The Fourth Trimester: What Really Happens After Birth (and the Postpartum Truth No One Talks About)

Postpartum is not just a recovery phase, it is one of the biggest full body transitions a woman will ever go through. In this episode, Dr. Taz breaks down what actually happens in the fourth trimester, from the steep drop in estrogen and progesterone to fluid shifts, tissue dryness, gut slowdown, metabolic changes, and the mental and emotional load that can follow. You will learn why so many women feel unprepared after birth, why the six week bounce back expectation is unrealistic, and how older systems like Chinese medicine and Ayurveda approached postpartum as a sacred 40 to 100 day window of restoration.

Dr. Taz shares:
• Why postpartum can feel so destabilizing: the hormone crash, nervous system strain, and energy depletion most women are never taught about
• The hidden physical shifts after delivery, including swelling and fluid volume changes that can take months to fully regulate
• Why skin, hair, and vaginal dryness are common postpartum, and how this can affect libido, confidence, and self perception
• How breastfeeding changes hormones, including oxytocin’s calming effect and its relationship with cortisol and mood
• Why weight loss varies dramatically postpartum, and how insulin sensitivity, blood sugar history, PCOS, and metabolic factors change the timeline
• The gut changes no one talks about: slower motility, constipation, reflux, and why progesterone shifts play a role
• The fourth trimester frameworks from Chinese medicine and Ayurveda: rest, warming foods, nourishment, massage, acupuncture, herbs, and community care
• A modern 100 day postpartum plan that starts in the third trimester with nutrient optimization, thyroid and blood sugar support, gut health, and a real support circle

Whether you are newly postpartum, preparing for birth, or supporting someone in those early months, this episode gives you a clear, practical roadmap to protect energy, reduce depletion, and recover in a way that helps you feel like yourself again.

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Host & Production Team

Host: Dr. Taz; Produced by ClipGrowth.com (Producer: Pat Gostek)