He still thinks he’s in his mother’s womb

“Some babies take time to adjust,” the doctor explained. “The womb is all they’ve known for nine months. Warm, enclosed, constant. The outside world is a shock.”

“But this feels… more than that,” Amira insisted.

The doctor nodded slowly. “There’s a concept called ‘fourth trimester.’ The idea is that babies still need womb-like conditions after birth—comfort, closeness, regulation. Some just show it more strongly than others.”

It made sense.

But it didn’t fully explain what they were seeing.

Weeks passed.

They adapted.

They began wrapping Youssef more snugly, holding him closer, creating a cocoon-like environment wherever possible. They used soft white noise, kept the lights low, and carried him in a sling that held him tightly against Amira’s body.

And something changed.