Screenings after pregnancy: the checks after birth

Checks in the first weeks

NICE says the first postnatal visit by a midwife should take place within 36 hours after transfer of care from the place of birth or after a home birth. (NICE NG194) At each midwife contact, NICE says the midwife should assess physical health, including symptoms and signs of infection, pain, bleeding, bladder and bowel function, thromboembolism, anaemia and pre-eclampsia, and should assess psychological and emotional wellbeing at every contact. (NICE NG194) ACOG recommends that everyone has contact with their obstetrician-gynecologist or other obstetric care provider within the first 3 weeks after birth. (ACOG CO 736)

The 6 to 8 week check

NICE says that at 6 to 8 weeks after the birth, a GP should carry out an assessment of general health, physical health and psychological and emotional wellbeing, taking into account the time since the birth. (NICE NG194) The NHS says your GP surgery should offer this check, that you can request it yourself, and that you should still be invited if your baby is not with you or if you have lost your baby. (NHS 6-week check) The NHS lists what is usually offered, which may vary by area: questions about how you are feeling, about vaginal discharge and whether you have had a period, a blood pressure check if you had problems during pregnancy or immediately after the birth, and an examination of stitches after an episiotomy or caesarean section. (NHS 6-week check) ACOG says the comprehensive postpartum visit should happen no later than 12 weeks after birth and include a full assessment of physical, social and psychological well-being, covering areas such as mood, sleep and fatigue, physical recovery from birth, chronic disease management and health maintenance. (ACOG CO 736)

Blood pressure after high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia

NICE says that after gestational hypertension, blood pressure should be measured daily for the first 2 days after birth and at least once between day 3 and day 5, and that everyone who had gestational hypertension should be offered a medical review with their GP or specialist 6 to 8 weeks after the birth. (NICE NG133) After pre-eclampsia, NICE says blood pressure should be measured at least 4 times a day while in hospital, and after transfer to community care either at least once between day 3 and day 5 or, for people taking blood pressure treatment, every 1 to 2 days for up to 2 weeks. (NICE NG133) Everyone who had pre-eclampsia should be offered a medical review 6 to 8 weeks after the birth, with a urine test strip for protein; if protein is still present, NICE says to offer a further review at 3 months to assess kidney function. (NICE NG133) The USPSTF says risk continues into the period right after birth and that a practical approach is for people with hypertensive disorders to have later blood pressure checks; its page notes that ACOG recommends a blood pressure check no later than 7 to 10 days after birth, or within 72 hours for severe hypertension. (USPSTF hypertensive disorders) See preeclampsia screening and blood pressure screening.

NICE says a hypertensive disorder in pregnancy is linked with a higher risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life, and advises discussing this risk with a GP or specialist. (NICE NG133) People who had pre-eclampsia and have no protein in the urine and no high blood pressure at the 6 to 8 week review are told the absolute risk of end-stage kidney disease is low and no further kidney follow-up is needed. (NICE NG133) See screenings if you have high blood pressure.

Blood sugar after gestational diabetes

NICE says blood glucose should be tested before transfer to community care to exclude persisting high blood sugar. (NICE NG3) When levels have returned to normal, NICE says to offer a fasting plasma glucose test 6 to 13 weeks after the birth (it may be done at the 6-week postnatal check), or after 13 weeks a fasting plasma glucose test or an HbA1c test, and not to routinely offer a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test. (NICE NG3) On the fasting test, NICE reads below 6.0 mmol/litre as a low probability of diabetes at the moment, 6.0 to 6.9 as high risk of type 2 diabetes, and 7.0 or above as likely type 2 diabetes, with a test offered to confirm it. (NICE NG3) NICE says to offer a yearly HbA1c test after a negative postnatal test. (NICE NG3) The ADA recommends screening for prediabetes or diabetes at 4 to 12 weeks after birth with a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, and lifelong screening every 1 to 3 years after gestational diabetes. (ADA, 2026) People with diabetes before pregnancy go back to their routine diabetes care. (NICE NG3) See gestational diabetes glucose test results, A1C and blood sugar test results and screenings if you have diabetes.

