What the 6-Week Appointment Actually Covers — and What It Misses

THE 6-WEEK APPOINTMENT: WHAT IT COVERS AND WHAT IT MISSES 🏥

How to get the most out of the most important postpartum visit

Your 6-week postpartum appointment is one of the most important visits of the year. It is also, historically, one of the most inadequate.

Here is what it is supposed to cover, what often gets skipped, and how to advocate for yourself.

📋 What it typically covers

• Physical recovery: incision healing (if you had a C-section), perineal healing, uterine involution
• Pelvic exam
• Blood pressure check
• Contraception discussion
• Breastfeeding check-in
• Basic mood screening — usually the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
• For GD moms: the OGTT or glucose check

⚠️ What often gets missed

The standard 6-week visit has been criticized by maternal health advocates for focusing heavily on physical recovery while underaddressing mental health, relationship changes, identity shifts, sexual health, and the practical reality of what postpartum life actually looks like.

• Thorough mental health assessment beyond a brief questionnaire
• Discussion of pelvic floor health and referral to PT
• Sexual health — pain with intercourse, libido changes, relationship impacts
• Infant feeding challenges in depth
• Sleep deprivation and its effects
• Support systems and isolation

💬 Questions to ask at your appointment

• "Can I have a referral to a pelvic floor physical therapist?"
• "Can we talk about what my OGTT results mean for my long-term health?"
• "I have been feeling [describe] — is this something we should address?"
• "What should I expect in terms of returning to sex? When is it safe?"
• "What is my plan for annual glucose monitoring going forward?"

🩸 GD note: Make sure your OGTT is scheduled before or at this visit. Do not leave without a clear plan for ongoing metabolic monitoring — at minimum, an annual fasting glucose or OGTT each year. Ask who will be ordering that and when.

💚 You are the expert on your experience

Your provider has 15 minutes. You have lived this. Come prepared, speak up, and know that asking questions is not being difficult — it is being your own best advocate.

You deserve a 6-week appointment that sees the whole you. Ask for what you need. 🤍