How many weeks after birth should you see a gynaecologist?
The organisational standard of perinatal care (consolidated text, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1140) says that your primary care (POZ) midwife tells you about the need to see an obstetrician once the postpartum period is over. According to the standard, the postpartum period lasts six weeks, so the check-up falls at the earliest around week 6 after the birth. Polish law does not set a latest date or a detailed scope for this visit.
The UK NICE guideline on postnatal care (NG194) recommends a health assessment by a doctor 6 to 8 weeks after the birth, and the NHS says the check should take place 6 to 8 weeks after your baby is born. In practice it makes sense to book an appointment between weeks 6 and 8. The timing is the same after a vaginal birth and after a caesarean.
Some tests have their own timing, so you may need to plan them separately or fit the visit around them:
- after gestational diabetes: a glucose tolerance test (75 g OGTT) 6-12 weeks after the birth, according to the Polish Diabetes Association,
- an overdue cervical screening test: according to the NHS, around 12 weeks after the birth,
- after high blood pressure in pregnancy or pre-eclampsia: a medical review 6-8 weeks after the birth according to NICE (NG133), and earlier too if you are still taking blood pressure medication.
Is the postnatal gynaecology visit free on the NFZ, and do you need a referral?
Yes, the visit is free at an obstetrics and gynaecology clinic that has a contract with the NFZ. You do not need a referral, because the act on publicly funded healthcare (art. 57(2)) exempts gynaecologist and obstetrician services from it. You can go to the doctor who looked after your pregnancy or to another clinic. NFZ clinics can have waiting times, so book while you are still in the postpartum period.
You can also have the visit privately. The scope of the check is the same; what usually differs is how long you wait for an appointment.
What does the postnatal check cover?
The perinatal care standard lists what the person caring for you assesses and records during the postpartum period: your general condition, how the uterus is contracting, postpartum bleeding (lochia), healing of the perineum or caesarean wound, breasts and lactation, bladder and bowel function, and your mental state. At the check-up, the doctor makes sure everything has returned to normal after the postpartum period. According to NICE and the NHS, the check usually includes:
- a conversation about your wellbeing and mood, including anxiety and how you feel about the birth,
- questions about bleeding and discharge and whether your periods have returned,
- a blood pressure check, especially if it was raised in pregnancy or after the birth,
- a look at your perineum after an episiotomy or tear, or at your caesarean scar, if something hurts or worries you; the doctor may also offer a gynaecological examination,
- questions about leaking urine, wind or stools and about pain during sex,
- a conversation about contraception and spacing before another pregnancy,
- questions about feeding and whether you need support.
Some tests depend on how your pregnancy went. Tell the doctor about any of these conditions, even if you think they have passed:
| If in pregnancy or at the birth you | What is usually checked after the birth | Source |
|---|---|---|
| had gestational diabetes | 75 g OGTT 6-12 weeks after the birth, then a test once a year | PTD 2026 |
| had gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia | blood pressure 6-8 weeks after the birth, and after pre-eclampsia also a urine test for protein | NICE NG133 |
| are treated for an underactive thyroid | usually a return to the pre-pregnancy dose and a TSH test about 6 weeks after the birth | American Thyroid Association |
| had a caesarean | scar healing, pain, signs of wound infection | NICE NG194, NHS |
| had an episiotomy or perineal tear | perineal healing, pain when sitting and during sex, questions about leaking wind and stools | NICE NG194, NHS |
How is the check-up after a caesarean different?
The timing and scope are the same as after a vaginal birth, and the doctor also looks at the scar and asks about pain around the wound. If stitches need removing, your POZ midwife does it earlier, because the standard lists this among her tasks during postnatal home visits. At the check-up, ask when you can go back to lifting, driving and exercise, because according to the NHS recovery after a caesarean takes longer and it is worth checking with a midwife or doctor before anything strenuous.
How the wound heals and what to avoid in the first weeks is covered in our article on recovery after a caesarean. If you are thinking about another pregnancy, ask the doctor about the recommended gap between births after a caesarean.
Is a smear test done at the postnatal check?
Not always. Since 1 August 2026, the main test in the free cervical cancer screening programme has been the HPV HR test, and liquid-based cytology is done from the same sample only if the HPV result is positive. The programme covers women aged 25-64. If the HPV HR test is negative and you have no risk factors, it is repeated every 5 years. You do not need a referral.
