Written By: Zaakirah Idrissu

Have you heard of the fourth trimester? It is essentially the 12 weeks after giving birth, and it’s just as important as the previous three trimesters for monitoring wellbeing. Unfortunately, when not too careful, a health crisis can also be experienced in those early weeks postpartum that had not otherwise occurred during the pregnancy, such as HELLP syndrome.

Therefore let’s question why the fourth trimester so rarely discussed? Why do new mothers and the community mistakenly think everything will be “good as new” in those six short weeks postpartum after the body previously sustained forty weeks of pregnancy? Lets consider how the rates of postpartum depression are rising, particularly in the West.

When we take a deeper look at the circumstances of new parents, especially in the West, we can see that systematically and culturally, there are very few financial, emotional, and physical support protocols or services in place. This can play a significant role in experiencing a mental health concern when transitioning from the nuanced pregnancy experience to the realities of the newborn phase of parenthood. Western cultures may also teach values of self-isolation and self-reliance from extended family and friends in this postpartum phase, further exacerbating mental health problems unknowingly. Compare that to cultural postpartum norms, such as ‘La Cuarentena ’ in Latin cultures, where mothers rest for 40 days with family support, or ‘Omugwo’, the Igbo tradition in which a female relative, often the mother or mother-in-law, supports the needs of the mother-baby dyad. Additionally, consider governmental support in some countries, such as Germany, where parents may have access to paid extended parental leave for up to three years. Alternatively, in Korea, parents may receive subsidized professional postpartum doula support services. In Finland, parents who attend prenatal appointments are eligible for a newborn care package filled with essential items for the first year of their child's life.

While the lochia (bleeding) may have stopped in those first six to eight weeks, so many areas of the body are simultaneously undergoing intense healing. Mothers may find themselves recovering from a variety of things like diastasis recti, perineal tears, and even incontinence . If we were to consider the analogy of a postpartum mother being revered like a veteran soldier, the community would quickly offer a helping hand! Instead of mothers being rushed to wean, sleep train, and send newborns to daycare at two to six weeks postpartum, just so they can “bounce back” to work, they should be encouraged and supported.

It is essential to honor the healing process of the fourth trimester with nourishment of the body, mind, and soul. Additionally the babies will benefit from having parents who are not nutritionally depleted, sleep-deprived, and emotionally frustrated. When childbearing women are welcomed and supported by members of society they can feel safe to ask for help making it better to be able to heal from the tremendous act of giving birth, however it may have occurred. Motherhood is a journey that lasts a lifetime so it should be respected and treated with compassion.