The fourth trimester, the roughly twelve weeks after birth, asks an enormous amount of you, all at once, on very little sleep. Knowing what is normal can be steadying when it feels like everyone else got a manual you somehow missed.

What is normal

A tender, recovering body. Wild swings of love and overwhelm. Days that vanish in a blur of feeds. Crying that surprises you. Feeling unlike yourself. All of this is common in the early weeks. You are healing from birth and learning a whole person at the same time, and that is genuinely a great deal to hold.

What helps

• Rest as much as the situation allows, and accept every offer of help.
• Eat and drink regularly, even when you forget to feel hungry.
• Lower the bar on the house, the thank-you cards, all of it.
• Let people in. Company and practical help both matter.

You are not behind. You are in the middle of one of the biggest changes a person goes through.

And when to reach out

Low days are expected. But if low mood, anxiety or a sense of not coping persists beyond the first couple of weeks, or feels heavy and constant, that is worth a conversation with your GP or health visitor. It is common, it is treatable, and reaching out early helps.