The 6-week postnatal check is a key appointment offered by NHS GPs to all mothers and their babies following birth. Despite its name, it often happens anywhere between 6 and 8 weeks after the birth, and some practices now separate the mother's and baby's checks into two different appointments. Understanding what to expect can help you make the most of what is often a brief but important consultation.
The 6-week check has two distinct components: an assessment of the mother's physical and mental health recovery after birth, and an examination of the baby as part of the NHS Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) programme.
Both components are important, and both are often compressed into a short appointment. Coming prepared — with questions written down and issues you want to raise thought through in advance — helps ensure nothing important is missed.
Your GP will typically review your recovery from any birth-related physical issues. The specific elements examined vary between GPs and practices, but commonly include:
Perineal and abdominal healing: If you had stitches after a tear or episiotomy, your GP will check whether healing has progressed normally. If you had a caesarean section, they will check the scar. This is a good time to raise any concerns about ongoing perineal pain, discomfort during sex (even if you have not attempted it yet), prolapse symptoms, or issues with bladder or bowel function.
Blood pressure: Postpartum hypertension can develop in the weeks following birth even in women who did not have it during pregnancy. If you had hypertension during pregnancy (including pre-eclampsia), monitoring will be particularly important.
Anaemia: If you had significant blood loss during birth, your GP may check or review blood results. If you have been experiencing unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, or dizziness, mention these as they may indicate ongoing anaemia requiring iron supplementation.
Contraception: Your GP will usually ask about your plans for contraception. It is worth knowing that you can ovulate before your first postnatal period — as early as 3 weeks after birth if not breastfeeding — so contraception is relevant even if you have not yet had a period.
Thyroid function: Postpartum thyroid disorders are surprisingly common, affecting around 5–10% of women. Symptoms include fatigue, weight changes, mood disturbances, and hair loss. Routine thyroid screening is not offered at the 6-week check in all practices, but if you have risk factors (previous thyroid problems, type 1 diabetes, family history) or symptoms, ask for it to be checked.
Mental health is an increasingly recognised component of the 6-week check. Your GP should ask about your mood and emotional wellbeing, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) or a similar screening tool.
Be honest in your answers. The screening is designed to identify women who would benefit from support, not to judge or remove your baby. Postnatal depression affects approximately 10–15% of women and is treatable. Anxiety is also common postnatally and is sometimes missed because the screening focus has historically been on depression.
If you are struggling — with mood, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, difficulty bonding, or anything else related to your emotional wellbeing — this appointment is the right place to raise it. If you do not feel comfortable doing so in person, you can call the practice separately or contact your health visitor.
The 6-week infant examination is a systematic physical assessment that reviews several key aspects of your baby's health and development.
The GP examines the eyes with an ophthalmoscope to check for the red reflex (the orange-red reflection from the retina visible through the pupil). Absence or asymmetry of the red reflex may indicate cataracts, retinoblastoma, or other conditions requiring early referral.
Auscultation of the heart checks for murmurs that may not have been detected at the newborn examination. Innocent murmurs (caused by normal blood flow turbulence) are common and not dangerous; murmurs that require further investigation are less common but important to identify.
The Barlow and Ortolani tests check for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Hip screening is an important part of the 6-week check because DDH is more effectively treated if identified early.
In male babies, the GP checks that both testes have descended into the scrotum. Undescended testes (cryptorchidism) requires monitoring and, if not self-correcting by 3–6 months, referral for assessment.
The GP will assess your baby's general muscle tone and may check key primitive reflexes.
General observation for skin conditions, jaundice that may have been missed, or any other physical findings that warrant attention.
Your baby's weight will be checked and plotted on their growth chart in their red book. Feeding should be discussed — any concerns about breast or formula feeding, weight gain, or your baby's general contentment.
If your GP finds anything at the 6-week check that requires further investigation, they will explain what they have found and what the next steps are. This may involve:
A referral does not mean something is definitely wrong — it means your GP wants to ensure the finding is properly evaluated. Try not to catastrophise before the referral appointment; the majority of findings at 6-week checks that prompt referrals turn out not to require treatment.
The 6-week check is valuable but brief. If you have concerns that are not addressed in the appointment, or that arise afterwards, do not wait until the next scheduled check — contact your GP or health visitor. The 6-week check is a safety net, not a comprehensive health assessment, and you are entitled to seek further support whenever you need it.
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