Fourth Trimester: The First Months and Beyond | Parenting | Newborn Baby | Postpartum | Doula

Healthy families start with healthy parents (and wherever possible, that includes the father!). Dr. Ed Stephens shares his groundbreaking “Bringing the Father into Pregnancy” questionnaire, a simple, life-saving tool that helps  strengthen families, and give babies the healthiest possible start. This episode gives parents and perinatal professionals  research-backed insight into fathers’...

Becoming a parent changes a lot - including how we connect with our partners. On this episode of the Fourth Trimester Podcast, I'm joined by my co-host Esther Gallagher as well as special guest Dr. Shoshanna Bennett, a pioneer in perinatal mental health, to talk about what intimacy really looks like after a baby arrives. Full show notes fourthtrimesterpodcast.com Connect with Dr Shoshana Bennett d...

This is a wonderful conversation with experienced nutritionist Argavan Nilforoush about feeding and nourishing your baby, especially when there are specific dietary concerns. Argavan is a registered dietitian nutritionist and she is based in the San Francisco Bay area. She brings years of experience working with families, infants and children across both hospital and outpatient settings. She found...

On this episode we are joined by Dr. Joanna Parga-Belinkie, a neonatologist, board-certified lactation consultant, and the author of the The Baby Bonding Book: Connecting With Your Newborn. We discuss medical as well as practical and emotional aspects of bonding, including why and how to bond with your newborn. This is great listening for parents, grandparents, supporters, visitors, and well, ever...

Dr. Sonal Patel is a board-certified pediatrician, neonatologist, lactation specialist, TEDx speaker, author, and founder of NayaCare: Fourth Trimester Clinic. With a passion for improving maternal and infant health, she offers curated talks designed to empower professional women navigating the intersection of career, motherhood, and personal well-being. Full show notes fourthtrimesterpodcast.com...

Petra is a birth & postpartum doula, birth educator, and fierce advocate for women reclaiming their power in birth. After undergoing three Cesareans, she set off on a transformative journey that led to her vaginal birth after three Cesareans (VBA3C). That experience reshaped not only how she viewed birth but also how she found her voice—one that had been silenced by fear, external authority, a...

Here's a prep guide for hospital births that will help you feel more confident, and empower you with information that could help you avoid unnecessary procedures that can result in trauma and/or injury. Our guest is HeHe Stewart, a birth doula and founder of The Birth Lounge , a non-judgmental, evidence-based childbirth education online platform known for helping parents navigate birth. HeHe also...

This Returning to Work Transition Guide is led by Career coach Michelle Olsen who specializes in helping women find clarity and purpose during career transitions.  Michelle holds a Master’s in Organizational Psychology and is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) Covered on this episode: Making the back to work transition with intention Finding the right balance for your family Crea...

Dr. Gertrude Lyons is a leading expert in holistic women’s development with over 20 years of experience. We explore how rewriting our beliefs about motherhood can lead to more joy, freedom, and self-love. This episode is about learning how breaking free from outdated expectations can transform not only your parenting but your entire sense of self. Full show notes fourthtrimesterpodcast.com Gertrud...

So here's what happens when a seasoned birth doula becomes a first-time mom. Carson Meyer, a sought-after doula, joins us to share her personal journey into motherhood. With years of experience supporting parents through birth and postpartum, Carson brings a unique perspective on what she thought she knew versus what she learned firsthand. In this episode, we talk about the realities of postpartum...

Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian and the author three books designed to support healthy conception, birth and postpartum, including how to prevent and manage gestational diabetes. Her books are Real Food for Fertility (co-authored by Lisa Hendrickson-Jack ), Real Food For Pregnancy and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. Lily shares important information all women should know about optimizin...

In this empowering episode, we invite you to get up close and personal with the part of your body that’s about to do something extraordinary—birth your baby. Many parents enter labor feeling disconnected from their vaginas and pelvises, but our guest Britt Fohrman offers a different path—one grounded in awareness, preparation, and trust. Drawing from over two decades as a doula, yoga teacher, birt...

