E87: The Physical Domain of the Fourth Trimester

Pregnancy does not end at birth—the body continues to recover and readjust for at least three more months, a period that can be referred to as the "fourth trimester." While the typical pregnancy lasts about nine months, it takes roughly a full year—including postpartum recovery—for the body to reach a new state of equilibrium.

In the physical domain of the fourth trimester, Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, DNP, explore the physiologic changes that occur after childbirth. From shifting hormones to healing tissues and resetting body systems, they discuss what truly happens in the months following delivery—and why some changes may be lifelong. The fourth trimester reframes recovery as a vital part of the pregnancy timeline, not a footnote to it.