When does a woman bathe after childbirth and begin to pray: is it before the dawn of the forty-first day or after its sunrise?

The majority of scholars hold that the maximum period of nifas (postpartum bleeding) is forty days. If the bleeding exceeds this and coincides with her regular menstrual period, then it is considered menstruation. Otherwise, it is istihada (non-menstrual bleeding). The duration of nifas is calculated from the beginning of the blood discharge due to childbirth. If the forty days are completed and this does not coincide with her menstrual cycle, she should perform ghusl (ritual bath) and pray upon the completion of the aforementioned period.