This episode is about finding the best labor and delivery hospitals using community-based tools and reviews. Listen to learn more about how community reviews tools are helping women find better facilities. Think “Yelp for hospitals”. Kimberly Seals Allers is our featured guest. She is the creator of Irth, a non-profit app designed to collect and leverage reviews of birthing hospitals and pediatricians from Black and Brown communities to hold these institutions accountable and facilitate...

In this episode we dive deep into the crucial aspects of physical preparation for childbirth as we unveil targeted exercises, expert insights, and practical tips to empower expectant parents. Leah Keller, Founder of Every Mother, leads us through a transformative discussion that equips you with the tools needed to approach the birthing process with strength, resilience, and unwavering confidence. Use Code FOURTHTRIMESTER10 for 10% OFF Every Mother birth preparation exercise programs...

The Mom Group Guide features special guest Rebecca Walsh, veteran Mom Group facilitator and Early Childhood Education leader with 20+ years of experience. Rebecca is The Queen Of Mom Groups. We covered: *why Mom Groups are so beneficial *differences between First Time groups vs Second Time groups *how facilitated groups lead to stronger connection within the group *the biggest themes that come up during mom groups *how to facilitate your own group if you don't have one in your...

In this informative episode of the Fourth Trimester Podcast, we're diving deep into a topic that affects many postpartum individuals but is often shrouded in mystery and concern – Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Join us as we welcome physiologist Jenn Lormand, a physiologist in women's health for nearly 30 years, to discuss practical strategies for both avoiding and addressing this common postpartum issue. Pelvic Organ Prolapse can be a source of anxiety for many, but there is hope. Jenn will share...

Infertility and pregnancy loss are deeply emotional and often isolating experiences. Knowing how to approach and discuss these topics with sensitivity is essential. In this episode, we will explore strategies for addressing infertility and pregnancy loss, offering support, and witnessing grief. Emily Barrett, PsyD is a licensed psychologist in California. She is the special guest on this episode and she brings both her professional background working with clients on their own grief, and...

Birth Doula 101 is an essential primer on what birth doulas do, when to hire one, and what to expect from a practical standpoint. Learn from Esther Gallagher who has been a birth and postpartum doula for over 30 years. In this podcast episode, Sarah Trott and Esther Gallagher discuss the role of a birth doula and the services they provide, including non-medical support, physical comfort, advocacy, and referrals. They also emphasize the importance of having a birth plan, advocating for the...

In this episode of the Fourth Trimester Podcast, Sarah Trott and First Forty Days author Marisa Belger discuss the importance of self-trust for parents and offer a guide on how to build self-trust. The guide includes four practical questions to ask yourself, such as what you are noticing, how you can offer yourself tenderness and compassion, and what your feelings are trying to tell you. They also offer a calming meditation exercise. Marisa Belger is a certified life coach and author who...

Discover the invaluable support of postpartum doulas who provide practical and emotional care to new families during the healing and recovery process at home. This episode provides a detailed overview with examples of the type of care provided so you know what to expect from postpartum care at home. Full show notes and resource links: fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

Laura Ash, a Clinical Herbalist, shares the benefits of herbal medicine for fertility, pregnancy and postpartum. Find out which are best for your goals. Fourth Trimester listeners can use code FOURTH for 10% off purchases made on scarletsage.com Full show notes and resource links: fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

Meghan Doyle, CEO of Partum Health helps families access services that address mental, emotional, physical well-being. Learn about creating successful pre & postnatal care plans. Typical plans include birth and postpartum doula care, lactation support, and physical therapy services. Hear how parents are electing preventative services for mental health and taking other proactive steps. Fourth Trimester listeners can use code FOURTHTRIMESTER for 50% off classes offered through Partum...

Empowerment Coach Lisa Chin shares how parents can become more confident and authentic through self-discovery and healing By addressing and releasing past traumas, mothers can create a more nurturing environment for themselves and their children, fostering a sense of authenticity, peace, and growth. Listeners of the Fourth Trimester can receive a 10% discount on their first session with Chin by using the code FTPODCAST when booking on lisaforreal.com Full show notes and resource...

