The fourth trimester: what is it and what can I expect?

Having a baby is an incredible and life-changing moment. But what happens next? In a recent Facebook Live on TMB TV, brought to you by Modibodi’s new Reusable Nappies, we talked to midwife and lactation consultant Hannah Willsmore about what to expect once your baby is born and safely in your arms.

Watch the full chat -‘Postpartum real talk: The fourth trimester’ – below.

What is the fourth trimester?

The fourth trimester refers to the first 12 weeks after giving birth, a huge time of transition for mums – both physically and emotionally.

“That journey to becoming a mother is a big identity shift, and for your baby as well,” says Hannah. “We know that they still really rely on you at that stage and need to be held a lot, so it’s getting mums to think about that fourth trimester being like an extension of pregnancy for your baby.”

You can’t do it all

One massive shift you may find is that you can’t do everything. During the postpartum period, caring for your baby, settling your baby, breastfeeding, bonding all take time. Chances are you won’t be able to do things you normally do, such as tidying the house and cooking dinner, so Hannah suggests asking partners and family to help out with these activities during this time. “Where I see mums really struggle is when they try and do everything,” she says. “And it’s just impossible.”

Similarly, you may not be ready to get out and about, exercise, or receive many visitors. The first six weeks is really an adjustment period and you have to do whatever is best for you and your baby. “You will have days where it’s amazing and you think ‘this is great’ and love being a mum, and you’ll have other days where it’s probably really tough and you think, ‘what the heck have I got myself into?'” says Hannah. “And that kind of roller coaster is quite normal in that period and it’s just about being gentle and taking it easy on yourself.”

Identity change

For many women, matrescence – the transition to becoming a mum – can be overwhelming. “Motherhood is probably the biggest transition that we ever go through with our identity and our changes to our work commitments, lifestyle, our living arrangements,” says Hannah. “But it’s also just becoming a mum and having this person that is dependent on you.”

This is where support can help – especially from other mums who are going through the same experience. “Journalling is a great strategy to use, even in pregnancy,” says Hannah. “Just starting to think about, okay, how will my life change, how am I going to feel about that, what’s my kind of personality?”

Hannah also suggests thinking about you what you might need to have in place in order to keep calm and happy. This could be as simple as limiting the number visitors you have or having a quick walk each day while your partner holds the baby.

Bleeding

You may experience bleeding after your baby is born, which is perfectly normal. Initially this can be quite heavy, however it generally slows down as the weeks go on. “Typically we see women bleeding for between two and six weeks after the birth,” says Hannah. “But what we generally see is that that amount does taper off.” And while completely normal, Hannah recommends having heavy bleeding checked out by your GP or midwife. “If you’re soaking through a pad within an hour, I would contact your care providers, or if you are passing clots that are bigger than a ten cent piece.”

After pains

During the fourth trimester, you might experience pain as your body recovers from the ordeal of birth. Usually quite small, your uterus grows considerably in size during pregnancy, however after your baby is born and the placenta is out, it contracts back down. “It actually goes back almost to its pre-pregnancy size,” says Hannah. “It’s contracting back down, but what it does often feel like is a mini contraction.” This can feel uncomfortable and tends to get worse the more babies you have.

Hannah recommends taking hot showers, using heat packs, or, if it’s really bothering you, seeking advice from your healthcare provider about medical pain relief options.

Breast engorgement

Your breast milk starts to come in around 24 hours to 72 hours after birth. For many women, with all the extra fluid and blood flow that comes with the milk making process, their breasts become engorged, leaving them quite hot and hard. “One of the best things we can do, and I think the most important thing to prevent engorgement, is to feed on demand,” says Hannah. However, if you find yourself with engorged breasts, Hannah recommends using cold packs after feeds. “The great thing about engorgement is that it usually does sort itself out within a couple of days,” she says.

Help is out there

At the end of the day, help is readily available through a number of outlets. Depending on what’s going on for you, Hannah says that support can be found through a lactation consultant, your midwife, GP or child health nurse, as well as mothers groups, drop-in clinics and websites such as ABA and PANDA. “There are lots of services that can visit to provide you support at home so you don’t even have to go anywhere,” says Hannah.

Pregnant or a new mum? Join our private Facebook group to chat with other women like you.