08/08/2025
The Fourth Trimester
Birth is not the end of the journey but rather just the start. Some call the 12 week period after delivery the 'fourth trimester'. Every mother and their newborn baby will go through it. It is a time of physical and emotional change as your baby adjusts to being outside the uterus, and you adjust to your new life as a parent.
In Australia, however, most women go home from hospital after a couple of days and attempt to continue to do everything as before.
If you have a partner, encourage them to assist and participate in parenting as much as possible. The two of you are in this together and there are lots of things you both can do to share the load.
You don’t want a procession of people coming over, but a few family and friends can help by:
* bringing meals
* helping with household chores
* looking after your other children (if this is not your first child)
* looking after the baby while you rest
Accept help and don’t be afraid to ask.
Need help?
* Talk to your doctor or midwife.
* Contact a maternal child health nurse.
* Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436, 7 days a week, from 7am to midnight (AEST).
* Visit the Australian Breastfeeding Association website, or call them on 1800 686 268.
* Call PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) on 1300 726 306.
Info via: https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/blog/what-is-the-fourth-trimester
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