Journal · The weeks after birth
What is the fourth trimester?
The fourth trimester is the name often given to the first weeks after birth. A season of recovery for the mother, and of arrival for the baby.
A season of its own
Pregnancy is counted in three trimesters. The weeks after birth are sometimes called the fourth, because the changes do not stop when the baby is born.
For the mother, the body begins to recover. For the baby, everything outside the womb is new. Both need time, warmth and closeness.
Why these weeks ask for care
Many cultures set these weeks apart. In Korea the tradition is called sanhujori. Elsewhere it is known as a confinement period. The shared idea is simple: a new mother should be cared for, not expected to carry on as before.
In everyday life the first weeks are often spent coping. Visitors, meals, sleep and questions all compete for attention.
Recovering, not simply coping
The Fourth Sanctuary is built around this season. Warmth, nourishment and rest, held together by continuous, clinically guided care.
Whatever you choose, it helps to plan for these weeks as carefully as you plan for the birth.
Read next
Recovering after birth: warmth, nourishment and rest
A calm guide to recovery after birth, built on three principles: warmth, nourishment and rest, with expert care close by.
Sanhujori and confinement: postpartum traditions of the East
Sanhujori is the Korean tradition of postpartum care. How it relates to confinement traditions elsewhere, and what it teaches about recovery.
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