The Whole Village

More often than not, we refer to the period of time following the birth of a baby as the ‘Postpartum Period’. This is actually a term used in Western medicine to indicate the amount of time it takes for a mother’s hormone levels and uterus to return to their non-pregnant state. This is typically 6 weeks and then despite it taking a whole 9 months to grow a baby, new mothers are expected to ‘bounce back’ and move on. The fourth trimester is the three months following the birth of a baby. Originally it referred to the development of the baby, the time when newborns adjust to life outside the womb. Now it is more commonly used to refer to a mother’s transition into motherhood, when both mother and baby are as vulnerable as one another.It is a critical time for a mother’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being as she recovers from birth and adjusts to motherhood.

A mother’s wellbeing is crucial to the health of future generations, which is why supporting her during the fourth trimester is just as important as during pre-conception and pregnancy.

Unfortunately, many mothers today are navigating this critical time without the community support they need.

During pregnancy, a woman’s body prioritises her baby’s needs, even creating an entire new organ—the placenta—to nourish and support her growing child.

This immense effort can leave new mothers feeling extremely depleted and tired just as they begin their journey into motherhood.

New parents typically lose around 1500 hours of sleep in their baby’s first year, and breastfeeding mothers spend approximately 1800 hours feeding. If a mother doesn’t get enough nutrients, her body will use its own reserves to ensure her breastmilk is sufficient for her baby.

This nearly two-year period, where a mother’s body primarily focuses on her baby’s needs, highlights the critical importance of postpartum care.

Proper nourishment, rest, and emotional support can significantly impact her physical health, mental health, and ability to care for her baby.

Key aspects of postpartum care include support, rest, warmth, propper recovery, nourishment and hydration. Our resources include a deep dive into the postpartum pillars to help you enjoy a well supported and well nourished fourth trimester. Our recipe book addresses the nutritional needs, while our online village fosters a sense of community and emotional support.

Friends and family can support a new mother by preparing nourishing meals, helping with household chores, offering to babysit older children, and providing emotional support. Our recipe gift cards are a great way to coordinate a postpartum meal train. Our recipe book is a perfect gift for a new mum for her baby shower or mother’s blessing.

Common challenges include physical recovery, breastfeeding difficulties, sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, and feelings of isolation. Having a strong support system can help alleviate some of these challenges.

Village for Mama is designed for new mothers, second-time mums, more time mums, doulas, midwives, and anyone in the motherhood care sphere. Our resources are meant to help anyone looking to support new mothers during the crucial fourth trimester.