Welcome to the Fourth Trimester (AKA: The Plot Twist Nobody Warned You About)

You’ve just grown and birthed a whole human. You expected nappies, long nights, maybe even leaky boobs, but no one really prepped you for the full-body, full-heart, other-worldly experience that arrives the moment you hold your little baby.

This season has a name: the fourth trimester.
It’s those first 12 weeks after birth where everything shifts; your body, your hormones, your sleep (lol), your identity, your relationships. Every mama’s experience looks different, but there are some tried-and-true supports here in Aotearoa that can help you feel less like you’re “winging it” and more like you’re actually finding your way.

What’s Normal… and What’s Worth Checking In On

In the early weeks, even telling the time of day from night can feel impossible. Here’s what many mama experience:

Physical recovery:

• Vaginal bleeding (lochia)

• Cramps that feel a bit like your uterus is doing a comeback tour - this is known as afterpains

• Engorged breasts

• Belly birth (C-section) scar tightness or tenderness

It’s all very normal, and very real.

Emotional changes:

Feeling teary, overwhelmed, anxious, or flat in the first 1–2 weeks? Totally common.
If those feelings stick around or get stronger, that’s your sign to reach out. There’s nothing “wrong” with you, your mind and nervous system is recovering too.

Feeding challenges:

Breastfeeding can be beautiful and a little WILD. Sore nipples, latch issues, cluster feeding marathons… we see you. Getting support early can change everything.

Trusted NZ postpartum info:

• Health NZ – Maternity Recovery

• NZ College of Midwives – The First Few Weeks

• KidsHealth NZ – Early Parenting Support

• We also have a downloadable resource, written with Midwives - What to expect in the first 48 hours

Gentle Supports That Kiwi Mums Love (Natural, Familiar, Actually Helpful)

Postpartum support has always been a women-led tradition. Across cultures, māmā have relied on the rituals, remedies, and botanical magic shared by the midwives, aunties, and grandmothers in their circle. That collective wisdom still stands, and it’s often the gentlest, most grounding support of all.

Herbal baths and/or sitz baths

Warm water + calendula or lavender, healing botanicals = heaven for tender skin.
Try: Viva La Vulva Postpartum Healing Bath Soak: a carefully crafted botanical blend made right here in Aotearoa. 

Cooling things down

Padsicles, Ice packs, a good peri bottle and healing perineal spray - these are the unsung heroes of postpartum life.
Explore: Padsicle Gel, Postpartum Healing Perineal Spray, Soothing Ice Packs.

Witch hazel

Witch hazel is one of those timeless botanical remedies midwives and mothers have leaned on for generations. A gentle, natural way to soothe stingy, swollen, overworked postpartum skin — and still a go-to for mama today.
Our version: The Good Witch Hazel, high-potency witch hazel designed for postpartum, distilled in New Zealand.

Breast care

If breastfeeding has your nipples crying and raw:
Boob Balm + Breasties = comfort you feel instantly.
Pair them with real support from NZ Breastfeeding Alliance, Plunket, or your LMC.

They might not be officially classified as miracles… but honestly, when everything feels stingy, swollen, or stressed, they sure come close. Gentle, natural support right when you need it most.

Your Mind Matters (More Than Anyone Tells You)

The emotional side of postpartum can feel like a rollercoaster strapped to a hormonal cliff.

Baby blues:

Often fade within two weeks (absolutely normal).

Postnatal depression or anxiety:

Can pop up any time in the first year. You’re not failing - you’re adjusting to a new life.

Feeling overwhelmed:

Common. But you deserve support long before you hit breaking point.

NZ mental health supports:

• PADA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa)

• Plunket parent mental health support

• Healthify.nz - List of regional wellbeing services

• Your midwife or GP

Tiny rituals can help anchor your day too: a warm shower, sitting in the sun, or a cup of The Mother-Sip Raspberry Leaf Tea just for you.

Build Your Village

Postpartum was never meant to be done alone. In NZ, your village might look like:

• Your LMC / midwife: guidance, reassurance, and the real talk

• Plunket or Tamariki Ora nurses: feeding support, milestones, mental health

• Whānau or marae-based support: culturally grounded care and whanau support

• Whānau, Friends and chosen family: the ones who bring kai, fold washing, or let you vent

• Online mum groups: where 3 am feels a little less lonely

And don’t underestimate the value of little tools that make daily life easier. Our Recovery Bundles are designed to cover the basics so you don’t have to scramble when you’re already stretched thin.

A Reality Check (Because the Bounce-Back Myth Is Fake)

Social media loves to sell the “bounce back” myth. In reality, your body is healing from one of life’s biggest events. Your body may feel different, your energy may be low, your emotions may surprise you. And that’s all okay. What's not ok is if it lasts for a long time.

For realistic, evidence-informed advice, see HealthEd NZ: Your Pregnancy / Tō Hapūtanga. Pair that with your own intuition, nobody knows your body better than you.

Your body isn’t meant to “snap back.”
It’s meant to heal.
To rest.
To adjust.
To grow alongside your baby.

Your belly, your energy, your emotion, none of it needs to look like anyone else’s version of “postpartum.”

You Don’t Have to Navigate the Fourth Trimester Alone

At Viva La Vulva, we exist to support you through the real, raw, and honestly quite hectic postpartum season. Our products are all-natural, mama-designed, midwife-loved, and crafted to bring comfort back into your recovery.

Explore our Postpartum Collection, from Perineal Care essentials to full Recovery Bundles, and give yourself the support you deserve.

Postpartum is wild.
Postpartum is big.
Postpartum is unfiltered.
But you’ve got this, mama,
And we’ve absolutely got you.