What Is The 5-5-5 Postpartum Rule?

During the tender early postpartum period (often called the fourth trimester), before a newborn baby is sleeping through the night, it's crucial for new moms to approach the daytime hours in a way that honors their rest, recovery, and mental health. Most doulas and midwives recommend communicating with your partner and family members to develop a plan for this period. One of the guidelines may include the 5-5-5 postpartum rule, which grants new mothers permission to set boundaries during the first 15 days home with their newborn. 

The 5-5-5 rule begins with "five days in bed" focused on mother-baby bonding. Newborns are only able to see about 8 inches in front of their faces, and cuddling and skin-to-skin time in these first few days promotes a lasting bond. The mother's body also requires a few days of rest after giving birth to strengthen and restore the pelvic floor. 

Next is "five days on the bed," where the mother is encouraged to incorporate simple tasks and movements (like getting dressed). Since you are sitting up in bed more during this period, some women begin to welcome visitors, though many reserve these special visits for close friends and family. The final five days are spent "around the bed." During this stage, the mother can start to move more freely around the house, but continue to prioritize rest and avoid using stairs, doing housework, or overexerting herself. 

Injuries from giving birth, like severe tearing, might require some movement restrictions, while other new moms might be cleared to walk around right away. And while 15 days at home might sound nourishing for some, others might develop cabin fever. One mom on Reddit said she couldn't imagine remaining in one place for the first five days home. "I definitely stayed in bed the entire time in the hospital, but at home I moved from the bed to the couch, etc." she wrote. "And you do have to go out for visits to the pediatrician at the very least. Just listen to your body. Everybody's healing experience will be different."

New moms also report pressure to get out of bed and "back to normal" quickly, especially in the United States. One expectant mother on Reddit's r/pregnant thread said she hoped to follow the 5-5-5 rule, but was laughed at by family members when she shared the plan. Commenters noted expectations of new mothers differ in other regions of the world, such as China, where it's customary for new mothers to stay at home for 30 days, and Colombia, where a tradition called "la cuarentena" encourages new mothers to take it easy for 40 days.

Finally, as Dr. Franziska Haydanek, OB/GYN behind the TikTok account @pagingdrfran pointed out, while the rule provides a great guideline for recovery and setting boundaries, complete bed rest can increase the risk of other health complications. "In fact, you are more likely to develop a blood clot in your lungs or your legs in the first couple weeks postpartum than any other time in pregnancy or postpartum," she said. If you opt to follow the 5-5-5 rule, she recommends taking precautions like regular stretching and wearing compression stockings.