The Fourth Trimester
"In the fourth trimester new mothers need rest, intuitive connection, and space to evolve into a new identity and reality.
In contrast, our cultural environment tells them it is better to focus on getting back to life the way it was before having a baby - get your body back, get the baby to sleep through the night ASAP, stick to a schedule and be productive as well as be a good mom, look like a pro and have it all together."
- Molly Rouse, M.A.
The fourth trimester is a special and sacred time, although it is not typically treated as such in the world we live in today. Intended to be a time of healing for the mother and connection for the whole family, the fourth trimester is designed to be slow, unstructured and a time to receive support. Unfortunately, for many new parents this phase of transition can be lonely, scary, confusing and very challenging.
Did you know that after giving birth a woman's brain actually shrinks slightly and transitions into a more intuitive, primal, nurturing and feminine state. This allows her innate inner wisdom to guide her in tending to her newborn and herself. In this state, a new mothers brain is less attached to the masculine structure of time and accomplishment.
Being in this mental space may be unfamiliar to a lot of women. In todays world we are encouraged to be goal-oriented, scheduled, put together and productive at all times. Moving into a space where at the end of the day there is no tangible 'result' and nothing really 'got done' can be hard for a lot of new moms.
Adding to this, with increased feminine energy comes an increased need for connection and community. We were not designed to be off on our own after giving birth. Have you ever heard the phrase "it takes a village"? We are truly hardwired to receive support from our community while caring for our young.
"This disconnect between physiological needs and societal reality is causing dis-ease for new mothers."
In her article "At the Heart of It: The Root Cause of Perinatal Mood Disorders" Molly Rouse points out how prevalent postpartum mood and anxiety disorders have become and the disempowering messaging that has become the norm. "Mothers are told they need to be fixed when in fact these signs of emotional and mental strain are red flags showing us how misaligned our society is with our physiologic needs".
She goes on to address how medication is the go-to response for the angst many new moms feel, rather than finding ways to provide more support. Many women who find themselves struggling in early motherhood feel guilty or shameful about their emotions when in reality the grief, anger and confusion they feel are often due to their needs not being met on a societal level.
Molly Rouse ends the article with a call to action, asserting that it is our collective responsibility to change the paradigm that creates unsupported, stressed out mothers. She offers some suggestions, with awareness being the first. Acknowledging and witnessing the truth of the situation is the perfect place to start. Below are her further recommendations:
- Look around and observe the actual state of happiness, health and contentment among the moms you know. How about yourself?
- Become aware of where grief and anger reside within you and how they are expressed.
- Notice how many moms you know are on SSRI medications.
- Ask for or offer help - a meal, a cup of tea, house cleaning, shopping, childcare, a listening ear, a walk outside, etc.
I am grateful for the opportunity to provide support to postpartum women through chiropractic care. I know how important it is to have the Nervous System functioning at its’ highest potential in order to aid new moms in adapting to all of the changes they go through. The more aligned, connected and at ease the physical body is the easier it is to handle the mental/emotional stressors as well. I believe that if more women were encouraged to utilized holistic healing throughout pregnancy and into the fourth trimester we would have a healthier, happier collective.
To read Molly Rouse’s full article check out issue 71 of Pathways to Family Wellness Magazine here and go to page 54.