow-up, is an examination that primarily focuses on you as the person who gave birth. It is about your physical and mental health after birth.
According to the Norwegian Health Directorate, the checkup is recommended 4–8 weeks after birth. The timing should be assessed based on your health condition and needs.
You can choose whether to have the checkup with your general practitioner or a midwife, unless there are medical reasons it should take place in a specific setting.
If you experienced complications during pregnancy such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or infection, you should have the checkup with your general practitioner.
What Is Examined for the Mother?
According to the Norwegian Health Directorate's guidelines, the postpartum checkup should be based on the discharge summary from the maternity ward, circumstances during pregnancy, and your individual needs.
Physical Examination
- Blood pressure and blood values - checking that everything has returned to normal
- Uterus - checking that it has contracted back to its normal size
- Pelvic examination - assessment of healing after a tear or episiotomy
- Cesarean scar - checking that the wound is healing properly after a cesarean section
- Rectus diastasis - assessment of any increased separation between the abdominal muscles