Table of contents
- Letter from the Editor
- The sacred importance of the fourth trimester
- Safe Self-Care During Pregnancy
- Pre-Natal Fitness Options in Ann Arbor
- What NICU parents wish people knew
Letter from the Editor
It has been nearly two years since I was pregnant with my daughter, but one thing I still remember clearly is how many questions I had. It felt like each day brought a new wave of wondering about how to keep her safe and how to protect and care for her once she arrived.
In this maternity and mental health guide, we focus on providing resources and insights on how to care for mothers during pregnancy. In one article, we spoke with local experts to answer common questions about self-care during pregnancy, including tips for caring for your skin, hair, and body. We also highlight a local organization that works to support mothers in the fourth trimester. One of our writers who had a baby who stayed in the NICU after birth shares how others can help parents with babies in
Thank you for reading,
Mary Genson
Assignment editor
The Sacred Importance of the Fourth Trimester
By Chelsea Devona
So you’re expecting a baby, or you’ve just given birth. Or you have a new parent in your life whom you want to support.
Most of us know about the three trimesters of pregnancy and the importance of supporting mothers during that time. But the fourth trimester is equally as important for the mother, yet often gets shoved under the rug.
To unpack the value of the fourth trimester and how to best support parents, we spoke with Sarah Williams and Christine Rodrigues, founder and co-founder of Sacred Fourth, a postpartum wellness space in Ann Arbor.
Rodrigues believes that the fourth trimester is a significant healing process after pregnancy and birth that is just as important as any other trimester leading up to giving birth, and that there is a huge gap in both our community and in women’s health in actually focusing on a mother’s healing during that fourth trimester.
Rodrigues said, “We know who’s taking care of baby–you’re taking care of baby. But who’s taking care of you?”
How can parents support themselves during this time? Williams notes that Sacred Fourth’s tagline is, “taking care of you while we take care of baby.” She said, especially for mothers, we are constantly looking after others—especially if a mother has multiple children—being able to physically remove herself to a space where she can be held, fed and rested is so critical.
“That’s the epidemic that we’re trying to address,” Williams said. “Women don’t have these spaces where they can go and be the one taken care of. Both Christine and I desire to see this for other women in our community. It’s exhausting to be a mom!”
If you know someone who is a new parent, and want to support them, Rodrigues urges folks to be aware of the fact that the baby is not the only one who needs care. “The mom is a human as well,” she said. “Pay attention to her. Try not to focus so much on baby and take a look at the mom and see what she needs.” Is she hungry? Is there a pile of clothes lying around that could be folded?
Sarah encourages friends of new parents to just take initiative, whether that’s washing dirty dishes or walking the dog.
“I’ve reframed this with my husband,” said Williams. “It’s not you doing a chore, it’s you taking something off of my plate. The help is support and partnership.”
Sacred Fourth was intentionally named to highlight this time–it’s a sacred time for the body to be recovering from a physically traumatic experience, and it’s sacred because it’s a time of getting to know the baby. “It’s a precious time that you really don’t get back,” said Wiliams.
During this time, women need a safe space not only to heal, but also to have access to experts in postpartum movement, care, wellbeing and an overall understanding of how to care for oneself and one’s baby without losing one’s self in the process.
“A lot of the time, women lose the focus on themselves during this healing process and they focus so much on the baby, like women’s health does, and we’re trying to bring the focus back to mom,” said Rodrigues.
Williams said, “The fourth trimester can be such an isolating time with hormones all over the place, and you’re trying to recover physically, emotionally, mentally. Sometimes you feel like you don’t even like your baby. Let’s normalize that any and all types of healing are completely normal. We want to provide a sense of safety so women can express how they’re navigating, address any questions they have about motherhood, and allow opportunities to get to know other moms who are also on this journey.”
For example, many moms don’t know about the importance of pelvic floor therapy after birth, yet Sarah describes it as a “life-changing experience” for new moms. If it’s in a mother’s ability to see a therapist—prenatal or after pregnancy—she recommends it.
The Sacred Fourth is a touchstone in the community for providing many of these resources. Their retreats look like coming into a space where they do gentle postpartum centered movement, and then move into expert-led advice, like little seminars, and then enjoy spa services.
Williams notes they wanted to create a physical space that is ultimately a one-stop shop for all these resources while providing a community component, creating a sense of community amongst other moms.
There are some other great resources in Ann Arbor for new parents. Williams notes there are many lactation consultants who will offer breastfeeding or bottlefeeding groups.
- Zion Well offers postpartum yoga classes.
- Mothering Meals is run by Lauren Sharette, a local mom and entrepreneur who is a private chef, and she will come to your home and make you a nutrient-dense meal perfect for postpartum recovery. She’s on Instagram under “mothering.meals” and her linktree includes information on how to book her.
- Nest and Nurture provides childbirth education, newborn care, infant feeding groups, postpartum support groups and more.
- The Mamas Network in general does an amazing job with support groups for mothers–there’s always something on the calendar.
- Recess Cafe also provides a great postpartum third space for moms to get out of the house and socialize with their little one.
To find out more about Sacred Fourth’s events and retreats, visit their website!
