Quick answer
How long does nifās (postpartum bleeding) last?
Across the four madhhabs, the maximum duration of nifās is generally 40 days. If bleeding stops before 40 days and the signs of purity appear, ghusl is performed and worship resumes immediately.
The maximum duration of nifās across the Hanafi, Shafiʿi, Hanbali, and Maliki madhhabs is generally 40 days, beginning from the day of birth. This is based on the report of Umm Salamah (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhā): 'The women in nifās during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to wait forty days.' (Sunan Abi Dawud, Tirmidhi)
If bleeding stops before 40 days and the signs of purity appear, ghusl is performed and worship — prayer, fasting, recitation of Qurʾān, intimacy — resumes immediately. There is no obligation to wait the full 40 days.
If bleeding returns within the 40-day window after purity has been observed, the majority view (Hanafi, Hanbali, and one position in Shafiʿi) treats it as a continuation of nifās. The woman stops praying again until purity returns. The Maliki school treats the gap of 15+ days of purity as the end of nifās; bleeding after that is istiḥāḍah.
If bleeding continues beyond day 40, it is treated as istiḥāḍah. The woman performs ghusl on day 41 (or when she reaches the end of her habitual nifās if it was shorter), resumes prayer, and performs wuḍū before each prayer. Noor tracks the universal 40-day nifās window from the day of birth and notifies you when the window closes.
This summary draws on the established positions of the four Sunni madhhabs. For your specific situation, consult a qualified scholar.