The Fourth Trimester Journal | MADRE Blog

Postpartum Gift Basket Ideas That Aren't for the Baby
Postpartum Gift Basket Ideas That Aren't for the Baby
Thoughtful postpartum gift basket ideas for the new mom, not the baby: comfort, nourishment, rest, and a few beautiful things just for her. Read more...
What to Wear After a C-Section
What to Wear After a C-Section
What to wear after a C-section: incision-friendly waistbands, soft fabrics, and outfit ideas for the hospital, the ride home, and the weeks that follow. Read more...
Postpartum Essentials: What Mothers Wish They'd Bought Before Birth
Postpartum Essentials: What Mothers Wish They'd Bought Before Birth
The postpartum essentials mothers say they wish they'd bought before birth: recovery comfort, feeding, sleep, and the small things that make the fourth trimester easier. Read more...
Hospital Bag Checklist for Mom: The Honest Version
Hospital Bag Checklist for Mom: The Honest Version
The postpartum essentials mothers say they wish they'd bought before birth: recovery comfort, feeding, sleep, and the small things that make the fourth trimester easier. Read more...
The C-Section Hospital Bag Checklist (Plus What to Wear Home)
The C-Section Hospital Bag Checklist (Plus What to Wear Home)
A complete C-section hospital bag checklist for mom: what to pack for a planned or possible cesarean, what to wear home, and what you can leave behind. Read more...
Postpartum Outfits: What to Actually Wear in the First 12 Weeks
Postpartum Outfits: What to Actually Wear in the First 12 Weeks
Real postpartum outfit ideas for the first twelve weeks: what to wear at home, on the first walk, and out to lunch, when nothing fits the way it used to. Read more...
Diastasis Recti After Pregnancy: What the Research Says Helps
Diastasis Recti After Pregnancy: What the Research Says Helps
Diastasis recti is one of the most searched postpartum topics and one of the most over-promised. Here is what studies actually show, in plain language. Read more...
Your First 48 Hours After a C-Section: A Gentle Recovery Guide
Your First 48 Hours After a C-Section: A Gentle Recovery Guide
A calm guide to C-section recovery in the first two days: what to expect, what helps you feel supported, and what the research says about abdominal support. Read more...
Woman wearing a postpartum legging with compression belly band holding newborn baby
What a Postpartum Belly Band Actually Does (and Doesn't Do)
An honest look at postpartum belly bands: what the research supports, what it doesn't, and why feeling held still matters. Read more...