Your 6 Week Postpartum Exam

After spending nine months in and out of doctors' offices, sonography rooms, and, finally, the hospital, you may very well be sick of donning that ubiquitous blue gown. But your six-week postpartum checkup is one appointment you definitely shouldn't miss. It's vital that your doctor see how you're healing after delivery. While giving birth may be a normal process, some women experience a few health aftershocks, and it's important that they be examined and treated promptly.

In addition, "six weeks seems to be that point when you start to feel like a human being again," notes Ally Zevin, a mother of three from Takoma Park, Maryland. For that reason, it's a good time for your doctor to check in on how motherhood is treating you emotionally. It's also an excuse to get out of the house and enjoy a bit of adult indulgence. Zevin gave herself a treat, such as coffee at a cafe, after each checkup. "It was my way of celebrating coming out of the fog of giving birth," she says. With that in mind, here's what to expect from your checkup.