If your baby could send a text from the womb, it might read, “Please don’t evict me!”
At around 40 weeks, infants are not quite ready to thrive in the world without plenty of support. In fact, human babies are born with the most underdeveloped brains of any primate.
Research indicates that they would benefit from an additional nine to twelve months in the womb to reach the neurological and cognitive development levels of other primates.
This developmental gap stems from our evolutionary journey. As women evolved to walk upright, their pelvises narrowed, making it increasingly difficult to give birth to larger-headed babies beyond 42 weeks of gestation.
So, what does this mean for you and your newborn?
Buckle up!
The first three months post-birth, often referred to as the fourth trimester, will be a time of significant adjustment as your baby learns to navigate the world around them.
What is the Fourth Trimester?
The fourth trimester refers to the three-month adjustment period for babies transitioning to life outside the womb. This concept gained traction in the late 1970s and was popularized by pediatrician Harvey Karp in his book, The Happiest Baby on the Block, published in 2002.
Karp’s insights suggest that we should view newborns as fetuses outside the womb, emphasizing the need for parents to recreate womb-like conditions to soothe fussy infants.
His method, known as the 5 S’s, mimics the sounds, movements, and snugness of the womb, helping babies regulate their reflexes and refine their senses.
Dr. Ana Hernandez-Puga, a pediatrician with TopLine MD Health Alliance in Kendall, FL, explains, “The first three months involve lots of cuddling and extra care. It’s a huge learning curve for both the baby and the parents.”
Consider this: For nine months, your baby has been accustomed to a warm, cozy, and noisy environment where they moved in sync with your body. Transitioning to a cold, quiet nursery can be overwhelming.
What to Expect During the Fourth Trimester?
Every newborn is unique, with their temperament influencing how they adapt during these first few months.
Some babies are easygoing, while others may be more challenging to soothe.
According to Karp’s guide, infants enter the world with four essential abilities, which initially limit their activities to eating, sleeping, looking, peeing, and pooping.
- Life support controls: Regulating heart rate and breathing.
- State control: Learning to manage alertness levels.
- Reflexes: Innate actions like sucking, sneezing, and crying.
- Muscle control: Limited attempts to reach out, look around, and interact.
As your baby engages with you through eye contact, touch, and conversation, their brain cells will develop at an astonishing rate. Although they can see, hear, and feel from birth, their vision remains blurry at first. Babies typically recognize their mothers primarily by scent.
Expect plenty of crying, as it’s their primary means of communication. “You can’t spoil a baby during these early months,” Hernandez-Puga advises. “In fact, the more consistently you respond to their fussing in the first six months, the less demanding they are likely to be as they grow older.”
As weeks go by, you’ll notice your baby sleeping longer stretches, feeding more regularly as their stomach capacity increases, and interacting more through coos and gurgles.
By two to three months, your baby will transition dramatically, engaging in mutual interaction where smiles and coos become a delightful dance of communication.
Tips for Helping Your Baby Through the Fourth Trimester
Regardless of temperament, expect some fussiness, especially in the initial weeks. A routine check for hunger (most babies feed roughly every two hours), dirty diapers, and the need to burp should be your go-to strategy.
If your baby remains fussy despite these checks, you may need to try different approaches.
Effective Soothing Techniques
- Skin-to-skin contact: Holding your baby close allows them to feel your heartbeat, smell your scent, and absorb your warmth.
- Motion: Gentle rocking, dancing, or a car ride can be soothing.
- Warm baths: Warm water can help relax your baby and establish a bedtime routine.
If fussiness persists, your baby might be overstimulated, gassy, or overtired. Here’s where Karp’s 5 S’s come into play, potentially bringing your baby closer to sleep:
- Swaddle: Securely wrapping your baby like a burrito (with arms tucked in) mimics the womb’s security and helps curb the startle reflex.
- Side/Stomach: Holding your baby on their side or stomach on your lap can offer comfort but always place them on their back to sleep to reduce SIDS risk.
- Shushing: Making shushing sounds as loud as your baby’s cry can help soothe them, mimicking the whooshing sounds they heard in the womb.
- Swinging: Gently jiggling your baby in small movements can help them relax.
- Sucking: Once breastfeeding is established, offering a pacifier can be soothing between feedings or as they fall asleep.
Karp emphasizes, “Twenty years ago, many parents worried about spoiling their babies. We’ve learned that babies need closeness and responsiveness to build secure attachments.”
Tips for Helping Moms Through the Fourth Trimester
Caring for a newborn is exhausting. According to Karp, new mothers average 6.5 hours of sleep per day—which sounds manageable until you realize it’s often broken into short segments. “This state of sleep deprivation can feel akin to being drunk,” he notes.
Sleep deprivation can lead to postpartum depression, relationship strain, and even increase the risk of SIDS if parents inadvertently allow their baby to sleep in unsafe conditions.
To support parents in getting more rest, Karp developed the SNOO Smart Sleeper, a bassinet that rocks babies and plays white noise to help them sleep.
Kimberly Ann Johnson, author of The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality, recommends new parents create a detailed blueprint for postpartum care. Key considerations should include:
- Visitor List: Make a list of trusted individuals who can help care for the baby while you rest.
- Rest Strategies: Plan how to unplug from technology and manage visitors to prioritize rest.
- Meal Train: Organize meals to avoid cooking during the early weeks.
- Minimize Commitments: Limit obligations outside the home.
- Contact Information: Keep a list of wellness experts (like lactation consultants or pelvic floor specialists) handy.
- Self-Care: List activities that nourish your mind and spirit, like favorite movies or books.
Johnson highlights, “Women need the same care that babies require postpartum. To give the care that’s expected of them, mothers need to be nurtured and supported as well.”