Safe Self-Care During Pregnancy
By Mary Rose Kulczak
Moms-to-be need a little extra care. As the baby bump grows, they are adapting to everything from heart burn and Braxton Hicks to swollen ankles and stretch marks. Pampering during pregnancy is well-deserved. But what forms of self-care are safe during pregnancy, and what specifically should be avoided?
We spoke with the professionals to find out how moms can best care for themselves and the baby during pregnancy.
Hair care
“I hear many expecting moms say they want to avoid putting hair color directly on their scalp, which is a personal decision between them and their care provider,” Renee Fonseca, owner of Mod Squad Salon in Saline said. “However, another technique to stay on trend or blend your grey is to highlight or lowlight your hair.”
“When the color is foiled into your hair, it stays away from your scalp, not coming in direct contact with your skin. This is a great option to keep up your glow, because when we look good we feel good!”
“I would not feel comfortable using harsh chemicals, such as permanent hair straighteners or permanent waves,” Fonseca said.
So what can moms try when they need a glow up?
Fonseca said, “A facial, manicure and pedicure, as well as a relaxing deep conditioning treatment with a beautiful blowout are salon services that are always beneficial and very pampering for a mom-to-be!”
Body positive
“Pregnancy puts a lot of demands on the body,” Kelsey Schneider of Steadfast Chiropractic said. “As baby grows, posture shifts, the pelvis changes, and the nervous system works overtime.”
Schneider knows this first hand, as she and her husband, Dr. Andrew Schneider, are expecting their third child in May.
“Chiropractic care isn’t about fixing something. It’s about supporting the body as it adapts.”
Schneider noted that chiropractic care can help support:
- Nervous system balance
- Pelvic movement and comfort
- Reduced tension and stress
- Better overall adaption to pregnancy
“Care is gentle, low-force, and designed to work with the body, not against it,” Schneider said.
Dr. Andrew uses TRT, or Torque Release Technique. This is a precise, low-force chiropractic approach that does not involve twisting, cracking or manual adjustment.
“The focus is on how the nervous system communicates with the spine and body,” Schneider said.
“He is also Webster Certified, an approach that emphasizes pelvic balance and nervous system coordination during pregnancy,” she said. “Webster-style care does not treat pregnancy outcomes, but rather supports how a mother’s body adapts throughout pregnancy.”
Skin care
“When it comes to care in pregnancy, simplicity is key,” Kyra Meyer, esthetician and owner of Beam Skin Co in Milan said. “Prioritize hydration, sun protection and consistency over complicated routines. Also, don’t underestimate the power of rest, touch and taking time to slow down.”
Meyer cautioned against certain harsh treatments and chemicals during pregnancy, suggesting that moms-to-be should always consult with their healthcare provider if they are unsure about any products.
“During pregnancy, the skin becomes more reactive and sensitive, so certain treatments are best avoided. I recommend skipping aggressive procedures like chemical peels, micro needling, laser treatments and any services that create significant inflammation or heat in the skin. These treatments haven’t been extensively studied for pregnancy safety, so it’s always best to err on the side of caution.”
Meyer offers customized, gentle facials that focus on relaxation and skin health. “This includes light exfoliation, hydrating masks, lymphatic drain massage, and scalp, facial and hand massage to help reduce stress and support circulation. Everything is carefully selected and adjusted based on how their skin is responding during pregnancy.”
Expectant moms can find many products that will benefit their skin without worrying about negative side effects.
“There are plenty of safe and effective alternatives. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and gentle exfoliants like lactic acid are great options. These support healthy, glowing skin without compromising safety.”
Meyer sees this nine month period as the perfect time to devote to self-care.
“Pregnancy is actually a beautiful time to focus on strengthening the skin barrier and maintaining hydration,” she said.
Pre-Natal Fitness Options in Ann Arbor
By Elizabeth Morabito
Just like you might start craving foods you never cared about before, your body may start asking for something different from movement, too.
What once felt easy might not. What once felt strong might now feel unsteady. And what actually helps can shift week to week.
During pregnancy, movement often becomes less about pushing yourself harder and more about supporting what’s changing—core strength, balance, stability, even how you breathe through a workout.
In Ann Arbor, some providers offer prenatal-specific fitness and movement support—from yoga classes and strength training to pelvic floor physical therapy.
Local prenatal resources
Each option below is designed with pregnancy in mind, so you’re stepping into a space that already understands what your body needs right now.
Ann Arbor Birth Center
Offers a prenatal movement class designed specifically for pregnancy, blending gentle strength, mobility and body awareness to support changing physical needs and prepare for labor and recovery.
722 Brooks St, Ann Arbor
FIT4MOM Ann Arbor
Provides stroller-based workouts, strength training and community-driven classes tailored for every stage of motherhood, including pregnancy. What sets this apart is the built-in social structure—classes often take place outdoors and double as a way to meet other moms, creating a consistent support system alongside physical activity.
Various locations, Ann Arbor
Move Wellness
Specializes in prenatal pilates that focuses on core stability, pelvic floor strength and alignment—three areas that become increasingly important as pregnancy progresses.
