• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Our Commitment
    • About NC MHI
    • Newsletters
    • Disclaimer
  • My Health
    • Self Care for New Moms
    • When to Call for Help
    • My Village
    • Baby Care
    • Mama Stories
    • Connecting
    • What’s New
    • Topic Directory
  • Support the Work
    • Support the Work
    • Partner With Us
    • Communications Toolkit
  • For Providers
4th Trimester Project

4th Trimester Project

A Village for Mothers

  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Our Commitment
    • About NC MHI
    • Newsletters
    • Disclaimer
  • Self Care for New Moms
    • When to Call for Help
    • My Village
    • Baby Care
    • New Parent Tools
    • Mama Stories
    • Meeting New Mamas
    • What’s New
    • Topic Directory
  • Support the Work
    • Support the Work
    • Partner With Us
    • Communications Toolkit
  • For Providers
  • Español
  • Español

Search 4th Trimester Project

New Parent Milestones

The days and weeks after having a baby can often be a blur. For some people time may feel like it stands still. For others the repetition of feeding, changing, comforting a newborn can feel endless. And for some they feel that they blink their eyes and this special time is over. Regardless of how the journey feels, thinking about some key sign posts in the transition from brand new mom to a more settled family can be helpful.

First, there is a lot of information on this site! Here are some suggestions to help you start looking based on where you are in your journey.

If you are pregnant you may want to start with these sections = Healing & Recovery, Postpartum Plan, Breasts, Return to Work or School, My Care Team, and Baby + Other Children (if appropriate)

If you recently gave birth you may want to start with these sections = Emotions/Hormones, When to Call for Help, Baby’s Feeding, Baby’s Sleep, Friends and Family, My Partner

If you’re later in to postpartum you may want to start with these sections = Bottom/Pelvic, Body Changes, New Identity as Mom, Staying Well, Bonding + Wearing, Building My Village, Mama Stories, My Community

This section is part of our website because moms wanted it. And this section is also hard to write because everyone goes through changes at their own pace and people’s experiences are so different. To get started, we are linking to different parts of our website that highlight some benchmarks. Moms have identified things like first time leaving the house with baby, first time being alone with baby (and other children), first time leaving without baby, postpartum check up(s), going back to work or school, having sex, and sleeping for a 4 hour stretch as stepping stones for them.

We have more work to do - please help us! Share with us your milestones! Why is this a milestone? When did it happen for you? What tips can you share? Thank you!

Topics in New Parent Milestones

Exercise

Apr 19, 2023
Movement is an important part of healing from pregnancy and childbirth. Exercise keeps bowels moving, eases stiffness, helps mood, and even improves the quality of sleep (when you can get it!). How much and how new moms exercise is influenced by how active they were during pregnancy and the way baby was delivered. In general, […]

Exercise

Movement is an important part of healing from pregnancy and childbirth. Exercise keeps bowels moving, eases stiffness, helps mood, and even improves the quality of sleep (when you can get it!). How much and how new moms exercise is influenced by how active they were during pregnancy and the way baby was delivered. In general, […]

Getting Out with Baby

Apr 19, 2023
While new parents quickly become experts at getting out the door, it can be tricky at first. Be prepared for last minute spit ups and diaper explosions! If you’re planning to meet people, make sure to remind them that babies and young children are unpredictable and to be patient if you are late. Having a […]

Getting Out with Baby

While new parents quickly become experts at getting out the door, it can be tricky at first. Be prepared for last minute spit ups and diaper explosions! If you’re planning to meet people, make sure to remind them that babies and young children are unpredictable and to be patient if you are late. Having a […]

Intimacy and Sex After Childbirth

Apr 19, 2023
“The quality of your intimacy is strongly influenced by the quality of your recovery. The more you focus on healing, the better you can feel when being intimate, and the more you can enjoy it. That is what’s most important.” View this video of postpartum intimacy from Nurse Nikki. Read her blog about talking about […]

Intimacy and Sex After Childbirth

“The quality of your intimacy is strongly influenced by the quality of your recovery. The more you focus on healing, the better you can feel when being intimate, and the more you can enjoy it. That is what’s most important.” View this video of postpartum intimacy from Nurse Nikki. Read her blog about talking about […]

Postpartum Health Care

Mar 27, 2023
Traditionally, the postpartum visit takes place 6-8 weeks after the birth of a baby. Given all that happens to women’s bodies in the early weeks after giving birth, many women find that visit to be too little and too late. There are also many women who never receive a postpartum visit! The American College of […]

Postpartum Health Care

Traditionally, the postpartum visit takes place 6-8 weeks after the birth of a baby. Given all that happens to women’s bodies in the early weeks after giving birth, many women find that visit to be too little and too late. There are also many women who never receive a postpartum visit! The American College of […]

Ready for Sex

Apr 19, 2023
You may or may not feel ready to have sex again shortly after delivery. However, it is recommended that couples wait for the postpartum visit and exam with a health care provider before they have sex. Time for postpartum healing reduces the risk of infection. Of course being cleared to have sex and WANTING to […]

Ready for Sex

You may or may not feel ready to have sex again shortly after delivery. However, it is recommended that couples wait for the postpartum visit and exam with a health care provider before they have sex. Time for postpartum healing reduces the risk of infection. Of course being cleared to have sex and WANTING to […]

The content of this website is not intended for use as diagnosis or treatment of a health problem. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your health care provider. If you need emergency care, call 911 right away.

The 4th Trimester Project™ is a trademark.

Footer

4th Trimester Logo

Welcome to NewMomHealth.com™

We envision a world where every woman receives the social, emotional, physical, and economic support she needs to successfully transition through the postpartum period and into her new identity and life as a mother. Health care systems, businesses, and society should value and respect women not only for what they bring to families, communities, and nations but also for who they are in and of themselves.

The “4th Trimester Project” is a trademark.

The Experts Talk With Us Support the Work
Self Care
  • Healing/Recovery
  • Emotions
  • Breasts
  • Bottom/Pelvic
  • Sex/Contraception
  • Staying Well
  • My Care Team
  • When to Call for Help
Building My Village
  • My Partner
  • My Family/Friends
  • My Community
  • My Job or School
  • New Parent Milestones
  • My Postpartum Plan
Baby Care
  • Baby Feeding
  • Baby Sleep
  • Baby & Other Children
  • NICU & Special Needs
  • Loss
  • Baby Bonding & Wearing
When to Call for Help
  • Mama's Stories
  • Meeting Mamas
  • For Providers
Postpartum Toolkit materials are now available for free to print and ship to your location from the NC DPH warehouse. Click to order postpartum toolkit materials.
Top

Copyright © 2023 · 4th Trimester Project · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design