In today’s post we will talk about Fourth trimester of pregnancy. You must be knowing about the three trimesters of pregnancy , but have you ever heard about the fourth trimester? If not, don’t worry, we will tell you everything about it. Not everyone may have heard of the fourth trimester, but every mother and baby goes through it. The fourth trimester is the period during which a new mother learns to adjust to her new routine and the newborn baby also tries to adjust to the outside world.
What is fourth quarter?
The fourth trimester is the phase that begins with the birth of a child and lasts for three months after its birth. Growth inside the womb is challenging enough for him, while coming out of the mother’s womb into a completely new world is even greater for the newborn.
During this time all the senses are at their peak and all the information starts flowing through sight, sound, touch, smell, and many other ways. Your baby will experience hunger and discomfort for the first time when he/she comes out of your womb and will have no idea how to deal with it. Instead of the warm and cool environment inside the womb, there is a sharp and cold environment outside, which disturbs the baby a lot. This is one of the most important things that determine its development.
Why Fourth Trimester Is Important For Newborn Baby?
Babies take their time to adjust to the new world after birth and the first three months after their birth are crucial. At the time of birth a child’s senses are not fully developed and it takes some time for the senses to develop completely. After spending all that time inside the womb, there was hardly a need for that. Your baby can see but not very clearly, he will hear but have difficulty distinguishing one sound from another, he feels touch but it will feel quite rough and irritating compared to the amniotic fluid. The child’s brain is fully developed, but it does not yet have the ability to function fully. This happens in parallel with the growth that he is doing as he adjusts to his surroundings.
Over a period of three months, babies start learning to breathe properly and live in a rhythm. Hunger pangs and the desire to sleep begin to mold them into some kind of schedule. They start learning how to cry for attention and also learn to spend time on their own. He senses the presence of other people in his life and begins to recognize certain sounds and smells.
baby development in fourth trimester
During the baby’s development in the fourth trimester, his movements give several signals that are considered important to monitor his development and tell whether everything is on the right track or not.
Sleep
Sleep is the most important activity for a newborn baby as most of its internal development takes place at that time. Many children sleep for longer periods during this time, allowing their brains to process all the information they have taken in.
It may take longer than usual to set up a routine around this. Your baby is still trying to understand light and dark and it will take some time for her to understand how to induce sleep on her own. This is the reason why most babies stay awake throughout the night or struggle to sleep during the day. That said, it is important to make sure they get enough sleep , even if it means letting your child sleep in the morning. Every child behaves differently and this is where parents get to know their child as well.
cry
Crying is the only way a newborn baby can communicate anything. Most babies continue to cry for a month or more and later their crying subsides as they begin to grasp onto things.
Whenever a child feels hungry or wets himself or faces any problem or even feels lonely, stressed or worried, he starts crying to tell his problem to someone. Is. It is important to attend to his crying as early as possible in the initial months as your baby needs all the support you can get. Too much attention on newborns is not bad. In fact, they need it more than anyone else.
drinking milk
Small children should be fed milk every two hours. If your baby is hungry, he cries to let you know he is hungry.
But crying all the time does not mean that he is hungry. Over time, the crying pattern starts to change and the schedule gets set, sometimes it signals hunger while other times it is due to a wet diaper. The best sign to know that your baby is hungry is to gently touch his mouth. Most babies have a sucking reflex that triggers the moment they find something close to their mouth. Newborn babies have to learn to breastfeed properly and may take several feeds before both mother and baby find something that works for them. This is also a good time to strengthen the bond between mother and child.
Senses
During this period, the child’s fully developed senses become sharper and improve.
The very first thing that should be noted is that the baby will start seeing your face clearly during this trimester, and will eventually reach complete clarity. This can also be linked to the sense of hearing as your baby’s eyes will try to locate the direction of the sound by looking around. Listening to a variety of sounds and especially, mother’s voice is calming and soothing for him. He immediately feels safe and at ease.
Along with smell, taste and touch, these also develop equally rapidly. After several feedings, the baby starts getting used to the smell of your body and the area around the breast. This is why even when half asleep, many babies recognize the mother’s breast near their face and grab it to drink milk. Skin-to-skin contact at this level further strengthens the bond between mother and child, creating a feeling of belonging.
physical development
Newborn babies are neither able to move much nor support themselves. All their movements are limb based and reflexive.
During this trimester, you can help the baby spend more time on the tummy so that he can use his arms to prop himself up. This helps him to lift his neck to look straight ahead. All these types of things require repetition and practice to develop strength for further development.
Tips to keep your baby calm and safe during the fourth trimester
The baby needs a lot of support and love during this period to feel safe and comfortable. This can be achieved in several simple ways.
1. Help baby sleep in crib
Your baby will enjoy sleeping in the crib as he will feel snug and comfortable.
2 . Wrap the baby properly
Wrapping your baby in a soft cloth or wrapper will give him a sense of security and control over his body movements.
3 . Take the baby outside
For a change in the child’s environment, take him for a short walk outside or a short car drive which may work for him.
4 . Always Opt for Breastfeeding
Do not avoid breastfeeding her and if she asks for it, feed her immediately.
5. Sleep in the same room or same bed
Keep your baby’s crib in the same room as your bed and place it right next to you.
6. Bathe the baby thoroughly
Bathing your baby before sleeping will help him relax and also give him better sleep.
7. Encourage skin-to-skin contact
This helps the baby to breastfeed better and starts establishing a communication channel with the mother.
How to take care of yourself during this trimester
During this, along with the child, it is necessary for the mother to take care of herself.
- Make sure you get enough rest and don’t stress yourself out during your recovery phase.
- In such a situation, do not be afraid to ask for help and share the tasks with your husband.
- Take some time for yourself and do activities you enjoy. Read a book or take a walk in the park for a while without worrying about the baby.
Equipment needed in the fourth quarter
Let us tell you that breastfeeding is the main part of the baby’s development in the fourth trimester, so it is necessary for a breastfeeding mother to keep some different types of equipment with her.
- If your breasts are large and droopy, use a breastfeeding pad to help soak up the leaking milk.
- Wear blouses or tops that have buttons or allow easy access to the breasts.
- Choose a breastfeeding bra that not only supports your breasts but also helps your baby feed easily.
- Consult your gynecologist for the right contraceptive .
What do you learn during this trimester?
The fourth trimester is a learning experience for both the baby and the mother in different ways.
1. Breastfeeding Isn’t Easy
Yes, feeding a baby is not easy and it may take some time for you and your baby to get comfortable with breastfeeding. Along with the demands of the baby, the body also needs time to adjust to the proper production and there is no need to worry too much about it.
2. Hormonal changes keep happening
Just like pregnancy, the body goes through various changes in motherhood, which results in hormonal levels changing again. Due to which mood swings occur in women and postpartum depression also occurs. There is a need to be aware of this and keep our spirits high.
3. Sleep deprivation is real
Your baby will keep you awake at night and you may not get enough sleep. You have to learn to sleep during the day and make sure you are getting enough rest.
A newborn baby is introduced to the new world in the initial months after delivery. Along with this, the woman also fulfills the responsibility of motherhood. With enough support and love, both become support for each other and carry on this entire journey happily.
