Surviving the Fourth Trimester: The Magic of the S

Many parents talk about surviving the fourth trimester. Those first 12 weeks with a new baby can be so wonderful, but also have their challenges. The magical S’s are tricks that comfort babies when all else seems to fail.

We’ve been there- considering all sorts of reasons why baby is crying; too hot, too cold, hungry, sore bum, who knows?! Sometimes baby’s just realise they are out of the comforts of their mummy’s tummy and they just don’t like it. It’s what we call the fourth trimester. There is this theory that us baby humans have heads so big that we have to be born before we’re quite ready. Just think most other mammals come out walking… Now imagine pushing out a walking , talking 1 year old… No thanks, I will take the sleepless nights.

What is the fourth trimester?

Have you heard of the ‘fourth trimester’? It’s classed as the first 12 weeks of babies lives and is the time that baby is adapting to this big, bright, noisy world that we live. We never see this on the TV. Baby’s sleep in their cots right? They cry, you feed them and they go back to sleep, right? With all the selling & marketing of all these cots, cribs and Moses baskets it gives us the expectation that this is where baby is going to want to sleep and settle. But, this is far from the reality.

The womb to work transition is like us going on an all inclusive holiday in sunny Spain. It’s warm, we don’t do much, all our food is made and brought to us… then BAM we get home to England, it’s cold and we have to work for our food! It takes some adapting right? Anyway you get the idea… I can only imagine it’s nice in a womb, and just like a holiday we get the blues too when we have to come away from it.

So here’s some ways to make your baby’s new home like their sunny Spain…

1. Skin to skin

I always try this first. It can also help if baby is so upset that he/she doesn’t want to feed. It regulates their breathing, heart rate and temperature. Just don’t forget to keep the nappy on. The only thing that can be worse with a crying baby, is to be covered in wee and baby poo.. holding a crying baby.

2. Sssssshhhh

The sssshh sound creates the sound of being back in the room. If baby is crying really loud you need to Ssssh louder than them and then reduce it as they are quiet. We posted last week about a white noise app that does all your Ssshing for you. I used to try hairdryers and also the vacuum cleaner. This was the only type of cleaning I did with a newborn, hoovering my baby to sleep. My bedroom carpet has never been so clean.

3. Swaddle

If skin to skin isn’t working then go for the swaddle. There are lots of YouTube videos on how to swaddle but it’s basically like wrapping a fajita. We can also show you how to swaddle at antenatal class. Thin sheets are always better to swaddle as you don’t want your baby getting too hot. This makes baby feel all cocooned like they did in the womb and so is perfect for the transition in the fourth trimester. When they’re in a swaddle make sure they are always placed down on their back and stop swaddling if your baby can roll.

4. Suck

Babies find comfort in sucking so either let your baby stay at the breast for comfort or try a dummy if you’ve chosen to use one.

5. Sway

So this is where you cuddle your baby in your arms and sway, walk, swing, jog lightly on the spot. Create any movement that will make your baby feel like she has the motion of being back in your womb whilst you walk around Mothercare. Expect that most of your first 12 weeks will be spent doing this. To the point where you’ve nailed the sway that it is so ingrained into you that you don’t even have to be holding your baby to be swaying. You just stand… talking… swaying.

And now mamas do all at the same time… ! You feel a bit crazy but with these little magic S’s you will have your baby settled, soothed and soundly sleeping in no time. Now spread these tips like wildfire, as you never know who you might save from ‘The Witching Hour’.

The Baby Chapter and The Fourth Trimester

You know over here we get how you want to feel so prepared for your baby. We also get how there’s so much to take in!! So what we do over here is bring in the pros to help you when you need it most, and that’s when baby is here!

So if you have a baby that’s struggling to sleep – we have you covered with our sleep pro Helen. Helen’s view on baby sleep is that it’s only a problem if it’s a problem for you, or not safe. Helen sets your expectations of what a baby sleep life is really like. If you have a baby who’s struggling with colic and reflux, we also have you covered with our cranial osteopath Olivia. Olivia looks at your baby as a whole, considering many different things that can be making your baby extra cranky; baby’s birth, feeding, baby’s position and also your stress level. These are all topics that are covered in The Baby Chapter, a postnatal online course that helps you navigate from the moment you give right through to weaning.

If you want to read more about the fourth trimester, head to The World Can Wait – The Fourth Trimester.