The Fourth Trimester and What to Expect by Emily Graham
The Fourth Trimester and What to Expect
By: Emily Graham
The 4th trimester is a term that refers to the time after birth when a new mother's body and mind are recovering from childbirth. During this time, mothers may feel as if they are encountering brain fog for an extended period of time. New mothers face physical exhaustion, hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, and mood swings. While this early postpartum period is a time of great joy, it’s also a very vulnerable time. That’s why Morgan Owens Doula has some tips and resources to help make things a little easier.
Preparing Early Can Help
If you’re self-employed, taking care of business issues early can help relieve a lot of the stress you’ll be feeling during the fourth trimester. Get extra work done before you go. By getting ahead, you make getting away much more doable. Make plans to hire a temp or virtual assistant. The key is proper training and good communication. Consider having a meeting every few days over the phone. Post your job on freelancing sites like Upwork or Fiverr and be specific as to what you expect so that there’s not a big learning curve hiring someone not prepared for your needs.
Staying as physically as possible can be a big help, as well. A little exercise is good for your physical health as well as your mental outlook. Don’t overdo it, though. Simply walking to the store instead of driving can make a big difference. Look for walkable areas, as measured by a high Walk Score of 70 and above to get in your steps.
Plan for Home
Today’s Parent suggests shopping now to have what you’ll need both for the hospital and the weeks and months directly following the birth. Of course, you’ll want to have items like a robe, slippers, socks, tees, and lip balm; however, there are other items that could come in handy.
This includes postpartum-specific underwear, a pumping/nursing bra, and possibly a maternity nightgown that can function as a nursing nightgown once the baby is home. To make shopping for these items easier, look to popular retailers like Amazon, which offers specific maternity and postpartum shops so you can gather what you need all at once.
Physical Discomforts Postpartum
Physical discomforts postpartum are common and can be caused by many factors, including hormonal changes, uterine contractions, breast engorgement, and weight loss. The most common postpartum physical discomfort is breast engorgement. Breast engorgement occurs when the breasts fill with milk or fluid before the baby starts to feed from them. This causes the breasts to feel hard and tender to the touch. You may also experience pain with every movement of your breasts due to the pressure of milk on the chest wall or skin.
It’s common to experience nipple pain as well as cracked nipples, which can lead to soreness that persists even after breastfeeding is stopped. Healthline points out that good nipple cream can ease pain and provide moisture to help heal or prevent dry, cracked, itchy, or bleeding nipples during the first few weeks of breastfeeding. Healthline recommends only medical-grade lanolin and says creams and lotions generally won’t help and may make the problem worse.
Postpartum Depression
For some women, depression during this period can be severe enough to require professional help from a mental health professional or psychiatrist. Postpartum depression can affect both the mother and the baby. It is diagnosed when a woman experiences at least five of the following symptoms during the first four weeks after delivery. It’s critical to seek professional help if you feel you’re experiencing postpartum depression.
feeling sad or empty
loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex
irritability or anger
difficulty concentrating
trouble sleeping or restless sleep
feeling overwhelmed, out of control, or scared
feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness; thoughts of suicide.
Making arrangements to take time off work early can ensure you’re not missing any important details. Then shop ahead of time for those nursing bras and nightgowns for your hospital bag and postpartum wardrobe at home. This will make the weeks after birth more comfortable.
Recognize that you’re bound to feel both physically uncomfortable as well as emotionally drained and know that’s normal. But also look for signs that you may need professional help. Remember, you’re not alone so let your family and friends help you and give you the rest you need, you and baby have earned it.
