5 things you should know about the fourth trimester

The fourth trimester is the three months immediately following the birth of your baby.

While the three trimesters of pregnancy are spent preparing for your new arrival, the fourth trimester is a whole new world (quite literally) for you and your little one.

Nothing quite prepares you for the whirlwind that is the fourth trimester, but here are five things you should know.

What to expect in the fourth trimester

1. Prepare for a HUGE adjustment: The first 12 weeks postpartum are a major adjustment for both you and your baby. You're possibly recovering from a c-section, definitely dealing with sleeplessness, potentially breastfeeding, and basically all that comes with keeping a little human alive. Meanwhile, your baby is acclimatising to life outside the warm and cosy womb.
2. Lots of interaction: Your newborn’s nervous system and brain aren’t entirely developed at birth. You can encourage this braincell connectivity by interacting with your newborn — holding, rocking, talking and singing to them. The more their brain is stimulated, the better the connections in their brain will become.
3. Lots of feeding: Whether you're breastfeeding, expressing or formula feeding, you'll likely be feeding your baby every two to three hours. Cluster feeds can have a breastfeeding mom feeding around the clock, so be prepared for how intense this can be. Just remember, you're keeping your little one alive!
4. Sleep cycles: The lack of sleep is one of the most challenging adjustments for new parents. Newborns often have their days and nights mixed up, may only nap sporadically in the day, and can wake multiple times throughout the night. It's important to nap when they nap, take the offer of support when you get it and rest assured that you will (hopefully) be able to establish some sort of a routine after around four months.
5. Lots of interpreting crying: Fussiness, crying and unsettled periods are all part of life in the fourth trimester. Your newborn cries to communicate when they're hungry, in pain, tired, too hot or too cold, or need their nappy changed. You will quickly learn to interpret their cries and to soothe them.

The transition

The fourth trimester can be a challenging transition for you both, but just remember to shower your baby with love, touch, cuddles and skin-to-skin interaction.