You spend months preparing for the birth.
You pack a hospital bag.
You install the car seat.
You fold tiny all those tiny newborn clothes into drawers like you're building a dream.
But then the baby comes, and suddenly, no one’s talking about you anymore.
Welcome to the fourth trimester.
What is the fourth trimester?
The fourth trimester is the first 12 weeks after birth. It’s a season of deep transition, for your baby, who’s just left the only world they’ve ever known, and for you, as your body, hormones, emotions, and identity shift in ways no one can fully prepare you for.
It’s beautiful.
It's chaotic.
It’s overwhelming.
It’s messy and sacred and unlike anything else you've ever experienced.
What No One Tells You
🧠 You might feel like a stranger in your own body
Not just physically (though that too), but emotionally. Some days you may feel blissed out, others you may feel ragey, numb, or weepy over a toast commercial.
All of it is normal.
🍼 Feeding might be harder than you expected
Whether you breastfeed, bottle-feed, or both - every option comes with pressure. And guilt. And second-guessing.
Just remember: fed is best, and so is your peace.
🛏 Sleep deprivation is a beast
You’ll try to sleep when the baby sleeps. You’ll also try to do laundry, cry into cold coffee, and Google things like “newborn poop color chart.”
It’s okay to rest. Let things wait.
💬 You might feel lonely, even surrounded by people
This is one of the hardest truths. Everyone’s excited about the baby, but who’s checking on the mama?
(We hope it’s us. Always feel free to check in - we mean it.)
What You Deserve to Know
- You are not supposed to “bounce back.”
- You are allowed to grieve your old self, even while loving your new one.
- You are doing a good job, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
- You are allowed to not be okay.
- This is temporary, but your strength is not.
From Our Village to Yours
At Little Buddha, we believe softness is strength. That’s why we make cozy, gentle clothes for your little one, but we’re really here for you, too.
You’re in the thick of it now. You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t even need to be okay all the time. You just need to know you’re not alone.
With love and sleepy solidarity,
Lauren & Lindsey