The fourth trimester is a name for roughly the first 12 weeks after birth, when a baby adjusts to life outside the womb and the parents recover and adapt. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists uses the term to stress that postpartum care should be ongoing, not a single check-up.
Key takeaways
- Newborns often settle best with closeness, movement and sound that mimic the womb.
- Parents' physical and emotional recovery deserves as much attention as the baby's care.
- Frequent feeding and broken sleep are normal in these weeks.
What you can do
- Accept practical help and keep expectations low.
- Use holding, rocking, white noise and skin-to-skin contact to soothe your baby.
- Attend postnatal check-ups and mention any physical or emotional concerns.
