4th Trimester Project

A Village for Mothers

My Friends & Family

The arrival of a baby can bring a lot of joy to a household, friends, and family. Caring for babies changes routines and can even change how people feel about time. Love for babies can also bring out all kinds of opinions, ideas, and advice. Some helpful, some not! For same gender partners, the inclusion of a baby into the family unit might bring out different responses from family that are unkind, detached, absent, or unhelpful.

This section is both for women AND for their friends and family to help navigate relationships during the 4th Trimester and beyond. Real connection is so important especially now. Relying on people who love and support you during this time is the most important. That might mean putting some relationships on the back burner and centering others.

We would love to add videos of friends offering tips for helping new moms to each other and grandparents sharing advice with each other too. If you’ve got one to share or would like to partner with us to make one tell us here!

One tip for friends and family. Helpers should come to help and support mom’s need for rest and bonding with her baby. Too often well-meaning grandmothers/aunties/friends take over the baby care because they just love babies. However, helpers are needed to help with what is needed - often cooking, chores, errands, and caring for other children.

Topics in My Friends & Family

Creating a Postpartum Plan

Apr 19, 2023
Many things will be unexpected and possibly out of your control, but this may help serve as a guide to share your needs and be ready for the days ahead. This tool is meant to help new parents think about and prepare for the weeks after the baby arrives. As you work on this plan […]

Creating a Postpartum Plan

Many things will be unexpected and possibly out of your control, but this may help serve as a guide to share your needs and be ready for the days ahead. This tool is meant to help new parents think about and prepare for the weeks after the baby arrives. As you work on this plan […]

Dealing with Not-So-Helpful Helpers

Apr 19, 2023
New parents often receive a lot of questioning and advice. While it is usually intended to be well-meaning, it does not always feel that way. Some may be welcomed, it can also put mothers and others on the defensive. The 4th Trimester is a time for caring in the ways that benefit parents. This can […]

Dealing with Not-So-Helpful Helpers

New parents often receive a lot of questioning and advice. While it is usually intended to be well-meaning, it does not always feel that way. Some may be welcomed, it can also put mothers and others on the defensive. The 4th Trimester is a time for caring in the ways that benefit parents. This can […]

Friendships After Baby

Apr 19, 2023
The needs and unpredictability that come along with infant and self-care in the 4th Trimester often changes relationships among friends. This can be especially true for those who are not parents and may be excited but not fully be able to understand the challenges of recovery and baby care. Connection among friends may shift to […]

Friendships After Baby

The needs and unpredictability that come along with infant and self-care in the 4th Trimester often changes relationships among friends. This can be especially true for those who are not parents and may be excited but not fully be able to understand the challenges of recovery and baby care. Connection among friends may shift to […]

Getting Ready & Supporting New Parents

Apr 19, 2023
Now, more than ever, new moms need support. With unknowns of coronavirus and the impact it is having on the health care team, the “village” will need to step up! We share ways to find and build a local ‘parent village’ online. Was the mother-to-be able to have a baby shower? Many families rely on […]

Getting Ready & Supporting New Parents

Now, more than ever, new moms need support. With unknowns of coronavirus and the impact it is having on the health care team, the “village” will need to step up! We share ways to find and build a local ‘parent village’ online. Was the mother-to-be able to have a baby shower? Many families rely on […]

Postpartum Supplies

Apr 19, 2023
Babies need a lot of things and it is helpful when friends and family help buy them. Women also need supplies to help them recover. We encourage family and friends to shower a new mother with the same love and support in helping her get ready for the 4th Trimester. Below are some supplies that […]

Postpartum Supplies

Babies need a lot of things and it is helpful when friends and family help buy them. Women also need supplies to help them recover. We encourage family and friends to shower a new mother with the same love and support in helping her get ready for the 4th Trimester. Below are some supplies that […]

Stepfamilies

Apr 19, 2023
Babies can be born into a wide variety of family settings. A baby could be a couple’s first child. A baby could be born to a single mother. A baby could be born into a stepfamily—a family in which one or both adults in a committed couple relationship have a child or children from previous […]

Stepfamilies

Babies can be born into a wide variety of family settings. A baby could be a couple’s first child. A baby could be born to a single mother. A baby could be born into a stepfamily—a family in which one or both adults in a committed couple relationship have a child or children from previous […]

Unsolicited Advice

Apr 19, 2023
New moms get a lot of advice – from family, friends, even complete strangers – about how to navigate parenthood. Almost everyone has personal experience as a parent, aunt, uncle, or sibling – and everyone has been a baby.  For each person, these experiences run deep, and it can be hard to untangle all the […]

Unsolicited Advice

New moms get a lot of advice – from family, friends, even complete strangers – about how to navigate parenthood. Almost everyone has personal experience as a parent, aunt, uncle, or sibling – and everyone has been a baby.  For each person, these experiences run deep, and it can be hard to untangle all the […]

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