The perinatal care standard provides for a smear test at the start of pregnancy if one was not done in the 12 months before. If your test is due now or you did not have it in pregnancy, the NHS recommends moving an overdue test to 12 weeks after the birth. So at the visit in weeks 6-8 you can book a date for it.
The sample in the programme can be taken by a gynaecologist or by a midwife with the relevant certificate, including a POZ midwife at a clinic that has an NFZ contract for this test. Ask your POZ midwife whether she offers it.
How should you prepare for the check-up after the postpartum period?
The visit is usually short, so it helps to bring your documents and a written list of questions. Take with you:
- your pregnancy record card and hospital discharge summary,
- test results from pregnancy and the postpartum period, for example OGTT or TSH,
- a list of medicines and supplements you take, and whether you are breastfeeding,
- your blood pressure readings, if you measure it at home,
- questions about contraception, returning to sex and returning to exercise.
Questions about sex and exercise are completely normal at this visit. The NHS says there are no rules about when to start having sex again, but you can get pregnant as early as 3 weeks after the birth, even if you are breastfeeding and your periods have not returned. If sex hurts, tell the doctor. According to the NHS, after a straightforward birth you can start walking, gentle stretches and pelvic floor exercises as soon as you feel able. Before running or aerobics it is worth getting advice at the check-up, and for swimming wait until 7 days after your postnatal bleeding has stopped. If after 8 weeks you can still clearly feel a gap in your tummy muscles, mention this to the doctor too.
If you want to sort out your questions before the visit or talk about feeding and how you feel at home, you can discuss this with your POZ midwife or book a private postnatal midwife visit, also online. Details of contraception while breastfeeding are in a separate article.
How is the gynaecology visit different from the midwife's postnatal home visits?
| POZ midwife's postnatal home visits | Gynaecology check-up | |
|---|---|---|
| When | at least 4 visits in weeks 1-6 after the birth, the first within 48 hours of notification | after the postpartum period, usually in weeks 6-8 |
| Where | at home | at a gynaecology clinic |
| Who it is for | you and your baby | you |
| What it covers | the health of mother and baby, healing of the perineum or wound, removing stitches, feeding, newborn care, depression risk assessment in week 4, education | a review of the postpartum period, a gynaecological examination if needed, blood pressure, test results, contraception, referrals |
| Referral | no, the birth notification is enough | no |
The midwife's visits do not replace the doctor's check-up, but you can deal with many things with her earlier. According to the standard, the POZ midwife gives advice on preventing pelvic floor problems and on leaking urine, wind and stools, encourages postnatal exercise and provides education on the return of fertility and family planning methods. Rehabilitation on the NFZ needs a doctor's referral, so if you have such symptoms, raise them at the check-up. After the postnatal home visits end, your POZ midwife continues to look after you, including with breastfeeding.
A midwife also has limited rights to prescribe contraception. She does not fit coils or implants; a doctor does that. Details are in our article on contraception after birth.
When should you not wait for the check-up?
The visit in weeks 6-8 is a check-up, not your only chance to get help. NICE advises women who have given birth to seek medical advice without delay if any of these symptoms appear:
- sudden or very heavy vaginal bleeding, or bleeding that increases or does not stop,
- fever, shivering, pain in the abdomen, pelvis or perineum, or discharge with an unpleasant smell, which could mean an infection,
- swelling and pain in the calf or shortness of breath, which could mean a blood clot,
- chest pain,
- a severe or persistent headache; according to the NHS, pre-eclampsia can develop in the days or weeks after the birth and can also cause vision problems, pain below the ribs or sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet,
- reddening and swelling of the breasts that gets worse for more than 24 hours despite self-care.
With very heavy bleeding, shortness of breath, chest pain, a severe headache with vision problems or fainting, call 112 or go to the emergency department (SOR). If you have thoughts of harming yourself or that your baby would be better off without you, also call 112 or go to the admissions unit of a psychiatric hospital. Where to find help for postnatal depression is covered in a separate article.
Less urgent problems, for example perineal pain that does not go away, leaking urine or sadness lasting longer than two weeks, should be reported to your POZ midwife, or you can book an earlier gynaecology appointment. How long the postpartum period lasts and what is normal during it is covered in our article on the postpartum period.
