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

By Sarah Roselinda TrottHealth & Fitness Mental Health Education Self-Improvement Parenting Kids & Family

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

June 27 Resilient Parenting Helps You Handle the Early Months After Baby
This is the primer on Resilient Parenting. Learn how resilient parenting helps you feel steadier in the early months after baby, and why that steadiness matters for your baby too. In this episode, Sarah talks with Dr. Kate Lund about simple ways to support your nervous system, respond instead of react, and create more connection and consistency in everyday care.
Dr. Kate Lund is a licensed clinical psychologist, TEDx speaker, bestselling author, host of Resilient Parenting with Dr. Kate, and mom of twins. She explains how babies pick up on parent stress, how children begin learning resilience from the adults around them, and why resilience is not about being perfectly calm or doing it all alone.
You will come away with practical tools for asking for help, shifting expectations, noticing small wins, getting movement and fresh air, and using tiny moments of joy to help reset hard days.
Full show notes fourthtrimesterpodcast.com
Connect with Dr. Kate Lund katelundspeaks.com | Resilient Parenting with Dr. Kate
Dr. Kate's books Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting | Bounce: Help Your Child Build Resilience and Thrive In School, Sports and Life | Putter and the Red Car: A Cross-Country Family Adventure
Learn more Perfect Parenting and Other Myths to Replace With Self-Trust | A Parent's Guide To Building Self-Trust (And Why It Matters) | How to Prepare for Postpartum Support So You Feel Less Alone After Baby
Resources FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Birth Plan | FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Fourth Trimester Plan | Postpartum Soups and Stews Collection
Partner Deals Prenatal & Postnatal Vitamins | Every Mother | HIRO Diapers | Yoga for Your Yoni with Britt Fohrman | Affiliate Disclosures
Connect with Fourth Trimester Facebook | Instagram
If this conversation helped you feel more grounded, supported, or less alone in your parenting journey, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating or review wherever you listen. These small actions help more parents discover the Fourth Trimester Podcast and support us in continuing to bring you conversations that strengthen families.
33 min
June 13 How Dads Can Support Their Partners Postpartum
How dads can support their partners postpartum is a question many families are trying to answer in real time after baby arrives. A lot of dads want to help, but they may be working from the wrong playbook by focusing on fixing problems, pushing through stress, or assuming practical support is enough.
In this episode, learn how emotional presence, steady communication, and helping a partner feel seen, heard, and safe can strengthen connection and help the whole family feel more supported after baby.
Mitchell Osmond is a coach for fathers and host of the Dad Nation podcast. He works with men who want to show up more effectively at home, especially during seasons when relationships, emotions, and early parenthood may feel harder to navigate than work.
In this conversation, he shares a practical framework for helping a partner feel seen,
Full show notes: fourthtrimesterpodcast.com
Connect with Mitchell Osmond dadnationco.com | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn
Spark Starter Kit sparkstarterkit.com
Learn more Bringing Fathers into Pregnancy - Dr Ed Stephens | Dad Real Talk: How First Time Dads Can Become The Father They Want To Be | The Mental Load of Parenting: Share Responsibilities Without Resentment
Resources FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Birth Plan | FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Fourth Trimester Plan | Postpartum Soups and Stews Collection
Partner Deals Prenatal & Postnatal Vitamins | Every Mother | HIRO Diapers | Yoga for Your Yoni with Britt Fohrman | Affiliate Disclosures
Recommended Fourth Trimester Books The First Forty Days | Becoming the Parent You Want to Be
Connect with Fourth Trimester Facebook | Instagram
If this conversation helped you feel more grounded, supported, or less alone in your parenting journey, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating or review wherever you listen. These small actions help more parents discover the Fourth Trimester Podcast and support us in continuing to bring you conversations that strengthen families.
37 min
May 30 The Mental Load of Parenting: Share Responsibilities Without Resentment
If you've ever felt like you're carrying the weight of keeping your family organized, fed, scheduled, and functioning, you're not alone. In this episode, learn how to identify the hidden mental load of parenting, understand why it often falls unevenly between partners, and discover practical strategies for creating a more balanced and supportive family dynamic.
Sarah is joined by Dr. Shoshana Bennett, a clinical psychologist, maternal mental health expert, and author whose work has helped thousands of parents better understand the emotional realities of life after baby.
Full show notes fourthtrimesterpodcast.com
FREE DOWNLOAD 'Make Invisible Work Visible' Get the free Mental Load Audit for New Parents Here
Connect with Dr Shoshana Bennett drshosh.com | Dr Shosh Radio Show | Dark Side Of The Full Moon
Dr Shoshana's books Children of the Depressed: Healing the Childhood Wounds That Come from Growing Up with a Depressed Parent | Postpartum Depression For Dummies | Pregnant on Prozac: The Essential Guide To Making The Best Decision For You And Your Baby | Beyond the Blues: Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression & Anxiety
Learn more Intimacy After Baby in a Way That Feels Right for You with Dr Shosh | The Myths Of Motherhood | Why Women Are Slipping Through The Cracks | Postpartum OCD Is A Thing | postpartum.net | How a Friend or Family Member Can Help You After You Have a Baby
Resources FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Birth Plan | FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Fourth Trimester Plan | Postpartum Soups and Stews Collection
Partner Deals Prenatal & Postnatal Vitamins | Every Mother | HIRO Diapers | Yoga for Your Yoni with Britt Fohrman | Affiliate Disclosures
Connect with Fourth Trimester Facebook | Instagram
Please follow Fourth Trimester Podcast wherever you listen, and leave a rating or review if this conversation helps you feel a little more supported.
51 min
May 16 Replace Parenting Perfectionism and Other Myths With Self-Trust
