The 5-5-5 Postpartum Rule: A Simple Guide for Your First 15 Days

Postpartum recovery can feel overwhelming, especially when the world keeps telling new moms to “bounce back.” That’s why the 5-5-5 Postpartum Rule is such a game-changer—it gives you permission to slow down, prioritize your healing, and actually recover.

This method breaks your first 15 days into three gentle phases designed to support rest, recovery, and bonding with your baby.

5 Days In Bed

Your first five days should be all about deep rest. Stay in bed as much as possible, soak up newborn snuggles, and get up only for essentials like bathroom breaks. Your body just did something incredible—these days give it a chance to recover.

5 Days On Bed

Next, ease into a little more activity while still keeping rest at the center of your day. Focus on gentle movement, nourishing self-care, and continued bonding with your baby. Move slowly and listen to your body.

5 Days Near Bed

Finally, begin adding light movement close to your bed or bedroom. Take short walks around your room with your baby or enjoy a refreshing shower. This is simply a soft transition—not a return to normal routines.

Why This Is Hard (And Why It Matters)

As much as the 5-5-5 Rule sounds simple, following it can feel nearly impossible for many new moms—including me. I didn’t feel like I could truly relax or focus on my own healing. The pressures of “doing all the things” were everywhere: caring for my baby, hosting visitors who wanted to meet the newborn, keeping up appearances, and trying to feel “normal” again. Society constantly tells us to bounce back immediately, and it’s easy to internalize that expectation.

Looking back, I realize that ignoring my own recovery likely made my postpartum experience more difficult than it needed to be. I wish I had prioritized my healing first, even if that meant saying no, slowing down, or letting some things slide. The 5-5-5 Rule is a gentle, practical reminder that your body and mental health deserve care too—and that slowing down is not just okay, it’s essential.

Why It Helps

The 5-5-5 Rule protects your healing body, supports your mental health, and reduces the pressure to do too much too soon. It’s a simple, nurturing way to care for yourself during one of the most important healing periods of your life—and it gives you the space to truly bond with your new baby without guilt.