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Most expectant parents focus on both the baby and the mother's health before birth, and then almost exclusively on the baby's health upon birth. But there are three important post-partum months for new mamas, and that trimester is just as important to the health and well-being of both baby and mama as were the first trimester, the second trimester and the third trimester.

The first three months of life are precious and tender. Practitioners of early infant care work as important partners with infants' parents to make sure that babies are healthy and nurtured during their first three months. Infant care during the first three months primarily is focused on helping babies transition into engaging with the world while their bodies and minds develop. Both parents and practitioners spend much of their time soothing infants so that they are able to be comfortable and therefore ready to dedicate energy to growth, so understanding the experience of infants can help develop strategies to meet their needs in an early care setting.

The 4th Trimester
Many medical and neo-natal development experts believe that the first three months of a child's life are the equivalent of a "4th Trimester." They believe that if it were biologically possible to carry a child in the womb longer than nine months, it would take a total of 12 months to prepare a baby for becoming fully receptive to life in our world.

The first nine months of pregnancy occur in the womb, which, of course, is an ideal environment for infant growth. But in the instant of birth, an infant enters an entirely different world which is full of stressors. Every sense of an infant
encounters a change, and much of the time they may feel very uncomfortable. On top of that profound change, if a mother needs out-of-home care during that time, additional stressor occurs as the child adapts to a second environment, more caregivers and time away from mama.

Mothers also are going through a 4th Trimester as their bodies heal and their hormones change. They may be surprised to learn that their body is not "going back" to the status it was in before pregnancy. Some permanent changes to bone structure and body types, as well as to hormones. More changes will take place as the uterus sheds excess cell growth and shrinks back into place, as stitches heal and as post-partum emotional changes are enhances with new hormonal activity and the physical strain of round-the-clock caregiving.

The 4th trimester is a critical time for developing post-partum syndrome or post-partum depression. New mothers must be supported and cared from during the vulnerable and taxing 4th trimester.

If they are breastfeeding, the first three months of their child's life will be focused on this experience. The rest of the family is also experiencing a myriad of stressors, including a lack of sleep and the persistent needs of their infant which now must be added to the other demands of their life. If she needs to return to work during this period, she will be under a great deal of physical and emotional stress during this transition.

Family support, medical care, mental health support and patience are all helpful solutions to the strains of the 4th trimester, so that both the newborn and her mama can enjoy to the profound joy of the 4th trimester, which is welcoming a new miracle into the world.

Learn more about this author, Eva Smart.
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