Now the thing is, society often praises photos like that. “Wow, look at you out and about already.” “You look great, who’d have thought you’d just had a baby”

 

The photo makes me sad though. When I look back I feel sorry for this new mum.

 

A new mum that was super prepared for birth but had paid no attention to the next bit and as a result felt lost behind the mascara and put on smiles.

 

My fourth trimester with Harris looked like…

 

Visitors, visitors, visitors. And more visitors

wondering whether we were doing things ‘right’

Not a lot of sleep or rest even

Not eating all day and a takeaway late at night

feeling I must look like nothing’s changed and I’m still me

Using our free time to go out and make the most of Adam’s two weeks off not seeing that actually what was slower time to connect as a three

 

I wish I’d known more about the fourth trimester. If only I’d have known more about the emotions, the healing, what babies needed, how and where I could get support.

 

We did things differently with our next arrivals and by baby number four we had a blissful baby moon…

 

 

 I Soaked up all that skin to skin

 I’d planned my support

 Healing and bonding were prioritised

 We ate well

 Visitors were limited

 The world waited

 

I recently recorded an Instagram live with the lovely Sarah Tessier, talking all about how important the fourth trimester is and how you can help to prepare your clients for this time, you can watch it here:

 

 

 

Abby x