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Background A maternal postpartum six-week check (SWC) with a General Practitioner (GP) is now considered an essential service in England, a recent policy change intended to improve women’s health. We aimed to provide an up-to-date snapshot of the prevalence of SWC prior to the policy change as a baseline, and to explore factors associated with having a late or no check. Methods We conducted a cohort study using primary care records in England (Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD)). 34,337 women who gave birth between 1st July 2015 and 30th June 2018 and had ≥12 weeks of follow-up postpartum, were identified in the CPRD Pregnancy Register. The proportion who had evidence of a SWC with a GP was calculated, and regression analysis was used to assess the association between women’s characteristics and risks of a late or no check. Results Sixty-two percent (95%CI: 58%-67%) of women had a SWC recorded at their GP practice within 12 weeks postpartum, another 27% had other consultations. Forty percent had a SWC at the recommended 6-8 weeks, 2% earlier and 20% later. A late or no check was more common among younger women, mothers of preterm babies, or those registered in more deprived areas. Conclusions Nearly 40% of women did not have a postpartum SWC recorded. Provision or uptake was not equitable; younger women and those in more deprived areas were less likely to have a record of such check, suggesting postpartum care in general practice may be missing some women who need it most.