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Life in the Fourth Trimester

Life in the Fourth Trimester header image Register for This Class

Do you and your partner feel prepared for what life will be like in the days and weeks just after birth? New parents often say they regret that they were so busy thinking about the birth that they forgot to consider what they would need to know when the baby arrived. The truth is, most of us weren’t taking care of babies a whole lot growing up, and we’re missing some fundamental village knowledge around the appropriate ways to perceive and respond to our babies.

The fourth trimester (the first three months postpartum) is a complex social, emotional, and physical journey into our “new normal” of parenthood. It is exciting and challenging. As with all life transitions, we thrive best with support in the fourth trimester.

In this intimate and hands-on workshop, which is designed for third-trimester expectant parents and parents of babies who are up to eight weeks of age, we will explore the realities of the fourth trimester. We will build your understanding and skills around these things:

Self-care

  • recovering from labor and delivery;
  • getting enough rest amidst the demands of early parenting;
  • recognizing if you may be developing postpartum anxiety or depression;
  • caring for your baby while also protecting your ability to function well;
  • utilizing a circle of support when you need it.

Babies Beyond Poop

  • managing your baby’s physical care (holding, diapering, belly button care, bathing, etc.);
  • understanding and responding to your baby’s fundamental kinds of reflexes, instincts, and non-verbal communication;
  • preventing upset and overwhelm for your baby, and soothing your baby well when these occur;
  • best supporting your baby’s brain development and physical development.

Family Well-Being

  • managing the cycles of stressful events that come with early parenting;
  • developing rituals and routines to accomplish the most important activities each day;
  • for couples, co-parenting in ways that utilize both parents’ abilities well.
Overall, the class is about how to recognize what’s normal in this stage of life, how to respond to it, and how to cope well if things outside the norm happen in the fourth trimester. And you will have the chance to ask questions about things about babies that have seemed weird or confusing to you. The information in this class is designed for both partners. If the birthing parent is partnered, both parents are strongly encouraged to attend. If you are planning to breastfeed, I recommend taking this course along with the prenatal Preparing for Breastfeeding Success class. Life in the Fourth Trimester only briefly touches on feeding.

Register for This Class

Contact Me

You can give me a call or text at
+45 53 53 85 73
or email me by
clicking here.