The Fourth Trimester is a term I hear a lot in the circles I move in, but I have realized quite recently that not all women are familiar with this term and what this phase of life means for their health.

This phase of life is honored and guarded as sacred in cultures all over the world. Unfortunately, here in the United States, we have lost our connection to honoring and protecting the body in this phase. As a result, our health suffers. Women are often back to work within weeks of giving birth which is hard for baby but also takes a huge toll on the body of mom.

If we understand the significance of this stage of life and what it means for our current and future health, we can continue to turn the tide and work towards a better postpartum experience for moms and babies.

The Fourth Trimester

The fourth trimester is the three months immediately following the birth of your baby. These three months are just as critical to the health of you and your baby as the nine months your baby was in utero.

In countries around the world, the first 40 days of this fourth trimester is known as a “laying in” period.

It is a time you bond with your baby. Your body heals from one of the biggest life events it will ever endure. Organs go back into place. Allowing for ample time, nutrition and rest for these major processes is critical to maternal health.

Postpartum Steaming

An important part of this fourth trimester phase is vaginal steaming. It keeps any stitches or tearing sterile. It increases circulation to the pelvic floor to support and accelerate healing. Steam helps to clear the uterus of birth matter left behind and restore a healthy uterus.

Steaming can start as early as 2 days postpartum for a vaginal birth and 6 weeks postpartum for cesarean birth. This is best determined under the care of a peristeam hydrotherapist to avoid any complications.

Leaders in this industry, Keli Garza of Steamy Chick and Kimberly Ann Johnson spearheaded a pilot study to examine the benefits of steaming in the first 6 weeks after birth.

Their findings speak for themselves. In their Fourth Trimester Vaginal Steam Study their study demonstrated that women who steamed were more physically healed and ready at the six week mark than were the control group. Six weeks is customary for doctors to clear mothers to return to work, so this physical finding is significant.

When your body has the tools to heal properly, there is less tax on other resources in the healing body. Who doesn’t want that? You are already sleep deprived!

There are countless benefits to steaming during this critical recovery period. Even famous people like Chrissy Tiegen are using this ancient practice as part of their recovery.

These benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Fundal height returning below the public bone by the six week mark

• Prevention of postpartum preeclampsia

• Decrease in blood pressure after five days of steaming

• Clearing out afterbirth

• Loosening and dissolving scar tissue

• Tonifying the muscles of the vagina, uterus and other structures

• Incontinence

• Ease and comfort for bowel movements

• Relaxation

Pregnant or know someone who is pregnant and preparing for birth? Schedule an appointment with certified practitioner Adrienne Irizarry to learn more about how steaming can support your fourth trimester.