3780 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor
Peachy Fitness
Focuses on pelvic floor–informed training and small-group strength sessions designed specifically for pregnancy and postpartum bodies. Workouts are built around functional strength, with a strong educational component that helps clients understand how breath, core engagement, and movement patterns all work together.
704 Airport Blvd, Ann Arbor
YogaFocus Collective
Offers yoga classes with prenatal-specific options that support flexibility, strength, and breathwork in a way that adapts to the body throughout pregnancy.
214 S Main St, Ann Arbor
What NICU parents wish people knew
By Noura Costany
When I had my daughter at 27 weeks and 4 days, I got two reactions. There were people who acted like she wasn’t premature and were surprised when we couldn’t have endless visitors next to her in the hospital. And then there were people who kept apologizing to us, like having our perfect baby was a bad thing simply because she came early. There were few people who truly understood what we’d gone through and were able to show up in a way that was truly helpful. If you know a NICU family, these are some things they really wish you knew.
We want to hear congratulations.
I can’t tell you how sad it was to walk through the labor and delivery and see balloons and flowers for all the term babies when I had to walk down to the eighth floor to see my daughter in an isolette, knowing I couldn’t take her home. It only made it worse when people would tell me they were so sorry that I gave birth so early.
Of course, that wasn’t our plan, but in our case she needed to come out for a variety of reasons and we had both made it through labor, which was amazing. And despite the fact that we were looking at a long NICU stay, we had a perfect daughter that we loved dearly. We wanted to hear, “Congratulations, she’s so beautiful,” not, “Oh. Sorry that happened.”
40% of parents get PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is incredibly overwhelming. Symptoms include triggers, negative thoughts, intrusive memories and avoidance. Many parents leave the NICU with postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety. I myself experienced a lot of anxiety. The first night home, our daughter had a stuffy note and I cried for an hour and wanted to take her back to the hospital.
Many times, the NICU will do a “worst case scenario” workup. For example, my daughter needed a workup for an illness called Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). They also tested her for complications. She tested negative for NEC, but positive for a complication. They said it was most likely a lab error or contaminated sample, but still put her on antibiotics to be safe. I’m glad we did it and got her through that time, but moments like that have made my mind jump to worse case scenarios.
We’ve been through so much more than you can imagine. We had to see our daughter attached to tubes, worry about brain bleeds, watch her scream during eye exams and have to split our maternity and paternity time so we could still be there once she’s home. Some babies have intense surgeries, others are intubated long term.
If you know a NICU family, be there, ask them to share what they want to. And try to understand, when I ask you if she’s breathing when you’re holding her or take her back quicker than you want, it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with what we’ve been through.
Many of us are house locked
A lot of NICU babies leave with complications. My daughter left with oxygen and an NG tube, which made it hard to travel. We had a huge oxygen tank at home that we used, and we had portable ones. However, the portable ones only lasted eight hours. We weren’t comfortable being more than 45 minutes from our home in case anything malfunctioned, and we couldn’t leave the state because she needed to be attached to her larger oxygen over the night. Even when we were weaning her off, we wanted to make sure she would have what she needed in case of an emergency.
Some leave with more than we did, including intubation, hearing and vision aids, longer term feeding assistant, and more. With term babies, it can be hard to leave the house to socialize, but with preemies it’s nearly impossible. It wasn’t until we started weaning her off oxygen that I felt comfortable leaving the house, and even then I only went 20 minutes away to my brother’s house.
We have to be extra careful
Our babies are born without immune systems. Therefore, we have to be extra careful. For travelers, they need to be up to date on vaccines, use a mask, and have a day of isolation to be sure that our daughter gets nothing from the plane. Even a runny nose or allergies has to stay away to be sure that our girl is safe. If she got sick, it would be so bad, especially since her lungs are still weak and she’s tiny compared to a term baby.
So, yes, we’re going to limit visitors, ban kisses and double check your vaccination status. After everything, the shots, bloodwork, traumatic birth and teeny tiny two pound baby, we won’t take risks.
We don’t want to put our babies down
This one is something I’m sure a lot of mother’s, preemie or not, feel, but I think it’s just a bit elevated for us NICU parents. There were days that my baby couldn’t leave her isolette and I had to stare at her and wish I could pick her up. There were times that I needed to ask nurses for help because she was attached to too many monitors. There were limits to how long I could hold her because she needed care.
So, now, I want her all the time. I snuggle her constantly and want to show her how much I love her. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll of course let people meet her, but in general, if you’re looking to help, I’d prefer you offer to bring food or listen to me or even clean some dishes. Holding her tight is incredibly centering.
If you’re looking to support a NICU family, here are a few gestures that meant the world to me when my daughter was in the NICU.
- Bringing food to the hospital or our house. Cooking was impossible because we were carting back and forth from the NICU, and we spent a lot on coffee and food.
- Listening to me vent. My birth was traumatic, my baby was in the hospital, I needed to talk.
- Sending me music. I loved this. It was a way to let me know you were thinking of me that gave me something productive to do. I made my daughter a playlist for when she came home based on this, which was really nice.
- Small gifts. Clothes for my baby, keychains, tiny things I could open for her made everything better, especially because we spent multiple holidays in the hospital.
