When must a wife begin to pray after childbirth, and must she make up for what she missed?

The maximum duration for postpartum bleeding (nifas (definition)) is forty days, and there is no minimum limit. So, when a woman sees purity, she should perform ghusl (definition) (ritual bath) and pray. If the nifas blood exceeds forty days, it is considered istihadah (definition) (irregular bleeding), unless it coincides with her regular menstrual period, in which case it is considered menses. If the wife sees purity before forty days but does not perform ghusl and pray, she must make up the prayers she missed. If her bleeding exceeds forty days, the blood after the forty days is istihadah, and she must perform ghusl and make up the prayers. If the bleeding is continuous, she should perform wudu' (ablution) for each prayer after its time enters, unless the blood coincides with her regular menstrual period, in which case she considers it menses. It is obligatory to pay attention to learning the rulings of Islamic law.