🍼 After birth
The fourth trimester and beyond — baby's checks, screenings, immunisations and milestones, and your own recovery, all the way to 18 months. Timings follow Australian guidance; your care team's plan comes first.
👶 This timeline comes to life once baby arrives — set the birth date in Settings and the “you are here” marker and timings switch on.
💲 Cost notes are rough guides for the public / Medicare pathway (2025–26). Immunisations and child-health nurse visits are free; the Maternal & Child Health visit schedule varies by state.
-
First days
Birth–1 week · checks, first feeds, and finding your feet
- 🩺 First checks & skin-to-skin At birth
Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes, a top-to-toe newborn examination, and — where you can — unhurried skin-to-skin and a first feed.
👶 Baby💲 Part of your birth care ($0 in the public system).
- 💉 Vitamin K + hepatitis B (birth dose) At birth
A vitamin K injection (or oral doses) to prevent rare bleeding, and the first hepatitis B vaccine — ideally within 24 hours of birth.
👶 Baby💲 Free under the National Immunisation Program.
- 🩺 Newborn examination Day 1
A doctor or midwife checks baby head to toe — heart, hips, eyes, reflexes — usually in the first day or two.
👶 Baby💲 Part of your hospital care ($0 in the public system).
- 🌿 Early caesarean recovery First days
Caesarean birth is major surgery — expect a longer hospital stay (usually 2–5 days). The catheter comes out within a day, gentle early walking helps prevent clots, and trapped 'wind' pain is common at first.
🤱 Mum - 🧪 Newborn bloodspot screening (heel prick) 48–72 hours
A few drops of blood from baby's heel, screening for 25+ rare but serious conditions. Offered to every baby; you'll only hear back if something needs follow-up.
👶 Baby💲 Free — offered to every newborn.
- 🧪 Newborn hearing screen 48–72 hours
A quick, painless hearing check, usually before you leave hospital.
👶 Baby💲 Free — offered to every newborn.
- 🍼 Milk comes in Day 3–5
Around day 3–5 your milk 'comes in' and breasts feel fuller. Frequent feeds (8–12 a day) are normal and help supply settle. Help is a phone call away.
👪 Both💲 Breastfeeding Helpline 1800 686 268 (free, 24/7).
- 🩺 Weight & jaundice check First days
A little weight loss in the first days then steady regain is normal. Midwives also watch for jaundice (yellow skin/eyes) — see Warning signs if it deepens or starts in the first 24 hours.
👶 Baby💲 Part of your postnatal care ($0 in the public system).
- 🍼 Comfortable feeding after a caesarean First days
Keep baby's weight off your wound — side-lying, or the rugby/football hold with a pillow, works well. Milk sometimes comes in a touch later after a caesarean, so extra early support helps.
👪 Both - 🌿 Bleeding (lochia) First weeks
Vaginal bleeding is normal for 2–6 weeks, fading red → pink → brown (yes, after a caesarean too — it's the uterus, not the wound). Soaking a pad an hour, or passing large clots, is not — that's a call-now sign.
🤱 Mum - 🌿 Caesarean wound care First week
A waterproof dressing covers the wound for a few days (you can shower with it on). Once it's off, wash gently, pat dry and let it air. Watch for fever, spreading redness or smelly discharge — see Warning signs.
🤱 Mum -
Fourth trimester
Weeks 1–6 · recovery, the home visits, the 6-week check
- 🩺 Maternal & Child Health home visit Week 1–2
Your first child-health nurse contact — often a home visit in the first week or two. Weight, feeding, your recovery and how you're both settling.
👶 Baby💲 Free state-run child-health service (until school age).
- ✨ Cord stump falls off Around 1–2 weeks
The dried umbilical stump usually drops off within a couple of weeks. Keep it clean and dry until it does.
👶 Baby - 🩺 MCH nurse check 2 weeks
A weigh-in and check of feeding, growth and development, with time for your questions.
👶 Baby💲 Free state-run child-health service.
- 🌿 Take it easy while you heal First 6 weeks
For about 6 weeks: don't lift anything heavier than baby, and don't drive until you can brake hard without sharp pain (usually 4–6 weeks — check your car insurer too). No strenuous exercise yet; gentle walking is good.
🤱 Mum - 🌿 Perineum healing First weeks
Any tear or stitches heal over the first weeks. Rest, keep the area clean, ice early on, and flag pain that worsens, swelling or any smell — those can signal infection.
🤱 Mum - 🍼 Feeding support First 6 weeks
Breast or bottle, it gets easier with support. A lactation consultant, your MCH nurse, or the Breastfeeding Helpline can all help.
