Most pregnancy literature and resources focus on the three trimesters. But every parent knows what comes next is just as bewildering. The fourth trimester—the 12 weeks following childbirth—presents myriad challenges. Breastfeeding woes, sleep deprivation, and navigating emotional and social changes can feel crippling, but these days don’t have to break you. These empowering resources can help you and baby get and stay on track.
Getty Images
707446893
With a helping hand (or two), you can savor the moments that matter. After all, it takes a village.
Grace to Grow Studio
Perinatal-certified counselor Chelsea Harvey of Bonita Springs’ Grace to Grow Studio helps alleviate parents’ stress, anxiety and postpartum depression—a condition impacting one in eight moms and one in 10 dads—through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, attachment theory and other modalities. “Moms often come in with really self-blaming thoughts,” she says. Chelsea leads with compassion, working to understand and validate parents’ emotions as they work their way back to a balanced baseline.
Night Nannies of Naples
With a caretaker of 30 years at the helm, Night Nannies of Naples is many soon-to-be moms’ first call when they find out they’re pregnant. (The company has a six-month waiting list.) Owner Geraldine Cirillo’s vetted, infant CPR-certified caretakers—including twin-care experts and sleep training gurus—fill the gap in childcare with overnight shifts that cover anything from feedings and diaper changes to establishing bedtime routines and guiding you through breastfeeding.
Lactation Whisperer
New moms seek out Cape Coral’s Juana Rodriguez, a.k.a the Lactation Whisperer, when struggling with painful breastfeeding or an underweight baby. The bilingual, international board-certified lactation consultant compassionately guides moms on proper positioning and techniques to improve latching; soothing painful cracks, engorgement and mastitis; the essentials around milk production and monitoring diaper output; and concepts like skin-to-skin contact.
Rattled Concierge
After battling through a five-day labor and postpartum depression, Megan Dixon launched Rattled Concierge to help ease the transition when you bring your bundle home. The Naples mom remembers months of fielding midnight cries, endless nursing and loads of laundry. Rattle Concierge’s variety of plans and à la carte services alleviate the chaos, covering anything from tidying to dog walking and pinch-hitter baby holding, so you can shower or enjoy a moment to yourself.
Rest Grow Thrive
Bonita Springs sleep consultant Autumn Dettmann, of Rest Grow Thrive, helps sleep-deprived ‘rents establish healthy bedtime habits at any stage. She’ll ensure your infant’s environment is sleep-inducing (cool and dark with a firm mattress and a good swaddle) and create a consistent routine to help ‘minimize tears’ as they mature and start sleeping independently. “We also tackle what is ‘normal’ with newborn sleep and what may warrant further exploration with a pediatrician,” she adds.
Mama’s Chiropractic Clinic
Chiropractor Danielle Dietrich says new moms’ elevated levels of the relaxin hormone (which loosens joints and muscles for birth) can cause instability, potentially leading to injury and discomfort. Her practice focuses on fortifying moms’ bodies. She works to realign the spine and pelvis to improve joint stability. Clients report improvements in sleep, pelvic floor issues, digestive discomfort and mood. Alongside having Cape Coral and Fort Myers offices, the team does house calls, treats babies and helps couples trying to conceive.