Ways To Help You Get Through The Fourth Trimester

You’re beyond the challenges of morning sickness and little feet kicking your rib cage, you have brought baby home and are entering your fourth trimester. This time can be overwhelming for moms while they face hormonal, physical and emotional challenges.

Moms.com provides parents with the following 20 postpartum care hacks you will want to know.

1. Family and friends will be coming to visit and want to help you with baby. Post a list of chores in your home for visitors to pick from before they leave.
2. Replace your light bulb with a different color (blue, green or red) that will provide you the light needed to not run into things in the middle of the night when baby calls, while at the same time not disturbing baby with a bright light.
3. Invest in baby gowns that will give you easy access for those diaper changes at all hours of the night.
4. Don’t forget to meal prep as part of your to-do list before baby arrives. This will give you the gift of time when you come home from the hospital.
5. Keep taking your vitamins to keep your energy levels up, reduce hair loss and help with breastfeeding.
6. Get moving as soon as possible. Walking is a good start to postpartum exercise.
7. Don’t forget your pelvic floor needs attention after childbirth. Kegel workouts will help those muscles regain strength.
8. Sleep every time your baby sleeps.
9. There is no pressure to entertain all of your visitors. Feel free to take a nap or feed the baby in another room those first few weeks.
10. Provide yourself some relief and heal your lady parts faster with cooling.
11. Purchase a good breastfeeding pillow for breastfed babies or a bottle warmer for formula-fed babies.
12. Just like you will sleep at the same time baby sleeps, remember to eat when baby eats. This will prevent you from skipping meals, and provide the nutrition you need to care for your little one.
13. Cravings will continue. Eat what your body craves, in moderation of course.
14. Adult diapers are a great way to catch all that postpartum leakage you may experience.
15. Swelling may continue after birth too. Compression socks will help until your body’s circulation goes back to normal after childbirth.
16. Fluid loss after delivering baby and breastfeeding can contribute to dehydration. Drink plenty of water to combat this.
17. A tummy wrap will help lessen back pain and belly flab.
18. Bras in larger sizes will give you more comfort once baby arrives. If you are breastfeeding, make sure you have comfortable nursing bras or camisoles at home.
19. Save time by setting up your changing station with a set of everything you need for a diaper change after each use. Set out a diaper, wipes, and cream if needed. Having diaper changing items set up in a few locations in your home is a great idea too.
20. Leakage for breastfeeding moms is a sure thing. In addition to those nursing bras (a size up), you will need washable breast pads.

Having a newborn at home is a memorable time for the good and bad moments. We hope these tips help you enjoy this phase. More details on these hacks here.