THE FOURTH TRIMESTER
So we’re approaching 40 weeks and there are no signs my precious Bodhikini* plans on making an appearance anytime soon.
This morning I was looking at my daughter as we chatted over a cuppa with her delightful doula Claire The Nurturing Family Doula, and I was overcome by the enormity of the whole experience of the creating and birthing of life. Of course Chloe is absolutely glowing albeit easily tired and frequently uncomfortable but when you consider what is and has been going on in her body and the precipice on which she stands right now, it is certainly understandable.
No wonder more connected generations before us paid so much attention to nourishing and nurturing the pregnant woman and more so the post partum woman, insisting on a good whole month at a minimum to completely rest and recover to some degree. Another example of traditional wisdom getting it so right without all the science and technology we have available to us today.
Consider that almost every system in a woman’s body is affected by pregnancy and childbirth. Her cardiovascular function. Her respiratory function. Her kidney function. Her musculoskeletal system. Her immune function. Her liver function. Her hormone fluctuations impacting multiple systems predominantly the liver, endocrine and reproductive system. All of these systems and more, have had more or less than 41+ weeks of increasing demand to support two humans, culminating in an almighty surge required to deliver her baby whether vaginally or C-section. Furthermore following birth, the placental site has to heal as well as the vagina and cervix or abdomen and wound site in the case of a C-section in addition to post surgery recovery. Adding to the list is the massive depletion of nutrients, that continues with the demands of breastfeeding and healing in general. And then there’s the whole mental and emotional rollercoaster that often has a woman not being able to think clearly or even understand her mood fluctuations, feeling euphoric one minute and anxiety ridden and in floods of tears the next.
These systems don’t just snap back into their pre-pregnant state once the baby is born. It is a process that takes days, weeks and months. To think that these days once a woman has delivered a baby we completely disregard the toll placed on her body and psyche, giving her baby all the attention and expecting her to just pick up where she left off pre-pregnancy AND look after a baby.
It’s truly ludicrous!
Thankfully there does seem to be a gradual remembering and turning back to a form of traditional post partum care as evidenced by the rise in the profession of birth and post partum doulas to support women during this demanding and transformative milestone. Especially helpful when family is not available for whatever reason. Hopefully continuing to have these conversations and creating renewed awareness will see a return to the nourishing and nurturing of all pregnant and post partum women.
Society as a whole benefits as a result.
How good!
* Bodhikini: my name for our little one. To me it means little enlightened or awakened one as while she is in utero this is the most enlightened she is going to be. It all starts to diminish once we are born into this human experience…
What I share on this page are my views (unless stated otherwise), based on my research, my experience and my beliefs.
Just sharing as food for thought
Image credit Amy Haderer