Mood and emotional wellbeing

NICE says psychological and emotional wellbeing should be assessed at each postnatal contact, (NICE NG194) and the NHS says you will be asked how you are feeling at the 6-week check and should tell your doctor if you feel sad or anxious. (NHS 6-week check) The questionnaire used, what the score means and when it is repeated are on postpartum depression screening (EPDS).

Cervical screening

The NHS says that if you were due for cervical screening while pregnant, it should be rescheduled for 12 weeks after the birth. (NHS 6-week check) After that, NHS invitations continue every 5 years from age 25 to 64. (NHS cervical screening) See cervical cancer screening and Pap and HPV test results.

Thyroid

ACOG says people with chronic conditions such as hypertensive disorders, obesity, diabetes, thyroid disorders, kidney disease and mood disorders should be counseled on timely follow-up with their obstetric or primary care provider. (ACOG CO 736) MedlinePlus says silent thyroiditis, an immune reaction against the thyroid, can occur in women who have just had a baby, and that tests may include thyroid hormones (T3 and free T4) and TSH. (MedlinePlus silent thyroiditis) The USPSTF statement on thyroid screening covers nonpregnant adults without symptoms and found the evidence insufficient to recommend for or against it. (USPSTF thyroid) See thyroid tests: who needs one.

Back to usual screening

ACOG says that during the postpartum period, the person and their obstetric care provider should identify who will take primary responsibility for their ongoing care. (ACOG CO 736) NICE says information shared at transfer of care should include any complications and the plan of ongoing care, including any condition that needs long-term management. (NICE NG194) Screenings that were paused or missed can be picked up from catching up on screenings, and the usual schedule is on screenings by age and gender.

When to contact a provider

MedlinePlus, preeclampsia, when to contact a medical professional: (MedlinePlus preeclampsia)

Contact your provider if you have symptoms of preeclampsia during your pregnancy or after delivery.

NICE says to seek medical advice without delay for sudden or very heavy vaginal bleeding, leg swelling and tenderness or shortness of breath, chest pain, or a persistent or severe headache after the birth. (NICE NG194)

Where they differ:

Timing of the main check. NICE sets a GP assessment at 6 to 8 weeks after the birth; (NICE NG194) ACOG asks for contact within 3 weeks and a comprehensive visit no later than 12 weeks. (ACOG CO 736)
Blood sugar after gestational diabetes. NICE offers a fasting plasma glucose test at 6 to 13 weeks and does not routinely offer a glucose tolerance test, then a yearly HbA1c; (NICE NG3) the ADA recommends a 75-g glucose tolerance test at 4 to 12 weeks, then testing every 1 to 3 years. (ADA, 2026)
First blood pressure check after a hypertensive disorder. NICE measures blood pressure at least once between day 3 and day 5 after birth; (NICE NG133) the ACOG recommendation cited by the USPSTF sets no later than 7 to 10 days, or 72 hours for severe hypertension. (USPSTF hypertensive disorders)

Your doctor decides what your result means for you.

Questions people ask

When is the check-up after giving birth?

NICE says a GP should carry out an assessment at 6 to 8 weeks after the birth, and the NHS says your GP surgery should offer it. ACOG recommends contact with an obstetric care provider within the first 3 weeks, followed by a comprehensive postpartum visit no later than 12 weeks after birth. (NICE NG194) (NHS 6-week check) (ACOG CO 736)

Is blood pressure checked after pre-eclampsia?

Yes. NICE says blood pressure should be measured at least once between day 3 and day 5 after birth, that everyone who had pre-eclampsia should be offered a medical review 6 to 8 weeks after the birth, and that a urine test for protein should be done at that point. (NICE NG133)

Which blood sugar test comes after gestational diabetes?

NICE says to offer a fasting plasma glucose test 6 to 13 weeks after the birth, or an HbA1c test after 13 weeks if a fasting test is not possible, then a yearly HbA1c if the result is negative. The ADA recommends a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at 4 to 12 weeks after birth and lifelong testing every 1 to 3 years. (NICE NG3) (ADA, 2026)

When is cervical screening after having a baby?

The NHS says that if you were due for cervical screening while pregnant, it should be rescheduled for 12 weeks after the birth. (NHS 6-week check)