The Truth About the Fourth Trimester

They tell you so much about pregnancy and birth—but rarely do they prepare you for what comes after. The fourth trimester. Three months of transition, healing, and becoming. Not just for the baby—but for you. This season isn't just about diapers and feeding schedules. It's about your body learning how to rest again. Your heart adjusting to new rhythms. Your identity expanding to make room for motherhood—while still holding onto you. And let's be honest: no one tells you how hard it can be. The exhaustion that goes bone-deep. The emotions that rise without warning. The loneliness, even when you're surrounded by love. But here's the truth I've learned through years of walking with families: the fourth trimester isn't meant to be survived alone. It's meant to be held. That's why God placed doulas in this world—not to take over, but to come alongside. To warm your soup while the baby nurses. To fold the endless laundry. To sit with you in silence when words aren't enough. To remind you, again and again, that you are not failing—you are growing. Your body is sacred. Your recovery matters. Your feelings are valid. And your baby isn't the only one who needs gentle care. You do too. So give yourself grace. Let people help. Say yes to the meals, the prayers, the hands that reach out. Because healing isn't a race. It's a process. And you don't have to walk it empty-handed. The fourth trimester isn't just about survival. It's about being nurtured, so you can nurture in return. And that? That's holy work.