Many parents enter pregnancy and postpartum believing they can prepare enough, plan enough, or perfect their way through uncertainty. But becoming a parent often challenges the very patterns we once relied on to feel safe. In this episode, learn how self-trust, emotional flexibility, and even storytelling can help parents navigate the identity shifts of the fourth trimester with more resilience, compassion, and confidence.
Britta Bushnell, PhD is a childbirth educator, author, and expert in mythology and psychology who has spent more than 25 years supporting families through birth and early parenthood. Her work explores the cultural myths around control, perfection, and certainty, and how parents can move through major life transitions with greater self-awareness and emotional grounding.
Full show notes: fourthtrimesterpodcast.com
Connect with Britta Bushnell, PhD brittabushnell.com | Transformed by Birth Podcast | Instagram
Britta’s book Transformed by Birth: Cultivating Openness, Resilience, and Strength for the Life-Changing Journey from Pregnancy to Parenthood
Other books mentioned The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown | The Case against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering
Learn more A Parent’s Guide To Building Self-Trust (And Why It Matters) | Prepare Your Body and Pelvic Floor for Birth and Recovery | Intimacy After Baby and Reconnecting With Yourself and Your Partner
Resources FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Birth Plan | FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Fourth Trimester Plan | Postpartum Soups and Stews Collection
Partner Deals Prenatal & Postnatal Vitamins | Every Mother | HIRO Diapers | Yoga for Your Yoni with Britt Fohrman | Affiliate Disclosures
Connect with Fourth Trimester Facebook | Instagram
If this conversation helped you feel more grounded, supported, or less alone in your parenting journey, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating or review wherever you listen. These small actions help more parents discover the Fourth Trimester Podcast and support us in continuing to bring you evidence-based conversations that strengthen families.
46 min
May 02 Community Doula Support Provides Families With Education, Empowerment, and Love with SisterWeb
Community doula support can change how you experience pregnancy, birth, and the fourth trimester. In this episode, you’ll learn how having the right support in place can help you feel safer, more confident, and better equipped to navigate real-life challenges beyond your birth plan.
Marlee-I Mystic and Alli Cuentos are co-executive directors of SisterWeb and experienced birth workers leading a community-based model of doula care that centers advocacy, connection, and whole-family support.
Full show notes: fourthtrimesterpodcast.com
Connect with SisterWeb sisterweb.org | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Learn more How to Prepare for Postpartum Support So You Feel Less Alone After Baby | How Nethal Abdul-Mumin Is Helping Muslim Families Find Their Reflection In The Parenting Community | Get A Healthy Start - Nutrition, Breastfeeding & Building Your Community with WIC's Kiran Saluja
Resources FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Birth Plan | FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Fourth Trimester Plan | Postpartum Soups and Stews Collection | Postpartum Support Collection
Recommended Books The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother(related podcast episodes featuring the authors of this book are Seven Factors That Influence The First Forty Days and Four Relationship-Saving Questions To Ask Before Baby Arrives) | Becoming the Parent You Want to Be: A Sourcebook of Strategies for the First Five Years
Community-based support can also include parent groups and classes. Resources like Natural Resources offer structured support, education, and connection with other families navigating the same transition.
Partner Deals Prenatal & Postnatal Vitamins | Every Mother | HIRO Diapers | Yoga for Your Yoni with Britt Fohrman | Affiliate Disclosures
Connect with Fourth Trimester Facebook | Instagram
If you found this episode helpful, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or rating us on Spotify or wherever you listen. It helps more families find the information and support they need.
52 min
April 25 Postpartum Recovery After 38 - Supporting Insulin, Hormones and Long-Term Health
Postpartum recovery after 38 is not just about healing from birth. It is about protecting your metabolism, stabilizing insulin, and understanding the hormonal shifts that can quietly influence your long-term health. In this episode, you’ll learn what most providers are not routinely testing, how nutrition and muscle mass impact recovery, and the small daily habits that build resilience for the years ahead.
Sarah is joined by Megan Pfiffner, perimenopause nutrition expert and creator of the Perimenopause Matrix™, who brings a data-driven, systems-based approach to helping women reclaim their energy and hormonal balance.
Full show notes: fourthtrimesterpodcast.com
Connect with Megan Pfiffner meganpfiffnernutrition.com | Mornings With Megan Podcast | Instagram | Facebook
Megan's Perimenopause Decoder helps you understand what's happening during perimenopause so you can make decisions from a place of clarity, not chaos
Learn more When Perimenopause And Postpartum Overlap with Dr. Shosh Bennett | Prevent and Manage Gestational Diabetes With Certified Diabetes Educator Lily Nichols, RD | Nutrition and Nourishment - The Essentials | Prevent and Manage Gestational Diabetes With Certified Diabetes Educator Lily Nichols, RD | Fitness Coach Advice For Safe Exercise During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Resources FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Birth Plan | FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Fourth Trimester Plan | Postpartum Soups and Stews Collection
Partner Deals Prenatal & Postnatal Vitamins | Every Mother | HIRO Diapers | Yoga for Your Yoni with Britt Fohrman | Affiliate Disclosures
Recommended Fourth Trimester Books The First Forty Days | Thriving Postpartum
Connect with Fourth Trimester Facebook | Instagram
If this episode helped you think differently about postpartum recovery after 38, we would be so grateful if you left a rating or review on your favorite podcast platform. Reviews help more parents and perinatal professionals discover these conversations when they are searching for trusted, evidence-based support.
Thank you for being part of this community. Sarah & Esther xo
45 min
April 18 Baby Nervous System Development for Calmer Babies and Better Sleep
