The 4th Trimester

There are many things to expect when you’re expecting - enlarged breasts, swelling ankles, cravings. There are also many things to expect, prepare, and plan for during childbirth, many of which are thoughtfully and carefully considered throughout your pregnancy. 

What about the 4th trimester? Or maybe… What IS the 4th trimester? 

The 4th trimester is considered the period of time 12 weeks after a baby is born, where your body is re-adjusting to life after pregnancy. Just as your body changes during pregnancy, there is a period of readjustment after birth where your body returns to its normal state. Except for, it’s not the same as it was. There is a new normal, a postpartum normal, that you will experience. This looks differently for every person, but some of the common themes of 4th trimester are as follows:

Healing

It is called labor for a reason when you are giving birth. Your body is put through the ringer bringing a human (or humans!) into this world. From pelvic floor muscles to torn skin to post partum bleeding and overall soreness, the 4th trimester is a time for physical healing. (To help heal your perineum after a vaginal birth and find some relief during your 4th trimester healing, visit Postpartum Soothe - use our code BBB10 to get a discount!)

Hormones

Beyond the physical healing that takes place during the 4th trimester, there is an upheaval of hormones that most new birthing parents experience. Obviously, if you’ve been pregnant for 9 months you are no stranger to hormones. Mood swings, crying, bursts of energy or being completely drained - all things that happen during the first three trimesters. It’s amazing how once the baby is born, these hormonal changes are often forgotten about, although in some cases they are far more prevalent post-partum. If you are feeling sad for no reason, or experience an overwhelming amount of joy and love, or are exhausted beyond explanation - welcome to your 4th trimester!

Hunger

The 4th trimester is a time in which your body is re-adjusting to not having to sustain two (or more) lives 24/7. You may find that your appetite increases and you are ravenous all the time, seemingly never able to get enough food into your belly. You may also experience the opposite pendulum swing, where you struggle to find any food appealing, or even forget to eat because you just aren’t hungry. It may take a while for your appetite to level out again to where it was pre-baby, or it may change permanently. Either way, as long as you’re getting enough calories to make sure you’re nourishing yourself (and your newborn(s) if you’re breastfeeding), listening to what your body wants during this time is a good first step.

We recommend Heng Ou’s book “The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother” for recipes that help replenish, calm, soothe, and inspire. Not only that, but Ou’s book also “offers advice on arranging a system of help during the postpartum period, navigating relationship challenges, and honoring the significance of pregnancy and birth.”

Routines

Your pre-baby days of popping down to the market for a quick minute aren’t over, however they may look a little less spontaneous when you have to remember a car seat, a diaper bag, a change of clothes (for you and baby!), a snack, a toy… the list goes on! In that 4th trimester, it’s all about finding your new rhythm of life and how your new addition fits into that flow. It’s important to use your first trimester to test the waters of new parenthood by completing small tasks with your baby. Getting to the grocery store successfully and picking up a loaf of bread is no small feat when you’re doing it with a newborn for the first few times! Trust yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or support where it’s needed.

Self Care

Along those lines, every day further away from giving birth, you will gain more confidence in your abilities and start to navigate your new normal. Remember: every new parent is doing this for the first time - no one really knows what to do when certain scenarios come up. Did your precious baby have a full blow out right after you changed their diaper and put them into a cute outfit? It’s okay to cry. Or laugh. Or walk away for a minute if you need to once you’ve made sure baby is safely secured somewhere or with someone else. There is no right or wrong way to do any of this as long as your baby is happy, healthy, safe, and loved. The most important thing to remember in the 4th trimester that is often forgotten is that YOU also need to feel happy, healthy, safe, and loved… and that you still exist as a whole person with wants, needs, and feelings outside of your newborn. Self care sometimes looks like being able to enjoy a cup of coffee alone, or sleeping in an extra half hour. Sometimes it looks like brushing your teeth. Sometimes it looks like having a good cry with your baby because neither of you know what you need in that moment, and that’s okay.

The 4th trimester is just as important as the previous three. There is an overwhelming amount of information out there about trimesters 1-3, but the 4th is often forgotten. If you have questions, concerns, or just want to learn more, reach out for a consultation with Beautiful Births and Beyond doulas today. We are well versed in and proud to offer 4th trimester support for all our new parents as they re-adjust to their new normal in a post partum world.