👪 Both💲 MCH & helpline are free; a private lactation consultant is ~$100–200.
- ✨ First social smile ~6 weeks
Somewhere around 6 weeks, baby's first real smile in response to your face.
👶 Baby - 💉 6-week immunisations 6 weeks
Six diseases in one needle (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hep B, polio and Hib), plus rotavirus (a liquid by mouth), pneumococcal and meningococcal B.
👶 Baby💲 Free under the National Immunisation Program.
- 🩺 6-week postnatal check 6 weeks
Your check-up — blood pressure, healing, mood, and a chat about contraception and any concerns. Baby is often seen and weighed at the same visit.
🤱 Mum💲 Bulk-billed by many GPs; some charge a gap.
- 💙 How you're feeling Around 6 weeks
You'll be asked about your mood (often the EPDS questionnaire). Feeling low, anxious or disconnected is common and very treatable — talk to your GP or nurse, or call PANDA on 1300 726 306.
🤱 Mum💲 PANDA & your MCH nurse are free.
- 🌿 Pelvic floor & moving again From ~6 weeks
Restart pelvic-floor exercises once you're comfortable, and ease back into activity. If leaking persists, ask about a women's-health physio.
🤱 Mum -
Settling in
6 weeks–4 months · a rhythm forms; the 4-month needles
- 🩺 MCH nurse check 6–8 weeks
Growth, development and feeding reviewed, and a chance to raise anything on your mind.
👶 Baby💲 Free state-run child-health service.
- 🌿 The longer recovery arc ~3 months
Most women feel recovered from a caesarean around 3 months. Numbness or an odd sensation around the scar is normal and usually fades over 3–6 months.
🤱 Mum - ✨ Steadier head control ~3 months
Holds their head up more steadily during tummy time and pushes up on their arms.
👶 Baby - 💉 4-month immunisations 4 months
The second round — the same six-in-one needle, rotavirus, pneumococcal and meningococcal B.
👶 Baby💲 Free under the National Immunisation Program.
- 🩺 MCH nurse check 4 months
A key ages-and-stages visit — weight, length, head circumference and development.
👶 Baby💲 Free state-run child-health service.
-
Getting bigger
4–6 months · rolling, sitting, and first tastes of solids
- ✨ Rolling over ~4–6 months
May start rolling front-to-back and back-to-front. Never leave baby unattended up high.
👶 Baby - ✨ First tooth (maybe) ~6 months
First teeth often appear around 6 months — though anywhere from 3 to 12 months is normal.
👶 Baby - 🍼 Starting solids ~6 months
Around 6 months, alongside breast/formula milk, baby is usually ready to try solids — including common allergens, introduced early and often.
👶 Baby - 💉 6-month immunisations 6 months
The third six-in-one needle (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hep B, polio, Hib). Some babies also get extra pneumococcal or meningococcal B doses — your nurse will know.
👶 Baby💲 Free under the National Immunisation Program.
- ✨ Sitting up ~6–8 months
Sits with support, then unaided, freeing their hands to explore.
👶 Baby -
On the move
6–12 months · crawling, babbling, the 12-month needles
- 🩺 MCH nurse check 8 months
Development, hearing, vision and safety reviewed as baby gets more mobile.
👶 Baby💲 Free state-run child-health service.
- ✨ Babbling & crawling ~8–10 months
Strings sounds together ('bababa') and may start to crawl, shuffle or pull up to stand.
👶 Baby - ✨ First words & standing ~12 months
Pulls up to stand, cruises the furniture, waves, and may say a first word or two.
👶 Baby - 💉 12-month immunisations 12 months
Meningococcal ACWY, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), pneumococcal and meningococcal B.
👶 Baby💲 Free under the National Immunisation Program.
- 🩺 MCH nurse check 12 months
A first-birthday review of growth, development, feeding and safety.
👶 Baby💲 Free state-run child-health service.
-
Toward toddlerhood
12–18 months · first steps, first words, the 18-month needles
- ✨ First steps ~12–18 months
First wobbly steps land anywhere across this window — every baby on their own timeline.
👶 Baby - 💉 18-month immunisations 18 months
Hib, MMRV (adds chickenpox), and a whooping-cough (DTPa) booster.
👶 Baby💲 Free under the National Immunisation Program.
- 🩺 MCH nurse check 18 months
Language, play and movement reviewed as baby becomes a toddler.
👶 Baby💲 Free state-run child-health service.
A reference only — not medical advice. Sources: the National Immunisation Program schedule, Healthdirect, Pregnancy Birth & Baby and the Raising Children Network.