The 4th Trimester and How a Postpartum Doula Can Help You

By Guest Blogger Sara “RaRa” Gibson with PostPartum By RaRa

Everyone will tell you that pregnancy is over once you finally meet your new little one, but is that really the case? The idea of the “4th trimester” and thinking of it as a part of pregnancy is a very new idea, but it’s exactly how those first 3 months with your newborn should be thought of. Your body just went through 9 months of constant change, not to mention giving birth. Three months of recovery are well overdue and part of the process.

What is the 4th Trimester?

After you bring your baby into the world, pregnancy finally enters its last phase. For the next three months, your body begins to recover and change to meet the needs of your newborn. Even with a natural birth that had no complications, it takes a bare minimum of 40 days for your body to recover from pregnancy and giving birth. What you just did is AMAZING! You used your own body and life to create a new life that is now resting in your arms. It is a time to bond with the new member of your family while you and your body adjust to your new normal. It comes with a lot of physical, emotional, and life changes. It’s a completely different process for every new mom and every new family, but those first few months with your new baby will be some of the most precious of both your lives.

What is a Postpartum Doula?

Doulas have become much more common in homes, hospitals, and among new moms around the world. The idea of a doula comes from women helping other women through the process of childbirth and it’s become more and more common to have a doula by your side while you give birth. I am part of a smaller, more specialized niche in the doula community, a postpartum doula. Postpartum doulas are there to provide help and support through the transition from birth to motherhood. Postpartum doulas are professionals that are trained to give you as much physical and emotional support as you need during the first month’s home with your baby. Postpartum doulas are unbiased, non-judgmental women trained in:

• Infant Care
• Postpartum Care
• C-Section Care
• Sibling Care
• Physical Recovery
• Emotional Recovery and Support
• Newborn Development
• Sleep Assistance
• Meal Prep and Household Chores
• Breastfeeding and Nursing Assistance
• And so much more!

How Can You Benefit from a Postpartum Doula?

The first few months after bringing your baby home are wonderful, but they’re also exceedingly difficult. A postpartum doula can help ease the transition from pregnancy to motherhood so that you can focus on the things that really matter, your recovery and your baby. Every family, whether it’s your first child or your fifth, can benefit from a postpartum doula. Just having someone there to help your day to day or to let you get some much-deserved sleep in those first few months have proven to be invaluable. Mothers who have used a postpartum doula have said that it’s the best thing they could have done for themselves and their family after bringing a new baby home.

The Investment and Affordability of a Postpartum Doula

The important thing to remember when considering a postpartum doula is that if you need help, it’s always worth getting that help. Hiring a postpartum doula is an investment to not only your mental, physical, and emotional health, but also that of your baby and family. As a postpartum doula, I find the most important thing for me is to be able to help those mothers in need, and that means doing everything I can to make sure you can afford to have the help that you need. If you’re interested in hiring a postpartum doula, but are concerned about the cost, there are several options available to you. You can talk to your postpartum doula about affordability and payment options. Postpartum doulas can even make great gifts! As strange as that sounds, I’ve worked with families where grandparents, friends, and relatives have footed the bill so that the family can get everything they need.

Postpartum Doulas During COVID

I know that bringing a new person into your house around your new baby is nerve wracking during the COVID-19 Pandemic. As a professional, I make sure that all precautions and safety measures are taken to ensure the health of your family. This includes routine COVID testing, quarantine procedures, frequent handwashing, and rigorous sanitation measures. The health and safety of your growing family is my first priority.

Sara Gibson is an experienced postpartum doula and nanny trained through DONA International. She is passionate about providing postpartum care that every mother and baby deserve. If you’d like to learn more about Sara’s story, qualifications, and why she responds to “Rara” more than Sara, feel free to visit postpartumbyrara.com or reach out to postpartumbyrara@gmail.com.

*Sponsored by PostPartum By RaRa