Caroline: I was exhausted, tender, emotional, sensitive, and so in love.
The idea of the fourth trimester really resonated with me postpartum. I felt the first 12 weeks of Leo’s life, after he was born, to be another part of the cocoon period. We stayed a few days in hospital after an emergency c-section, which I wasn’t planning and hadn’t really thought about. This was a time to absorb all the goodness and intel from the incredible midwives, creating our own spin on parenthood, and forging an everlasting bond with our baby. After a long labour, my body way recovering from an intensive physical experience as well as major abdominal surgery. As an impatient person, I had to learn to be calm and let my body rest. I was exhausted, tender, emotional, sensitive, and so in love. Learning the way of the world with my new little mate. At the time my partner Dillon and I were living in a cosy 1.5 bedroom apartment in Manly, Sydney. It was ground floor, a little dark and snoozy during the days, and we would eat warm soup and toasted cheese sandwiches, laze around, have friends and family visit, go on walks, eat and recoup. It was a hazy time. There were lots of tears for all sort of reasons – happy, hungry, tired – it felt instinctual but often they would pour out of me for no reason at all. One day I made a black forest cake for a friend’s birthday and it took me all day. Something that might have once taken an hour or two. I really had to change my perspective on what is and was possible. It took at least 12 weeks for my body to feel physically able to start building strength again. I felt swollen and soft and recovery took longer than I expected. But I also felt this incredible sense of pride for what the female body can achieve. This time was beautiful and challenging for me. I love thinking back on it.
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Caroline Clements is an editor, producer and author of Places We Swim (Australia, Sydney and is currently working on Places We Swim, California) where she and her partner Dillon uncover idyllic beaches, pools, waterfalls, lakes, hot springs and gorges for us all to enjoy. When she is not travelling the globe, she lives with Dillon and their son Leo in Sydney, Australia. To get all their hot tips and to follow their adventures find them at @placesweswim www.placesweswim.com
