THE 4TH TRIMESTER | 10 Tips Helping Mom & Baby Adjust from Womb to World

Becoming a parent can be really overwhelming and I feel like there just isn’t enough information out there, especially when it comes to talking about the fourth trimester. We are going to talk all about the fourth trimester in this video:

The first three months of your baby’s life are considered the 4th trimester. This trimester refers to a lot of information about the mom, but also about the baby and how your baby will adjust to this big world.

*Disclaimer: The 4th trimester isn’t just limited to the first three months of the baby’s life, is not just like three months to the day, and then it’s done… Every baby is different so keep in mind the RANGE of the first three months being this 4th trimester- it could be shorter, it could be longer.

The top three things that are happening during the fourth trimester are:

1. You, as a mother are healing from childbirth, if you had a c-section you had major surgery. If you had a vaginal delivery, you had a major thing come out of your vagina. You may have had some tearing, you may have had any other issues that can happen when you have a baby.
2. You’re bonding with your baby.
3. You’re establishing a feeding schedule/structure/routine. It’s not going to be regimented quite yet, but if you’re nursing, you’re building up your breast milk supply and if you’re using formula, you’re figuring out how much your baby needs and that’s going to change as they get older.

1. Make sure that you are going to your doctor’s appointments! That means that when you have your six-week postnatal follow-up appointment, please make sure you go to it! I know you’re tired. I know you’re probably not ready to lug a newborn around in the baby carrier, but you have to do it. You need to make sure that you are being taken care of- you’re the vessel that brought your child into the world. Your doctor needs to do this checkup and make sure that everything on your end is healing the way that it should.

2. Let your body heal. Do not overdo it [been there, done that]! Stay hydrated- you need to drink more water, and you need to make sure that you are eating every meal of the day.

3. Do not stress about routines. Your baby is not going to be in a routine yet. These first three months or even four months, your baby’s not going to be on a schedule. You are not feeding your baby every two to three hours, you’re feeding that baby when that baby is telling you that they need to be fed. There’s definitely no need to try and structure your day in a set schedule type of way. Your baby’s wake windows are going to be so short- like 45 minutes to an hour these first couple of months. You’re really not going to have much time to do a whole lot other than feed, change, burp, and sleep. Newborns need a lot of sleep and so do you so make sure that you’re sleeping when the baby sleeps. Do not worry about a schedule!

4. Make sure that you are having skin-to-skin time. This is great for bonding with your baby. Both parents can also participate in skin-to-skin time, so take turns!

5. Delegate chores, mama! You just had a baby! You don’t need to worry about the dishes, or the laundry, or who’s making dinner. Have freezer meals on hand and order delivery! Delegate to friends and family who are offering to help and just tell them that a nice meal would be very appreciated.

6. Keep an eye out for the baby blues. Generally, baby blues (some crying, being emotional, and maybe feeling edge) usually lasts 10 days or less. Reach out to your doctor if the feelings don’t subside and you’re still not feeling like yourself. Your doctor should be screening you for PPD/PPA at your 6-week check-up, so speak up if you need help!

7. Replicate the womb that your baby was in for nine months. Your womb was dark, it was cool, and it was loud. Swaddle your baby + have white noise going + have it dark. Your baby will be working on correcting their day versus night confusion.

8. Sing and dance with your baby! Talk and have face-to-face time with your baby, too! A newborn can’t see very far yet, so make sure that you are getting your face very close to theirs. Babies have a great sense of facial recognition and they know your voice from when you were carrying them in your womb.

9. Believe in yourself! Believe in your abilities as a mother. Trust your intuition. You are the best mom for your baby. There is no one on the earth who knows your baby better than you do. Enjoy the fourth trimester and every single day of your baby’s life because it seriously goes so fast.

If you need step-by-step help in the first 3 months of your baby’s life, buy the Newborn Sleep Course!

Missy Yandow
Pediatric Sleep Consultant
Potty Training Coach