Have you ever prepared a recipe that asked you to set something aside so it could continue cooking outside of the oven? Some meals need a little extra time, and your sweet newborn baby can benefit from the same treatment.
That's why renowned pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp coined the term "the fourth trimester." Just because your bun has left the oven doesn't mean it's done baking. Even healthy babies need additional time to grow and develop beyond the womb.
Birth can be traumatic, and your fourth trimester can serve as a recovery period for mama and baby alike. Do you know how to support your precious newborn during this critical period of change? We've created this guide to help ensure your little one has the care they need to thrive during the first three months of life.
Read on to learn all there is to know about the mysterious fourth trimester and why it's necessary.
What Is the Fourth Trimester of Pregnancy?
After three long trimesters, the idea of enduring a fourth might make you queasy. Luckily, the fourth trimester doesn't begin until you've already given birth.
The phrase refers to the first three months of your baby's life when your little one is at their neediest. It ends when you are approximately 12 weeks postpartum.
Labor and delivery is a painful process. Imagine if your baby's head was twice the size at birth!
Dr. Harvey Karp, a leading pediatrician, believes that babies are born at nine months because of the size of their heads, not because they're developmentally ready to thrive beyond the womb. He believes that, ideally, a human pregnancy would last for an entire year. It's only then that a baby's brain is ready for life.
However, if a baby remained in the womb for three more months, their skulls would be too large for the birth canal. Thus, the first three months serve as that missing "fourth trimester." Babies need that time to become more awake, alert, and physically capable.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing. The fourth trimester is an excellent time for new parents to recover, learn, and settle into their shifting roles.
What Happens During the Fourth Trimester?
Have you ever woken up from a deep sleep in a warm, comfortable bed? We're willing to bet you were a little grumpy and didn't want to get up and face the light and sound. Imagine how your newborn feels after nine months in their ideal environment.
New babies do all they can to press the snooze button upon being born. They prefer the fetal position, rarely open their eyes when it's bright, and often act a little grumpy. Frequent newborn crying is very common.
New babies demand the round-the-clock instant gratification they received in the womb, which can be exhausting for tired parents. Essentially, all a new baby can do is eat, sleep, and defecate. You'll need to hold them frequently, and their sleep schedule will be irregular.
Luckily, most breastfeeding mothers have an easy time during the first three months, as their baby's frequent hunger stimulates milk production. You may have some breastfeeding challenges following this period as your little one settles into a more manageable eating schedule. It's okay to reach out to a lactation consultant at that time, even if you had no problems initially.
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Slowly, as time goes by, you'll notice small changes as your baby gets used to their stark change in circumstances. Most notably, they'll begin moving, lifting their own head, and acknowledging their physical environment.
The more a baby can see and move, the more they will interact. After three months, they'll stop behaving like a fetus and start acting like a tiny person.
Make sure to keep your pixsee smart baby monitor handy. You might even catch your baby's first smile.
Coping With Fourth Trimester Challenges
Our best piece of advice for surviving the fourth trimester is simply to "be the womb." Imagine what it was like for your baby while you were pregnant, and do your best to recreate that dark, cozy environment at home. All newborn babies really want and need is to be held close to your body.
Here are a few ways to make you and your baby more comfortable as you navigate your first twelve weeks together:
- Consider wearing your baby in a wrap
- Use a white noise machine
- Lower the lights
- Try using blackout curtains in bright rooms
- Invest in a baby swing or chair
- Commit to consistent tummy time
- Learn to swaddle your baby
- Soothe your baby with pacifiers
There is a link between incessant infant crying and the onset of postpartum depression in new parents. Any or all of these techniques can help trigger your newborn's inherent calming reflex. A calm newborn baby is less wakeful (and less likely to express their discontent in the only way they know how), which helps mom, too.
There is no such thing as "too much sleep" during the first three months of life. Newborns can slumber for up to eighteen hours each day. Sleep is a wonderful opportunity for infant brain development.
Be patient. When your little one is "done cooking," you'll have a happy, active baby on your hands, and the fun can finally begin.
When Pregnancy Ends, a Growth Journey Begins
When a baby horse is born, it shakes off its mane and tail and runs through the pasture. When a baby human is born, it's not yet ready to sprint around the playpen. The fourth trimester is a crucial period in your newborn's development, and you can help support them as they approach their 3 month milestone.
Your sweet baby's growth journey will only continue from there, and you won't want to miss a single moment of their dynamic developmental journey. When you create a digital growth record with pixsee, you won't have to.
Visit our Amazon online store and Pixsee Shop to learn how the pixsee smart baby monitor helps parents create crystal-clear, Full HD memories from day one.
