Wait, There’s a Fourth Trimester? Here’s What it is
Posted on June 11 2019
Photo by Limor Zellermayer on Unsplash
(Plus, 5 Survival Tips for New Parents)
The fourth trimester-aka the first three months of your newborn’s life can be quite the adjustment for both baby and new parents. It’s a period of time where your bundle of joy is just getting used to the outside world. There will for sure be some bumps in the road (this is totally normal!) While the newborn phase is a period of time most parents look back on and miss, it can also be a stressful time as you are adjusting to a lack of sleep, around the clock feedings, witching hour, and well, just adjusting to life as a new parent!
So, if the fourth trimester has you a bit overtired and overwhelmed, we are here to share five survival tips to help you get through it, so you can spend more time enjoying this fleeting phase.
5 Fourth Trimester Survival Tips for New Parents
#1 Babywearing:
Babywearing can be a total lifesaver as you and baby navigate the fourth trimester. During this period of time, your baby is adjusting from the womb to life in the outside world. Being close to you is going to be best for baby, and babywearing can make this easier on you, momma! You can place baby in a carrier, and still get things done around the house. The good news is that there are countless babywearing options from products like the Ergobaby to the Moby Wrap. Find which one works best for you, and keep baby close while also having a set of free hands to carry on with day to day tasks.
#2 Skin to Skin:
Skin to skin contact with your baby is one of the easiest ways to help calm down an upset little one, and there’s a reason many hospitals are now making the first hour after delivery uninterrupted skin to skin time. Time and time again, skin to skin has been found to help regulate your baby’s temperature, and it can also be a great way to bond. Try doing some skin to skin after feeds, whether your baby is bottle or breastfeed, and whenever your baby is a little extra fussy.
#3 Swaddle:
There’s a reason the hospital swaddles your bundle of joy right off the bat, and that’s because it can help mimic the comfort of the womb and help settle your baby and make them feel safe. Plus, it’s also a great way to keep them warm. Swaddling is great during the fourth trimester as babies tend to have strong startle reflexes which can wake them up from naps and throughout the night, swaddling can help calm this reflex. There are so many swaddle options out there now that don’t you require you to fold a blanket a dozen different ways in the wee hours of the morning. Products like the Swaddle me or the brand Halo make some excellent hassle-free options.
#4 White Noise:
White noise machines can completely change how well your baby sleeps for naps and at night. Babies love white noise because it mimics the sound they heard while in the womb. There are also plenty of inexpensive white noise machines you can find online to help make sleep easier for everyone!
#5 New Moms Support Group:
This one's essential for mommas as support during any phase of parenthood is super important, and leaning on friends that are also moms can be especially helpful as you navigate the world of being a new mom. From your worries to your struggles get baby to sleep, to sharing your favorite moments, mom groups are great to just connect with other women who are also moms.
So, there you have it! Five tips on making the fourth trimester a little bit of an easier transition for baby, mom (and dad too!) Welcoming a baby into the world is beautiful, amazing, and will make your heart want to explode with love, but it can also come with exhaustion, baby blues, and new parent worry. If you are currently in this phase or getting ready to have a baby, keep these tips in mind as you enjoy the newborn phase with your bundle of joy.