No, you’re not reading that wrong sis.

We usually focus on the three trimesters of a pregnancy, and it’s a beautiful journey, you could even check out some of our top tips right here, but for this blog I wanted to take a moment to share about the three months after giving birth, especially for first time parents like my husband and I. Hence, the fourth trimester.

Last October we found out we were expecting our first child, a few months later we got a blissful surprise that we were actually expecting our first children, twins! So many emotions coupled with gratitude and a realisation that we were being blessed with not one but two amazing kings. We were pretty excited, after the initial shock factor that is.

Unlike most first time pregnancies, I didn’t have any morning sickness, no random cravings, nothing to really get the movie like experience of a pregnancy, ya know.

And then week 32 happened. Blood transfusions. Four days of hospitalisation. Tough decisions. Hard conversations. And a whole different whirlwind.

What followed suit in our third trimester would be where my faith and my feelings collided like no other time in my life. Testing to say the least but God! 5 weeks later I gave birth to two beautiful boys and our fourth trimester began.

What I thought would be just a few days in the hospital after giving birth turned into 4 weeks! We spent our first month in CWM and one of our boys spent most of that time in NICU. This was not at all how I imagined spending our first weeks post birth. It was daunting, the building and environment in and of itself is not a place that I would wish upon my worst foe. It’s rough. Like many people, I’m one person where my environment has a lot to do with my mental state. I love getting out into the fresh air any chance I get. Walking. Errands. Meeting friends/family. Pre pregnancy it was anything to get out and about. So staying in one space without going outside for a whole day is not really my thing let alone four weeks in a room in a hospital literally built during colonial times. Trust and believe sis needed the Holy Spirit just to get through one hour. I’ll tell you one thing for sure. It ain’t for the faint of heart.

So first month in our fourth trimester was at the hospital. Walking to and fro from my room to the NICU room where we weren’t even allowed to take photos of our precious babies. Not being “allowed” to leave because duh one of my sons was admitted and that was not going to be an option for this first time mom. The limitation on family/friend visits (I get this for the whole covid life though but yall it was a struggle). And then there was the environment. Yalllll I’m telling you, it is not the venue sis!

Then there was our second month. I was so excited to finally get home! Family, fresh air, the view, the food, the familiar space, it’s home, and our boys were finally going to see more of this beautiful world. And then team no sleep hit like none other (haha). Mind you at the hospital, sis got plenty of rest and sleep because well, it was the hospital, nurses, doctors, they were on point. So when we got home, girrrrrllll these babies slept for 2 hours max alllllll the time! It was new, it was hard but oh am I beyond grateful to have survived this particular stage. Also, this was the month I found out just HOW IMPORTANT burping is for these beloved souls. So you know, remember that for your time or warn your friends about burping newborns because they can get super fussy fam.

Lastly, we made it to month three and this has probably been one of my favourite times so far with our little family. The changes that they went through between the time we came home and now is crazy fast! It’s such a beautiful reminder of how fast time really flies but at the same time there’s almost a pause on everything else that use to matter so much to me before becoming a mom.

These amazing kings are now 3 months and some weeks old and I just can’t get enough of them. I will say this, at least for twins, sis, get yourself surrounded by family and community because it for real takes a village. My husband and I are quite blessed that my mother in love and our niece are with us to help us around the house. There’s also all the aunties and uncles who help us. And can I just brag for a minute, my husband, ccchhhillllllleeeee this man is the real mvp, working a full time job, part time gigs, and still coming home to be present with the boys and his wife, yal, I tell you. I thought I loved this man before but it’s something else when you see your man be the father he was created to be.

So that’s the fourth trimester in a wrap I guess. A learning experience. Unlearning experience. Everything I imagined motherhood to be like and absolutely nothing like I expected. Grateful would be an understatement.

You are purposed and you are protected sis.

-A