What is the ‘fourth tri-mester’?

What is the ‘fourth tri-mester’?

The ‘fourth trimester’ is an emerging term given to the 12 weeks following childbirth. During this time, mothers and their babies undergo significant physical and emotional changes. For the baby, this period involves adjusting to life outside the womb. For the mother, it involves recovering from childbirth and adapting to the new responsibilities of caring for a newborn.

Not everyone will have heard of it – but every parent and newborn will have experienced it!

Why is it Important?

Baby’s Development:

Newborns are still very much in a state of development during the fourth trimester. Many believe this is because the size of the birth canal limits how large a baby can grow before birth, therefore, babies must continue development outside the womb. Newborns are learning to regulate their body temperature, developing their feeding patterns, and beginning to adjust their sleep cycles during this time.

To help the newborn adapt, research suggests that you should try to recreate the environment the baby had in the uterus for 3 months after birth. Here are some ways in which you can do this:

Swaddling: Wrapping your baby snugly in a blanket can mimic the cozy embrace of the womb, helping them feel secure and comfortable. Why not check out some of the cloths available on Kosmotive’s online shop!

naturebaby.co.nz

Skin-to-Skin Contact: Holding your baby close with skin-to-skin contact helps regulate their body temperature and heart rate, providing comfort and promoting bonding.

Gentle Rocking: Mimic the gentle movements your baby felt while you were moving around during pregnancy. Rocking chairs, baby swings, or simply holding and swaying your baby can be very soothing.

White Noise: The sounds your baby heard in the womb were constant and soothing. Use a white noise machine or play one of many videos available on YouTube to replicate these sounds and help your baby sleep better.

Dim Lighting: The womb was dark, so keeping the lights dim can help your baby feel more at ease and make it easier for them to adjust their sleep cycles.

Frequent Feeding: Newborns have small stomachs and need to eat often. Feeding on the baby’s demand can help establish feeding patterns and ensure your baby is getting steady nourishment.

Bonding and Breastfeeding: The fourth trimester is an essential period for breastfeeding. Newborns have a weak immune system and need breastmilk to provide all the necessary antibodies and probiotics to regulate their immune responses. This also provides skin-to-skin contact.

Mother’s Recovery:

julieturnermovement.com

Postpartum recovery is a major aspect of the fourth trimester. This includes physical healing from the birth, hormonal adjustments, and dealing with the emotional shifts that often accompany the arrival of a new baby. Mothers need ample support during this period to ensure a healthy recovery. Here are some tips to help you recover:

Seek Support: Surround yourself with a supportive network of family, friends, or professionals. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when needed – it takes a village!

Rest and Nutrition: Ensure you get plenty of rest and maintain a nutritious diet to support recovery and breastfeeding. Information about nutrition during and after pregnancy can be found on KosmoMag!

Baby’s Comfort: Keep your baby close with skin-to-skin contact and respond to their needs promptly to foster a sense of security, and limit discomfort.

Self-Care: Take time for yourself, even a few minutes a day helps. Mental and emotional well-being is just as important as physical health. So, dress yourself up, try some gentle stretches and eat your favorite foods – you’re doing a great job, mama!

The fourth trimester is a unique and crucial time for both mothers and their babies. Understanding its importance can help new parents prepare better and seek the necessary support to make this transition smoother and more enjoyable. By giving attention to the needs of both mother and baby, families can lay a strong foundation for healthy development and well-being!

Sources:

Postpartum Care: An Approach to the Fourth Trimester

The fourth trimester: a critical transition period with unmet maternal health needs

What is the fourth trimester?

Nutrition during pregnancy

Nutrition during pregnancy is really important for both the mother and the embryo. A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy because it will help your baby to develop and grow. No special diet is necessary. Rather, it’s important to consume a variety of different foods daily in order to achieve a good balance of nutrients that both you and your baby need. Some doctors might recommend taking supplements during pregnancy but it is better to get the vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat. Regardless, it’s always best to consult with your doctor.

Feeling hungry

You might feel extra hungry during pregnancy but there is no need to “eat for 2”, regardless of whether you’re expecting twins or triplets. A good solution is to have healthy breakfasts every day so that you can avoid snacking on foods high in fat and sugar later in the day. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to cut out all your favourites. It just means that you will have to reduce the amount of certain types of food that you consume, such as sugary and salty snacks.

