Nesting: A 4th Trimester Planning Workshop
The 4th trimester is the three months immediately after birth and adoption where the parents and baby(ies) need intense care. This is a critical time of healing and bonding. While it requires intense work, it also requires intense rest, which can be a hard balance to find. In this workshop we will develop practical steps and a flexible plan to support you and your family in this stage.
Let’s set you, your baby, and your family up to thrive in this delicate time. The amount of learning and growing you and your baby are doing during this time is quite frankly, mindblowing. It can be overwhelming, earth-shaking, unsettling. It can also be empowering, grounding, and fulfilling - with the right support.
Nesting is a workshop to help you plan for the postpartum time. Using Kestrel Gates’ workbook Build Your Nest as a guide, we will explore:
What is the 4th trimester? What are some postpartum traditions? What are the basic needs during this time?
The Who, What, and Hows of your village - building a strong support system involves getting specific about who you can ask to do what, and how to ask. This way you can more easily get the help you need.
Recovery aspects - some of the physical, mental, emotional, and relational needs
Money - the 4th trimester is often a time of shifting financial habits where the person(s) spending the most amount of money is bringing in the least. We will touch on important conversations to have ahead of this time.
Intimacy/sex - there are many reasons why intimacy needs & desires change during this time, for all adults. Hormones, pelvic floor changes, & feeling ‘touched out’, to name a few. We will explore some of these, discuss tips on how to talk about these changes with your partner, and ideas on how to deal with them.
Baby blues vs PMAD - how to tell the difference and how to get help
Feeding baby
Back to paid job
Tips for multiples, older children, longer physical recoveries, NICU stays, and surprises
Structuring a 4th trimester plan
You will also receive a Resource list of local providers and online resources
Nesting is offered for mamas alone or couples together. Attendees are often in their third trimesters, but 1st and 2nd trimesters are welcome too! We will meet one time for 3 hours. You will receive Kestrel Gates’ Build Your Nest workbook, refreshments (if in-person), a resources list, and village building.
If a group setting isn’t your thing, we can meet privately in-person or virtually, alone or with your partner(s)/support person(s).
Upcoming dates: TBD
Reach out to schedule a private Nesting workshop for you and/or your partner(s)/support person(s).
Virtual or in-person available.
