The 4th Trimester Theory of pregnancy should also be treated as part of the gestation period. At least, according to the 4th Trimester Theory.
Most of you probably know that a woman’s gestation period is divided into three phases. The fetus grows and develops in the mother’s womb through three stages. But what if the pregnancy isn’t complete after the baby is born? What if the first month of life after the birth of a baby is just as important as the third trimester? The fourth trimester theory asserts that the months following childbirth are just as important as the actual pregnancy period.
People tend to think that babies are ready to face the outside world from birth. And many parents who had such thoughts become frustrated as they face the constant dissatisfaction, pain, and complex problems of their babies.
Parents ask themselves what they have done wrong and what is going on with their baby. However, knowing how difficult it can be for your baby to adjust to a new world will make it easier for him to understand and calm his mind.
What is the 4th trimester theory?
American pediatrician Harvey Carp invented the theory of the fourth trimester. According to this theory, the human baby is prepared for survival when it comes into the world, but it is in fact impossible to survive without the help of a guardian. Therefore, several more months after pregnancy are needed to continue to develop the child’s ability to survive.
To fully understand this meaning, we can find similar situations in nature. Most mammals stand or even walk and run immediately after birth.
However, after birth, humans have to depend on their guardians for a longer period of time. The fourth trimester theory asserts that all babies, no matter how full the gestation period, are born immature in various aspects.
In order for the nervous system to fully develop, it must stay in the mother’s womb longer than the normal pregnancy period. However, it can be a problem during childbirth, as the longer the growing period in the womb, the larger the baby’s head size. So, even if she was born after the third trimester, her few months of life should be viewed as another gestation period.
Tough Transition
During the first few months of life, it is common for babies to show symptoms such as anxiety, convulsions and sleep problems.
This isn’t a disease or problem, it’s perfectly normal. It should be remembered that babies at this age are placed in a completely different environment from their mother’s womb:
- The temperature inside the uterus is about 36.6 degrees Celsius. However , the outside temperature is different and sometimes changes quite dramatically.
- Before birth, babies are never exposed to too much stimuli (smells, lights, loud noises). But after birth, babies are always exposed to unknown and unbearable stimuli.
- During pregnancy, the mother is the baby’s home, always nourishing and her only companion. So she’s never hungry, thirsty, or irritable. But after she is born, all kinds of new and unpleasant emotions appear and the baby doesn’t know how to deal with them.
- And above all, the baby in the womb is in perfect contact with the mother. But after she is born, he experiences feelings of loneliness, separation and fear. It becomes impossible to feel the mother all the time, yet the baby always needs the mother.
What should I do with my 4th trimester?
The 4th trimester theory thinks that even immediately after childbirth, the gestation period is extended. Babies do not yet have the necessary or ability to adapt to the world around them. During the first few months of life, the baby should not be much different from what it is in the mother’s womb.
To stabilize your baby in this condition, you need to get enough skin contact and provide nutrients whenever the baby wants it. Also, avoid overstimulation. Hold the baby as much as possible, sing songs and rock them. This gives her a sense of security and security in her lost mother’s womb as the baby comes into the world.
The baby has just come into the world. But she still needs everything she had in her mother’s womb. However, you don’t have to overdo everything your child wants. Your baby will grow better mentally and emotionally as long as you help him get through this transition properly.