The Eatwell Guide

The Eatwell Guide can help you balance your diet because it shows you how much of what you eat should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet. You can extend the time when you balance your diet based on this guide over the week.

It’s very important to aim to eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables and should be over a third of the food you eat each day. You can choose from fresh, frozen, tinned, dried or juiced (no more than 150ml a day). Fruit and vegetables are a good source of vitamins, minerals and fibre.

During pregnancy, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can help with digestion and constipation.

Starchy food, like potatoes, cereal and bread, should make up just over a third of the food you eat. It’s better to choose higher fibre wholegrain varieties, such as wholewheat pasta and brown rice, or simply leave skins on potatoes. These foods are a good source of energy and the main source of a range of nutrients.

Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, yoghurt and creams, are good sources of protein and some vitamins. They’re a source of calcium, which helps keep bones strong. A recommendation is to go for lower-fat and lower-sugar products, like 1% fat milk, reduced-fat cheese or plain low-fat yoghurt. If you prefer dairy alternatives, such as soya drinks and yoghurts, choose unsweetened, calcium-fortified versions. Avoid unpasteurised cheeses.

Foods rich in protein, vitamins and minerals include beans, peas and lentils. These can be good alternatives to meat because they’re lower in fat and higher in fibre and protein. As for meat, choose lean cuts of meat and mince, and try to eat less red and processed meat like bacon, ham and sausages. Make sure that the meats are cooked very thoroughly until steaming all the way through with no pink in them. A good recommendation is 2 portions of fish every week, 1 of which should be oily, such as salmon or mackerel. Fish to avoid when pregnant are shark, swordfish and marlin. Also avoid eating raw or partially cooked eggs.

Foods to avoid

Sugary foods and drinks are high in calories and can contribute to weight gaining and tooth decay.
Fat in very high in calories can increase the levels of cholesterol in your blood and the chance of developing a heart disease

For more information,visit also https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/

Preparing food safely

Wash fruit, vegetables and salads to avoid harmful chemicals that may be in traces of soil
Wash all surfaces and utensils, and your hands to avoid food poisoning
Make sure that raw foods are stored separately
Use a separate knife and chopping board for raw meats

Sources

NHS. Have a healthy diet in pregnancy. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/have-a-healthy-diet/

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Nutrition During Pregnancy. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/nutrition-during-pregnancy

Indwara ya Preclampsia

Preclampsia ni uburwayi buza ku mugore utwite bugaragazwa n’ibimenyetso birimo umuvuduko w’amaraso uri hejuru hamwe na poroteyini mu nkari. Iyo utitaweho hakiri kare ishobora kuvamo iyo bita Eclampsia aho noneho umugore utwite atangira kugagara bikaba byamuviramo urupfu we n’umwana atwite.

Iyi ndwara ikunda kugaragara nyuma y’ibyumweru 34 umugore atwite cyangwa nyuma yo kubyara. Ikunda kuza ku rubyaro rwa mbere akenshi ku bagore bari munsi y’imyaka 20 ndetse n’abari hejuru y’imyaka 40.

Nta kintu kizwi gitera ubu burwayi, gusa hari ibigaragara nk’ibishobora gutuma umugore utwite yagira ubu burwayi, harimo: umubyibuho ukabije, kuba usanzwe ufite umuvuduko uri hejuru, kuba hari uwo mu muryango wa hafi warwaye preclampsia, kuba usanzwe ufite zimwe mu ndwara nka diyabeti, impyiko na rheumatoid arthritis, kuba utwite impanga, no kuba uri munsi y’imyaka 20 cyangwa hejuru ya 40.

Ni ngombwa ko umugore utwite yitabira gahunda yo kwisuzumisha kwa muganga kugirango akurikiranwe bibe byamenyekana kare igihe agize ubu burwayi bityo yitabweho yirinde n’ingaruka zavamo harimo nko kuba yabura ubuzima bwe ndetse n’ubw’umwana atwite.

Ibyo umugore yakwitaho mu gihe ateganya gutwita

Akenshi abagore bakunda gutangira gutegura gutwita ari uko bamaze kumenya ko batwite cyangwa se abandi bagashishikarira mu gushaka amafaranga, imyenda y’umwana, n’ibindi. Nyamara hari bimwe mu byakagombye kwitabwaho ku bijyanye n’ubuzima bw’umugore witegura gutwita mbere y’uko atwita kugirango azabashe kubyara umwana ufite ubuzima bwiza ndetse bibe byanamufasha kwirinda zimwe mu ndwara zibasira abagore batwite.

