The Invisible Stage : Why the Fourth Trimester Is Overlooked

For nine months, pregnancy is surrounded by appointments, scans, classes, and constant check-ins. Every trimester people ask how the baby is growing, how you’re feeling, if you are getting any sleep and what type of birth you are hoping to have. Then, almost overnight, the focus shifts. Once the baby arrives, the world assumes the hardest part is over - but for many families, that’s when the true intensity begins.

The early weeks after birth are often described as the 'Fourth Trimester,' a time when both baby and parents are still adjusting to enormous change. Babies are learning how to feed, sleep, digest, and exist outside the womb. Parents are healing physically, navigating new emotions, learning new rhythms, and redefining themselves in real time. It’s tender and transformative, but it can also feel chaotic, exhausting, and isolating.

Despite how significant this stage is, it remains one of the most overlooked parts of the maternity care journey. Structural gaps in the system, short and often non-restful hospital stays (sometimes as little as 24 hours), inconsistent advice, and the assumption that families will simply 'figure it out' mean many parents return home feeling under-prepared and overwhelmed. This is compounded by the rapid changes that occur in the first days after birth. Every 24 hours brings new expectations for your healing and recovery, while your baby’s feeding needs and output change significantly from day to day.

No wonder it can be overwhelming!

Through my years of experience across birth suite and postnatal wards, I’ve witnessed how vulnerable the early postnatal period can be. Even parents who felt confident throughout pregnancy can experience doubt, unexpected challenges with feeding, and long, exhausting nights.

Having a strong support network - your partner, family, friends, and a trusted, familiar professional - can provide reassurance, understanding, and support when it matters most.

Midwife Michelle walking with you in the fourth trimester.

Beautiful imagery by J.L. Watson Photography