Your baby’s nervous system is the foundation for sleep, emotional regulation, and lifelong health, yet most parents are never shown what actually supports its development. In this episode, you’ll learn how everyday moments of connection, movement, and time in nature can shape calmer behavior and more resilient outcomes for your child.
Kathleen Lockyer brings nearly 30 years of experience in pediatric development and nervous system regulation, offering grounded, practical insight for parents navigating the early months.
Full show notes fourthtrimesterpodcast.com
Connect with Kathleen Lockyer kathleenlockyer.com | Instagram | Facebook
Kathleen's Book Wild Inside: How Nature Protects Your Child's Mental Health and Restores Yours
Learn more Micro Destressing For Busy Parents with Sarah Ezrin, Author of The Yoga of Parenting | Wire Your Baby for Success Through Optimal Newborn Brain Development | Baby Carrier Guide: Benefits, Safety & Tips with Whitney Dula, IBCLC, Postpartum Doula, and Babywearing Educator | Why And How To Bond With Your Newborn - Dr Joanna Parga-Belinkie
Resources FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Birth Plan | FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Fourth Trimester Plan | Postpartum Soups and Stews Collection
Partner Deals Prenatal & Postnatal Vitamins | Every Mother | HIRO Diapers | Yoga for Your Yoni with Britt Fohrman | Affiliate Disclosures
Connect with Fourth Trimester Facebook | Instagram
If this episode helped you better understand your baby’s needs and feel more confident in these early months, we’d be so grateful if you left a rating and review wherever you listen. Your support helps more families find trusted, evidence-based support during the fourth trimester.
It also helps us continue bringing you conversations like this one with Kathleen Lockyer, focused on improving outcomes for parents and babies. Thank you and enjoy!!
35 min
April 11 Reduce Birth Anxiety and Feel Calmer About Birth
Learn how to reduce birth anxiety and feel calmer, more grounded, and in control during birth using simple, practical tools. Erin Acharya, a certified clinical hypnotherapist and hypnobirthing instructor, shares how to work with your mind and nervous system so you can approach birth with real confidence.
Full show notes: fourthtrimesterpodcast.com
Connect with Erin Acharya birthevolved.com | In The Wash Podcast
Code: FOURTHTRIMESTER for 10% OFF on courses at birthevolved.com
Learn more Birth Center vs Hospital Birth - What Parents Should Know Before Choosing | Prepare your Vagina for Birth | How to Prepare for Hospital Birth (and Avoid Unnecessary Interventions) with HeHe Stewart | The Best Hospitals For Labor And Delivery - Ratings App ‘Irth’ Created By Kimberly Seals Allers | The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Resources FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Birth Plan | FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Fourth Trimester Plan | Postpartum Soups and Stews Collection
Partner Deals Prenatal & Postnatal Vitamins | Every Mother | HIRO Diapers | Yoga for Your Yoni with Britt Fohrman | Affiliate Disclosures
Connect with Fourth Trimester Facebook | Instagram
If this episode helped you feel calmer or more prepared for birth, it would mean so much if you left a quick review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, or wherever you listen. Your review helps more parents find this information when they need it most.
And if you know someone who’s feeling anxious about birth, consider sharing this episode with them. It could make a real difference in how they experience it.
40 min
April 04 Prepare for Life After Baby with the Right Postpartum Support
Preparing for birth is only part of the journey. What happens after baby arrives matters just as much.
This is about how to have a well-resourced fourth trimester so that you know what actions you can take in the first weeks, months and year with your newborn.
In this episode, Esther and I explore postpartum support and how to prepare for life after baby so you don’t feel alone.
Our guest, Claudia Penate, birth and postpartum doula and educator, shares how to:
• build your support system before baby arrives
• align with your partner on expectations
• navigate the first six weeks with more confidence
• prioritize self-care without guilt
Support is not optional in the fourth trimester. It shapes recovery, mental health, and how your family begins.
Full show notes: fourthtrimesterpodcast.com
Connect with Claudia Penate claudiapenate.com | Instagram
Mindfulness Birth Prep & Parenting Courses Natural Resources | Mindful Birthing
Learn more Improve Birth Recovery: Three Recommendations From An OBGYN | The Birth Doula’s Guide to Navigating New Motherhood with Carson Meyer | The Top 10 Baby Sleep Questions Every Parent Asks | Evidence Based Care for Improving Postpartum Recovery with Dr Rebecca Dekker | Postpartum Recovery Support Through Honoring the Sacred Window With Christine Eck
Resources FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Birth Plan | FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Fourth Trimester Plan | Postpartum Soups and Stews Collection
Partner Deals Prenatal & Postnatal Vitamins | Every Mother | HIRO Diapers | Yoga for Your Yoni with Britt Fohrman | Affiliate Disclosures
Recommended Fourth Trimester Books The First Forty Days | Becoming the Parent You Want to Be
Connect with Fourth Trimester Facebook | Instagram
If this episode helped you feel more prepared or supported, we’d really appreciate it if you left a review and rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listened to this episode.
Your feedback helps other parents find this show and access the kind of support that can make a meaningful difference in the early weeks with a new baby.
44 min
March 21Postpartum Recovery Support Through the Sacred Window
We are covering fourth trimester fundamentals with this conversation and talking about what is needed in the first few weeks and months after birth. We're looking at postpartum recovery support through the lens of Ayurvedic practices and introducing the concept of the "sacred window".
Most parents prepare for birth, but far fewer are prepared for what comes after. The early postpartum period is often when families feel the most depleted and unsupported.
In this episode, we explore postpartum recovery support through honoring the sacred window, an Ayurvedic framework that centers rest, nourishment, and long-term healing.
Christine Eck, founder of the Center for Sacred Window Studies, shares how her own postpartum experience led her to this work and what modern families can learn from these time-tested practices.
In this conversation, you’ll hear:
why the first 42 days postpartum matter for long-term health
simple ways to support recovery through food, rest, and daily rhythms
how to create better support systems for yourself or your postpartum clients