Mu gihe umugore yitegura gutwita akwiye kugana kwa muganga bakamujyira inama mbere yo gutwita, cyane cyane igihe hari indwara zihererekanywa (inherited) mu muryango we; ni byiza kwisuzumisha indwara zitandura zitanakira nka diabete, umuvuduko w’amaraso, n’izindi mbere y’uko asama ndetse yaba anasanzwe azirwaye akabanza agakurikiranwa na muganga, kwisuzumisha no kwikingiza zimwe mu ndwara zishobora kugira ingaruka ku mwana atwite urugero: rubella na taxoplasmosis. Ni byiza gukurikiranwa na muganga mbere y’uko atwita mu gihe afite zimwe mu ndwara zandura nka virus itera sida n’indwara y’umwijima yo mu bwoko bwa hepatite.

Umugore wese witegura gutwita akwiye kuhagarika kunywa itabi n’inzoga, kwirinda kunywa imiti adahawe na muganga; ni byiza guhagarika kuboneza urubyaro mbere ho igihe cyane cyane iyo akoresha uburyo bw’igihe kirekire kandi bw’umusemburo. Umugore wese witegura gutwita akwiye kugabanya ibiro kugirango yirinde kuzagira umubyibuho ukabije igihe atwite, gusa kandi ntibyemewe gufata rejime (regime) mu gihe witegura gutwita. Umugore wese witegura gutwita akwiye gufata utunini twongera folic acid mu mubiri kugirango bizarinde umwana uburwayi bw’uruti rw’umugongo (neural defect).

Kwita ku buzima bw’umugore mbere y’uko asama bimufasha kuzabyara umwana muzima ndetse bikanamurinda zimwe mu ndwara zibasira abagore batwite.

Imyambaro myiza ku mugore utwite

Umugore utwite agenda agira impinduka zinyuranye ku mubiri we akaba akwiye kwita ku cyatuma abasha kumva aguwe neza harimo no kwita ku myambaro yambara ijyanye n’igihe arimo.

Umugore utwite biba byiza iyo yambaye imyenda ijyanye n’uko umubiri we uba ugenda uhinduka ndetse itanamubangamiye.

Ni byiza kwirinda imyenda igufashe cyane igihe utwite; ni byiza kwambara isutiye igukwiriye neza, cyane ko amabere ari mu bice bibyibuha cyane igihe umugore atwite, biba byiza iyo aguze ijyanye n’uko amabere angina; kwambara imyenda ibasha gukweduka (irimo elastic) biba byiza; kwambara imyenda ijyanye n’uko ikirere kimeze—ni ukuvuga niba hashyushye cyangwa hakonje; ndetse akibuka kwambara imyenda isa neza kugirango yirinde indwara z’uruhu zaturuka ku mwanda.

Impamvu umubyeyi utwite asabwa kuryamira urubavu rw’ibumoso

Niba wari usanzwe uryamira inda cyangwa ukaryama ugaramye, iyo umaze gutwita biba byiza iyo uryamiye urubavu, by’umwihariko urubavu rw’ibumoso.

Impamvu iyo utwite usabwa kuryamira urubavu, by’umwihariko urw’ibumoso, ni uko bifasha amaraso gutembera neza mu mitsi, bityo bigatuma n’intungamubiri ziva ku mubyeyi zijya ku mwana zibasha kumugeraho neza; ikindi ni uko birinda kubyimba ibirenge ndetse n’ibiganza bikunze kuba ku bagore batwite bitewe n’uko imitsi itwara amaraso ku maguru n’amaboko iba yaratsikamiwe n’ibiro by’umwana uri mu nda.

Zirikana ko atari byiza kuryama ugaramye cyangwa wubitse inda igihe utwite kuko bituma amaraso atabasha gutembera neza, bityo ntagere no ku mwana utwite; ikindi kandi bituma umubyeyi utwite atabasha guhumeka neza.

Ese umubyeyi ashobora kwanduza umwana atwite coronavirus?

