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Congratulations! It’s happened, your beautiful baby has entered the world, either by their choice or yours! For myself, Millie entered the world by my choice, she was hanging on in there and I could not bear to go overdue as I did with Tyler. Welcome to the fourth trimester!
The first few hours were bliss, she latched correctly, fed and slept and allowed me to process what had just happened while I cuddled her and instantly fell in love. Her dad, Nick, couldn’t keep his eyes off her and for a while, she was the perfectly behaved baby. Then night time came and EVERYTHING changed into a state of transition.
Does this sound familiar?
This is because you have entered the fourth trimester. Until Millie was born I knew nothing about the fourth trimester (even with my son, Tyler). Pregnancy is neatly and precisely divided up into three trimesters, but no one tells you about the fourth trimester. I am over 2 months into it and in my opinion, this is the hardest one yet. For some obvious reasons and some not so obvious ones.
So if you are stumped about the fourth trimester, I am here to shed some light on it for you, to make this beautiful yet tiring time a bit easier on you.
I know how hard the fourth trimester can be, your just becoming a parent and feel like your completely winging it right? Yea, I felt like that as well, that’s why I created the free must-have baby items cheatsheet so you can make sure you have everything to make your life easier with a little one. It’s FREE to download, just click the button below and it’s all yours.
What is the Fourth Trimester?
The fourth trimester is a period of time from when your wee little one is born to when they are three months old. It is a state of transition. For you, and for your baby. You have become a mother, for the first time or the second, third, fourth or more! You are going to have to adapt to this and your body is in a state of healing, for quite some time. Your other half has also become a parent, your other children, siblings and other relatives have also gained a new family member.
Your baby is also going to have to adapt and learn this new and exciting world and that can be tough and scary for them for a while. Transitioning takes some time, for us all. The fourth trimester is when families are made and grown. It is a time to cherish and to love, although it can be hard, we all make it through and I know that you will too.
What is happening to mum in the fourth trimester?
Swelling
You may experience some puffiness. This is more common when you have had a C-Section because of the drugs you get given. I had seriously puffy ankles for just over a week, worse than I ever had during pregnancy. Wearing your compression stockings will help with this, I took mine off when I left the hospital (even though I should have worn them at home as well).
Night Sweats
Even if your ankles didn’t swell during pregnancy, you still held onto some water. Night sweats are your body’s way of trying to get rid of some of that fluid. Some people get it worse than others. With my oldest, I had to sleep on a towel because I literally soaked through everything, it was like I had been in the bath. With my second bubba, I hardly had anything. Sweating at night is also a way that your body is trying to regulate your body temperature because no offence, but your body is a hormonal mess right now!
Emotions
Like I said above, your body is a hormonal mess after birth. So if you find yourself crying over the Flash advert with the singing dog, or that someone has made you the perfect cup of tea. DO NOT worry, this is normal and were allowed to be emotional. We have just given birth, lost that bump that we had grown so attached to over the past 9 months and gained a beautiful and amazing tiny bubba if that doesn’t make you cry then I don’t know what will!!
Backache
I was shocked at how much my back hurt after Millie. So I could understand it properly, I had to liken it to the gym, which I will explain here —> You have been doing the same workout for months and skipping out the gym without an ache in the world. Then one day, out of the blue you change that workout to something completely different and you wonder why your heaving yourself out of bed the next morning only to find it feels like you’ve run a marathon. Does that make sense?
Basically, your body has been so used to working in a certain way, that when you give birth and things slowly start to return to normal, well, this is different and your body isn’t used to it.
Hair loss
Mine has only just started full-on hair falling out mode at about 9-weeks postpartum. During pregnancy, your hair loss slows down, then after birth, all that extra hair falls out when your washing or brushing it. 9 months worth of extra hair, along with your normal hair loss. It looks like a small bear is in the plug of my shower at the moment!
Haemorrhoids
You may think that once pregnancy is over, so will these. WRONG! if you have had a C-Section especially, these are still an ever-present thing in your life. The painkillers you get given with a C-Section can make you constipated, so haemorrhoids can stick around a bit longer than we’d like them too…Use tuck pads to help ease this pain in the bum!
