Pregnant to new mom: 5 tips to handle your fourth trimester

Motherhood is beautiful -- here's how to enjoy it fully.

By: Naz Haider | | Updated: November 26, 2015 11:19 am

if you are pregnant, you need to take several precautions during winter! © Shutterstock

No matter how many books you read to prepare you for your role of being a new mom, trust me, no knowledge or wisdom will come to rescue you when your newborn makes a banshee-esque shriek in the middle of the night, followed by incessant crying which will only subside after you hold her, feed her and whisper soothing words.

‘He wants to be held all the time.’

‘She sleeps only on my tummy.’

‘The moment I lay him down in his crib, he wakes up and cries.’

‘I fed her, burped her and changed her nappy, yet she continues to cry….until I pick her up and hold her close.’

If you can identify with these feelings, dear new mom, welcome to the fourth trimester — the initial days following your delivery when your child fails to realise and accept that they are finally out of the womb.

Fourth trimester is not a medical term, rather it is a widely-acknowledged concept that the first three months of the baby’s life are more of an extension of their life in the womb. The sooner you understand this fact, the better you will be in a position to help your baby adapt to the transition. Here are 19 baby care tips every new mum should know.

Zinal Unadkat, pediatrician lactation consultant, Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, says, ‘You need to understand that the baby has spent its life so far in the warmth of the womb, listening to the mother’s heartbeat. That, and being out in the world, is a major change. Plus, the process of birth can also stress the baby — especially if the delivery was an assisted one like vacuum extraction or using pitocin for inducing contractions. Add to this, the chaos the baby is exposed to right after birth — a chilled room and strangers handling her. This is the reason I stress on the need for skin-to-skin contact of the mother and baby, as that is the environment and warmth she are used to. Also, being able to listen to their mother’s heartbeat soothes them.’

Here are some valuable tips from her on how you can ease your baby into this change and also establish a strong bond in the process.

1. Try for a vaginal birth: Barring medical emergencies and conditions that necessitate a caesarean section, try to keep your birthing process as natural as you can. Work on a birth plan and discuss it with your gynaecologist beforehand so that they know that you are mentally prepared to endure the pain and let your baby come in this world as naturally as possible. Most importantly, whether you have a vaginal birth or a caesarean, ask your doctor to place your baby on your chest for skin-to-skin contact and breast crawl. A calmer baby will be more attuned to her surroundings.

2. You are a mother, not a patient: When you go to a hospital for delivery, you are bound to be treated as a patient — but you know that you are a mother, and the needs of your baby come first. Not just skin-to-skin, ensure that you feed your baby right after she is born. While in the womb, you baby did not know what hunger was, and now it is your job to keep her fed and nourished. Ask for assistance if needed, but do not give it up just because the nurses tell you that you need rest. By ensuring that your baby is nourished and tended to, she will gain confidence and adapt to the new environment easily.

3. Enjoy the process: For most new moms, lack of sleep and no proper routine is too much to deal with. The problem with this situation is that like it or not, you have to function according to the baby’s needs. Day or night, you have to feed the baby every two-three hours, change all the dirty nappies and soothe the baby constantly. Instead of feeling grumpy and complaining about sleep-deprivation, enjoy the process (which will come to an end too soon) and use the time to understand your baby and her needs. Soon you will by in-sync and know exactly what she needs to be comforted. Here are 10 dos and don’ts for new moms.

4. Self-soothing is a hoax: If you think that your job is over with feeding, burping and keeping the baby clean, you are wrong. Many people advocate letting the baby soothe themselves when they are sulky or acting a little cranky. Understand that crying is the only way a baby communicates. By not responding to these, you will simply make the baby feel unsafe and insecure. Newborn babies are used to warmth and the sound of the mother’s heartbeat. This is why it is important that you touch and hold your baby as much as you can. Also, certain white noises have a calming effect on the baby. The best thing though would be for you to hum a sweet lullaby.

5. Form a bond with the baby: Speak to your baby as they are used to your voice, hold and cuddle them as they are used to the warmth of your body, observe your baby and be with them to tend to their every need. Touch is the most important way you can connect with your baby. Massage her with warm oil, lightly tickle her or count her fingers and toes. Now only is this quality time spent but also helps the baby understand and develop healthy emotions. Also, this plays a crucial role in letting the baby get used to and trust the new environment. Here’s a step by step guide on bonding with your baby.

The onus of helping the baby through this transition does not lie with the mother alone. Fathers play an equally important role. After the mom, it is the dad’s voice that the baby hears the most when she was in the womb. Also, the bond that fathers form with their newborn babies goes a long way and is one that they both will cherish forever.

Image: Shutterstock

Published: November 26, 2015 10:57 am | Updated:November 26, 2015 11:19 am

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