Kugeza ubu nta bushakashatsi buragagaza ko umugore utwite wanduye coronavirus ashobora kuyanduza umwana atwite; gusa nk’uko byagaragaye ko coronavirus izahaza abafite ubudahangarwa bw’umubiri buke, ni ngombwa ko umugore utwite yitabwaho ndetse akanayirinda kuko na we ari muri abo yazahaza, kugirango harengerwe n’ubuzima bw’umwana atwite.

Nubwo kugeza ubu bitaragaragara niba umubyeyi yakwanduza umwana atwite coronavirus, umwana atwite n’ubundi aba ari mu bibazo bitewe n’ubukana iyi virusi ifite ku mubyeyi we kuko igihe ubuzima bw’umubyeyi utwite buri mu bibazo bigira ingaruka no ku wo atwite.

Ni ngombwa rero ko umugore utwite akaza ingamba mu kwirinda iyi coronavirus yubahiriza ingamba zafashwe mu kwirinda, harimo: gukaraba intoki, kwirinda kujya ahantu hari abantu benshi, kwirinda kwikora ku mazuru ndetse no ku munwa, kwambara agapfukamunwa, ndetse akihutira kujya kwa muganga mu gihe agaragaje kimwe mu bimenyetso by’indwara ya COVID-19.

Dukomeze kwirinda coronavirus twubahiriza ingamba zashyizweho, harimo no kwirinda ingendo zitari ngombwa.

Ibimenyetso mpuruza ku mugore utwite

Ibimenyetso mpuruza ni ibimenyetso bishobora kugaragara ku mugore utwite; bisaba ko yakwihutira kujya kwa muganga igihe bimugaragayeho kuko bishobora kugira ingaruka ku buzima bwe bwite ndetse no ku buzima bw’umwana atwite.

Bimwe muri ibyo bimenyetso harimo kuva amaraso mu myanya ndangagitsina ku mugore utwite, kubabara mu nda bikabije, kugira iseseme no kuruka bikabije, kumeneka kw’uruzi mu myanya ndangagitsina, kugira umuriro mwinshi– ni ukuvuga uri hejuru ya 37.7, kubabara umutwe bikabije, kumva umwana atonka cyangwa se adakina mu nda, kugira isereri ndetse no kureba ibikezikezi, kubyimba ibirenge, ibiganza ndetse no mu maso, no kugira ububabare mu gihe cyo kwihagarika.

Tubibutse ko igihe umugore utwite agize kimwe muri ibi bimenyetso tumaze kubona yihutira kujya kwa muganga kuko bishobora kugira ingaruka ku buzima bwe ndetse n’ubw’umwana atwite.

Corona virus ku mugore utwite

Kugeza ubu nta bushakashatsi buragaragaza ko umugore utwite afite amahirwe menshi yo kwandura coronavirus ugereranyije n’abandi bantu basanzwe cyangwa ngo abe yazahazwa na yo.

Gusa ubusanzwe umugore utwite agira imihindagurikire mu miterere y’umubiri we bituma bimwongerera amahirwe yo kuba yakwandura zimwe mu ndwara ziterwa na virusi ziba mu muryango umwe n’uwa coronavirus; aha twavuga nka virusi zizwi ku izina rya rhinovirus, influenza virus n’izindi virusi zifata imyanya y’ubuhumekero, ndetse zikaba zanamuzahaza. Ni yo mpamvu umugore utwite agomba kwirinda kuba yakwandura iyi coronavirus.

Umugore utwite na we agomba kwirinda kwandura ndetse no gukwirakwiza iyi coronavirus kimwe n’abandi akaraba intoki kenshi akoresheje amazi meza ndetse n’isabune, yirinda kujya ahantu haba hari ukekwa cyangwa wanduye iyi virusi, yirinda kujya ahantu hahuriye abantu benshi, yirinda kwikora ku munwa, mu maso no ku mazuru igihe cyose atakarabye intoki n’amazi meza, yirinda kuramukanya n’abantu bahana ibiganza, agabanya ingendo zitari ngombwa, yirinda gukorora mu ruhame, ndetse igihe yitsamuye akibuka kwipfuka ku mazuru akoresheje ukuboko.

Kugeza ubu nta bushakashatsi buragaragaza niba umugore utwite wanduye coronavirus ashobora kuyanduza umwana; yaba amutwite cyangwa amubyara.