Cramps
These are a bit like period pains, it’s basically your uterus contracting back to pre-pregnancy size. If you breastfeed, then these will happen more regularly, but for a shorter amount of time.
Mummy Tummy
This one is a given, isn’t it? After being stretched for 9 months, we can’t really expect it to bounce straight back. Plus, our stomach muscles separate as our bump grows, so as these return to normal our stomach shrinks even more. In some cases, our stomach muscles don’t go back together fully. This is known as Diastasis Recti. Read more on this here.
Mummy brain (this one is here to stay I’m afraid)
What with hormones (those wonderful things) and lack of sleep. Youll find yourself washing your hands with toothpaste, pouring juice in your coffee and forgetting your name. Ok, it’s not always that bad. These things have happened in my house though. On several occasions.
Related: What to Expect After a C-Section.
What's the fourth trimester? I didn't know either until I read this! Click To Tweet
What happens to your baby during the fourth trimester?
The transition of the physical environment
This is huge for your little one. In fact its the first thing that they will experience. It’s a bit like being snug in your PJ’s, all cosy under the blanket, then being pulled outside naked on a cold night. I think I’d cry as well!! This is a huge adjustment our babies have to get used to, and that takes time. The same as when we experience something new. Being swaddled can help babies feel more comfortable.
Environmental stimulation
Our babies are used to hearing the loud noise of our bodies before they are born, however, when they enter this world they are bombarded with lights, sounds, smells and textures. From experiencing not a lot to experiencing everything all at once is a huge leap to take at zero days old.
They feel hunger and thirst for the first time
In the womb, they are constantly fed and watered 24/7. So as you can imagine when they feel hunger or thirst for the first time, they are certainly going to let you know about. it. Usually via a loud test of their lungs!
Your baby has to get used to wearing nappies and clothes
I can’t imagine how weird it must be for them. They are used to being butt naked and then we dress them in clothes and nappies and hats and whatnot. I know that Millie put up quite a fuss when we had to change her nappy or dress her.
I remember hearing once that babies and toddlers don’t like clothes because they are so aware of them touching their skin. For us, it’s just a normal day-to-day thing and we don’t notice that we have something constantly touching us.
They have to get used to being on their own
Your new Bubba has never been in an environment where they haven’t been attached to you before. This is a big reason as to why they don’t sleep unless they are on you. You are familiar and comforting to them in this big, scary and different world. For the first week, Millie wouldn’t sleep anywhere but on mine or her dad’s chest. Not the most convenient.
They are suddenly still and in cold places
For 9 months our babies have. been in constant motion and when we sat down or went to bed, we felt them wake up. Nothings changed really, that’s why the buggy and car always sends them to sleep.
Suddenly there are light and dark times
For approximately 6 weeks our babies have no internal body clock. Which means they can’t tell the difference between day and night, it doesn’t matter what time it is, if they want to eat or sleep or be awake, they will do as they please for a while. They have to learn that night time is for sleeping.
They don’t like to sleep on their own, or at all
As I mentioned above. They want continuous touch and movement and warmth and that familiar sound of your heartbeat and your smell. So usually the only way they sleep is on you for a while.
I found a good combination for sleeping was a sleeping sack like this one. Swaddle blankets to soothe them like these ones and a white noise machine like this one have been lifesavers. Nick and I have actually found we can’t sleep without the white noise now either!!
Your baby is learning you, and you are learning them
The biggest thing to remember if you’re a mum for the first or fifth time. Every baby is different, they respond to different things in different ways and the first three months is a learning curve for you both. Both yourself and your baby needs to learn each other.
Don’t forget your freebie!
So just take your time and enjoy this time when they are all snuggly and tiny. I know your tired and a bit sore, but I promise you it doesn’t last forever. Even more, a reason to try and enjoy these first three months because they will never be that tiny ever again.
Save this post for when your baby is here!