The Trimester No One Talks About: Welcome to the 4th Trimester. A.K.A. Postpartum
By: The Natural Healing Mama March 13,2020
From constant feedings to endless laundry- you have now officially reached the 4th trimester!
No matter how much info you are provided from all the resources you can gather, nothing can truly prepare you for being a parent. What one parent may struggle with, another may have no issue with, however something I think we can all agree on is that parenting is HARD! It doesn't come with an instruction guide or a cheat sheet. All those moments when you once said, "my child will never” or “I would never allow my child to..." You can kiss most of those out the window. Until you are truly in those positions yourself, usually on a regular basis, you can't say for certain that you wont bend on some things. It happens.
Now that your bundle of joy has arrived, I'm sure you have been flooded with an abundance of emotions. From the moment your baby is born through the months that follow, your body will begin to undergo a multitude of changes. If you google or search social media about the fourth trimester and/or postpartum, you will find many images of adorable bundles of newborn joy, weight loss tips, breastfeeding info, and things of that nature. What is rarely discussed is how to truly transition into being a mom and the things you should expect; like trying not to sneeze if you had a vaginal birth (sorry guys, this post is really going to focus on the mom and baby).
Remember that "pregnancy brain" that plagued you throughout most of your pregnancy? Yeah, hard to forget that huh...or maybe not so much :) . I'm sorry if I am the first to tell you this but, it isn't going away anytime soon. That pregnancy brain tends to stick around for quite some time after the baby arrives. So be prepared to forget a lot of things! It can be frustrating at times to say the least. Just try to remember it is normal and will eventually get better, for the most part anyway. Perhaps make checklists or put reminders in your phone to help with this. There are also nutritional ways to help combat memory loss or fog. For instance, increasing your intake of Omega 3 and 6, making sure you are getting enough organic whole foods (if you find this hard to do, Earthley has a great Super Foods Powder), and iron (you can check out the Energy Plus while on Earthley's website). Another absolute favorite of mine is EquiLife’s all-in-one daily nutritional shake .
Now back to that sneezing, coughing, basically moving, item I mentioned. I can't speak for those who have had a Cesarean, but a vaginal birth, let me tell ya! I never knew that area was so affected by every little body movement! I still remember the first time I sneezed after having my little one, OUCH! Thank goodness for witch hazel, and Earth Mama's Herbal Perineal Spray.
As if being sore and extremely tired isn't enough, your hormones have taken you captive and you are now their prisoner. Adjusting to "mom life" can be a challenge, even for those who have already been through it before. Trying to adjust to multiple kids instead of only one, is not an easy task. It takes time and that is extremely important to remember. So not only are you adjusting to mom life (the feeding, the lack of sleep, the laundry, the need for attention, the forgetfulness, etc.), if you are in a relationship, that too will be an adjustment. The main focus is the baby, and your body is going through big changes still!
Here are some tips to help you get through postpartum:
Don't overdo it- sleep when you can. Find a balance between napping and housework. Sleep is extremely important to helping with emotional regulation along with healing, immunity, and just overall health in general.
Try to set a routine. This will help with balance and focus. Routine is not only good for you, but baby as well. This may include checklists and calendar reminders in your phone.
Talk to someone. Whether it is a friend, family member, or therapist- talk to someone. You are not alone and there are people who understand what you are going through. it is okay to ask for help!
Eat healthy. This not only benefits your body, but if you are breastfeeding, your baby's as well. Nutrition plays a vital role in how we feel not just physically but mentally. Be sure you are getting a clean, natural source of vitamins (we discussed this in part 1). Taking herbs that help balance hormones and mood can be essential at this time as well. Earthley offers two items that can help with this: Postpartum Balance and Natural Balance. There are also items to help boost milk supply!
Own your body and all those beautiful changes! You are a warrior, a mother- a force to be reckoned with. Stretch marks and all, they tell a story and it’s one you should be proud of!
Here is also a great article about sex during this postpartum period: 10 things to know about postpartum sex.
As always, if you would like more information regarding anything discussed here or on any other post, please feel free to reach out!
For more resources or information on how to optimize your health, visit: Balanced Vitality | Integrated Health Coaching