This episode offers practical, accessible ways to feel more supported during one of life’s biggest transitions.
Enjoy!
Full show notes: fourthtrimesterpodast.com
Connect with Christine Eck sacredwindowstudies.com | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Christine's Center for Sacred Window Studies Conscious Postpartum Care Training
The Sacred Window Podcast Apple | Spotify
Learn more A Parent’s Guide To Building Self-Trust (And Why It Matters) | The Birth Doula’s Guide to Navigating New Motherhood with Carson Meyer | The Top 10 Baby Sleep Questions Every Parent Asks
Resources FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Birth Plan | FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Fourth Trimester Plan | Postpartum Soups and Stews Collection
Partner Deals Prenatal & Postnatal Vitamins | Every Mother | HIRO Diapers | Yoga for Your Yoni with Britt Fohrman | Affiliate Disclosures
Recommended Fourth Trimester Books The First Forty Days | Thriving Postpartum
Connect with Fourth Trimester Facebook | Instagram
If this episode helped you think differently about postpartum recovery, I’d really appreciate it if you took a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Your review helps more parents and professionals find this information and feel supported during the fourth trimester. Thank you!
40 min

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

From the publisher's feed

My name is Sarah Trott. I started this show when I became a new mama to a vivacious baby girl and this podcast is all about postpartum care for the few months following birth, the time period also known as the Fourth Trimester. My postpartum doula, Esther Gallagher, is my co-host. She’s a mother, grandmother, perinatal educator, birth and postpartum care provider. I've benefitted hugely from her support. All parents can benefit from the wisdom and support that a postpartum Doula provides. Fourth trimester care is about the practical, emotional and social support parents and baby require, and importantly, helps set the tone for the lifelong journey of parenting. This podcast provides resources for new parents and examines the socio-cultural influences on parenting.