Fourth Trimester

[KathrynK]

This pops up from time to time. What does it mean to you?

[SomethingOnce]

The recovery period!

[dobedobedo]

Having a baby stuck to your boobs for the first couple of months, all day every day!

[JollyMarie79]

As above

[UriGeller]

The time a newborn needs to adjust to being on the outside due to their relative "unreadyness" . Lots of skin to skin contact, breastfeeding, being held. I really relished this time, its also ensures a quiet, calm recovery time for the mother.

[PenguinsEatSpinach]

Yes, the first three months of a baby's life (and, to a lesser extent, the mother's recovery).

What does it mean to you OP?

[thecakeisalie]

To me its the 3 months after baby is born and its a reminder to not worry that my baby doesn't sleep for long periods of time or even away from me or DH, breastfeeds very often and cluster feeds at times, wants to be held all the time and so on. It's such a huge adjustment for the baby being in the outside world after all that time inside it's not the time to worry about things and it's certainly not a time to listen to any advice that has 'your making a rod for your own back' mantra!

[SweetPea86]

As long as the fourth trimester means I won't be pregnant bring on the tasks of baby :D

[KathrynK]

Ah Penguins you've hit the nail on the head. Sorry for not replying sooner. I asked the question because I've found that the phrase was coined in 1983, when it meant the MOTHER's transition. Nowadays it's all about the baby, you even said yourself "to a lesser extent, the mother's recovery".

Isn't it interesting that in 30 years we've moved from being mother centred to being infant centred. And what does that mean about societies messages to women? Will stop before I go off on one! Thanks for your comments everyone, love them x