Did you know? The term Fourth Trimester is actually a new one. First coined by US paediatrician Harvey Karp in 2002, the fourth trimester is the 12 weeks after birth. 👶
Karp highlights the fact that even though your baby is outside your body, they’re still very much connected to you. Indeed, newborn babies are still growing and functioning as if they’re in utero; wholly dependent on you as they very slowly and tentatively adjust to life outside the womb.
The fourth trimester is an intense period that can be incredibly challenging, especially if you don’t know what’s normal or expected. Even the normal and expected parts are hard; you are recovering and healing from birth, processing your birth, learning to read your baby’s cues, and establishing a breastfeeding rhythm or feeding routine and you’re doing this while navigating sleep deprivation. It’s a time of significant upheaval where everything is unknown and you’re experiencing almighty hormonal shifts, too.
Discover our Fourth Trimester Edit - link in bio.
A collaboration between us and @australianbirthstories ✨