Dual-PhD researcher Celeste Beck is a leading maternal health researcher at Heluna Health who just published a groundbreaking study on vitamin D and pregnancy. It turns out something as simple as your vitamin D levels could have a major impact on your pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and your baby’s health. With over 15 years in public health and a dual PhD in Nutritional Science and Clinical and T...

Mikka Bonel is a doula and a long-time facilitator of New Parent Circles. In these groups, parents gather in a safe and supportive, facilitated group. All parents of new babies are welcome to share and connect around the transition to their new role as a parent, changing family relationships, and the vast spectrum of emotions that arise in new parenthood. In this episode, Mikka shares the top 5 qu...

In this episode, I’m joined by Sarah Ezrin , award-winning author, world-renowned yoga educator, and maternal mental health advocate, to talk about micro destressing techniques for busy parents . Sarah shares simple, effective ways to regulate your nervous system, restore your energy, and find calm in the chaos of daily life . The best part is that it doesn't take additional time, so it still work...

Parenting isn’t just about raising children—it’s about the roles we all play in supporting the next generation.  In this episode, PSI Founder Jane Honikman shares wisdom for parents, partners, and grandparents on the power of community, mental health, and the importance of not doing it alone. Please share with the dads, grandparents, other caregivers and extended family in your life! Special...

Birth is one of the most transformative experiences in a person’s life, but when things don’t go as planned - something traumatic or simply not what you thought would happen - the emotional impact can linger. Chanti Smith is a licensed professional midwife and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. In this episode she talks about healing from birth trauma and reclaiming joy. Listen to learn how soma...

I don't know about you, but one of my top goals as a parent of a newborn was getting more sleep. A night doula is a great addition to any postpartum dream team because they will help with achieving exactly that - more sleep. More sleep for you, your other family members in your household, your baby. It's perfectly normal for newborns to be awake multiple times during the night (just ask PhD Sleep...

Wondering how to make the most of your parental leave? In this episode, we talk with Mamattorney lawyer Daphne Delvaux about your rights, how to maximize your maternity, paternity, and parental leave benefits, and what every new parent should know. Daphne spells out how you can stitch together different types of leaves and benefits to make sure you are getting the full amount of leave available so...

Discover the benefits of babywearing in this episode with Whitney Dula, IBCLC, postpartum doula, and trained babywearing expert. Whitney shares tips on choosing and using baby carriers, safety essentials, and how babywearing supports bonding and development. Full show notes fourthtrimesterpodcast.com Connect with Whitney Dula themamasdula.com | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook Learn more Babywearing...

Learn the benefits of a  sitz bath DONE PROPERLY  for postpartum healing, with step-by-step guidance on how to prepare one using natural, soothing ingredients. This  DIY Sitz Bath Guide  will teach you how to care for yourself or provide this care for others. Plus, this episode will equip you with additional tools to  make a real difference in a new parent’s recovery...

Discover the wisdom of sacred postpartum traditions with Pānquetzani , a traditional healer and advocate for holistic maternal care. In this episode, we explore time-honored practices that support healing, thriving, and deep connection during the fourth trimester. Learn how to honor your postpartum journey with simple, yet powerful practices that support lasting wellness . Whether you're an expect...

This episode featuring Dr Amanda P Williams is dedicated to how data can be a tool for informed decision-making, creating positive outcomes for both parents and their children. With 35% of U.S. counties classified as Maternity Care Deserts—lacking essential maternal care resources—data and technology are critical in bridging gaps in access and information. Tools like virtual visits, online data pl...

In this episode, Jesse Bennett, an author and advocate for positive thinking among children, guides us on helping kids boost their success by developing a positive mindset through kindness, self-talk, and mindfulness practices. She emphasizes that kindness begins within oneself. By teaching children to love and believe in themselves and encouraging them to recognize their inner light, they can ext...

In this episode, hosted by Didi D'Errico as a special edition, we focus on ACTIONABLE ways you can build more reliable, more accessible and more timely support as a new parent. We know there are enough barriers to support for new parents as it is, as highlighted by March of Dimes in their recent report on Maternity Care Deserts - THANK YOU for providing insights and data! We talk you through speci...