Returning guest Melissa Hurt shares common perinatal conditions you don't have to accept: depletion, pelvic imbalance, diastasis recti, weak core, vocal fry. As a new mother, it can feel as though your body is going through all kinds of changes and challenges that you never expected. However, there are some perinatal conditions that you do not have to accept as your new normal. With some self-care, mindfulness, and the right support, you can overcome these challenges and find your way to a...

In a world where postpartum care is often overlooked, postpartum midwifery care offers a valuable service to families. This primer on midwifery is a must for anyone looking to learn more about how a midwife works with moms and families. A common successful plan looks like this: hospital birth, birth doula present alongside doctor, go home, postpartum midwife plus postpartum doula care during first 30/60/90 days. Listen to learn more! Special offer: Enter code 4TRI to get 10% off all...

Fatherhood and healthy masculinity is all about finding a balance between traditional and progressive dad stereotypes, building teamwork and communication with co-parents, and embodying positive values and aspirations as a dad. Join us with David Arrell, author of 'Welcome To Fatherhood: The Modern Man's Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Fatherhood'. https://fourthtrimesterpodcast.com/

We asked the fatherhood expert: What are the top three topics that come up during First Time Dad group sessions? David Arrell is the author of 'Welcome To Fatherhood: The Modern Man's Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Fatherhood', he is a Dad Coach and a leader of new father support groups. David is our guest on the Fourth Trimester Podcast. On this episode he demystifies 'new father support groups' by sharing the top three topics that arise during his sessions.

Listen up if you're considering home birth. In this episode, we touch on the breadth of women's historical engagement with their perinatal care, including the shift from home to hospital, bias and racism in our care system, government programs and how they do and don't work, and some of the history of midwifery in the US and the UK.

Calisha Cobb is the founder and patented inventor of HANDY (Hands-Free Pumping Bra Tops). As a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Mother of two breastfed daughters, she experienced the challenges of breastfeeding when she returned back to work, and shortly thereafter, as the result of common challenges that working breastfeeding Mothers face, the HANDY Top was invented! Her goal is to assist all Moms in achieving their breastfeeding goals.

Here's what the midwives of San Francisco have to say to all expecting parents on the safety of home birth amid the unprecedented global event of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and government-imposed social-distancing. Women are questioning, in new ways, what should be considered "safe" for giving birth.

We at Fourth Trimester teamed up with Career Coach Sharon Weinberg to create a guide to help you make a smooth transition between working and being on leave. The guide is useful for those who will be having a leave of one month or more, although elements of the approach can easily be used effectively for shorter absences. This preparation can enable you to create the necessary clarity, accountability, and continued execution to strategy by you and your team during your absence and set them...

Practical solutions for making necessary adjustments for a second baby to join the family in a way that helps meet everyone's needs, including your older child

Our amazing guest for Episode 78 is Jeanae Hopgood-Jones who has taken a tragic and powerful experience as a mother and found a space of creativity and inspiration.  Her blog  https://blackangelmom.com/  is not only beautiful and sincere, it addresses areas of parenthood and life that are all too often relegated to the purely personal and not given or allowed a voice by the larger culture.  The loss of her twin daughters and reaching towards families of color and their experiences of loss are...

Pelvic floor stability champion Susi Hately returns to the Fourth Trimester Podcast to talk about how she advocated for herself while she was pregnant with TWINS and had the complication of placenta previa. Hear her inspirational story of how she was true to herself throughout her pregnancy and postpartum period

We had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Adrian Villalba about perinatal chiropractic practices that benefit mothers. Having balance in your body both before and after giving birth can benefit new mamas in their recovery process. Adrian is certified in Webster Technique by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. Listen to learn more about out how this works.

In this episode, Lisa shares with us practical lessons on how to understand  our own body signs. Learn how to chart your own cycle. Hear how important it is to listen to what your menstrual cycle indicates for your wider health overall. For example, if your period doesn't return ~ 18 months after having a baby, that's a sign that something may be wrong, and it is a good time to have a medical professional help investigate. 

Here's a quick guide to the questions every new parent asks.