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

Spoiler alert: there's no perfect set of ingredients that will make anyone the perfect "cool grandpa". However, there are general guidelines that will get most people well along the way - at least for the parts in their control.

What's key? Communication, boundaries, having fun. Here's the 'recipe', if you will, in a nutshell. (Plus a little self-reflection!)

So here's the 'recipe' from Cool Grandpa Greg Payne on how to put the guidelines into practice for your own family, including the considerations from both sides of the grandparent-parent fence.

Enjoy!

Full show notes: fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

Connect with Greg Payne cool-grandpa.us | Facebook | LinkedIn | Cool Grandpa Shop | Podcast

Greg's book My Grandpa's Grandpa

Learn more Generational Parenting, featuring PSI Founder Jane Honikman | Bringing Fathers into Pregnancy - Dr Ed Stephens | The Dos & Don'ts Of Being A Respectful & HELPFUL Visitor To A New Parent | Grandparents: Roles & Boundaries

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.

What would happen to your baby if something happened to you? It’s a difficult question, but one every parent needs to face.

In this episode, estate planning attorney Patricia De Fonte shares how to create a plan that protects your loved ones, minimizes stress, and reflects your values.

It doesn't matter how much money or assets you have - every parent needs to have a plan in place to protect their family’s peace of mind.

Full show notes fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

Connect with Patricia De Fonte defontelaw.com | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

Estate Planning with Heart Free Workshops

Learn more Family Financial Wellness: Three Finance Must-dos for Families | How to Maximize Maternity Leave & Paternity Benefits | How to Prepare for Hospital Birth (and Avoid Unnecessary Interventions) with HeHe Stewart

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 Becoming the Parent You Want to Be

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.

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’ mental health and its impact on families.

Listen to learn simple, proven ways to protect connection from the very start.

This is an amazing legacy and we're excited to help share Dr Ed Stephens' work with the world.

Full show notes fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

Connect with Dr Ed Stephens Foundation for Male Studies | Facebook | LinkedIn

Ed's Publication Bringing the Father into Pregnancy | GiveButter Donation Page

Learn more Generational Parenting, featuring PSI Founder Jane Honikman | Dad Real Talk: How First Time Dads Can Become The Father They Want To Be | How Partners Can Prepare for Parenthood (The Power of Snuggling)

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 Becoming the Parent You Want to Be | Growing Together

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.

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 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 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.

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 founded Baby Steps Nutrition, where she offers individualized support to help children thrive from addressing picky eating, poor weight gain, food allergies to maternal lactation, nutrition, and as a mom herself.

Argavan knows firsthand the challenges and questions that come with feeding little ones, especially during the critical fourth trimester and beyond. We discuss typical growth, starting solids, and navigating all the conflicting advice that's out there. She offers practical advice and strategies for baby nutrition generally, as well as when there are dietary concerns.

Full show notes fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

Connect with Argavan Nilforoush babystepsnutrition.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter / X

Learn more A Parent’s Guide To Building Self-Trust (And Why It Matters) | Get A Healthy Start - Nutrition, Breastfeeding & Building Your Community with WIC's Kiran Saluja | Nutrition and Nourishment - The Essentials

Our favorite Fourth Trimester Beach Reads The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother | Becoming the Parent You Want to Be: A Sourcebook of Strategies for the First Five Years | Growing Together: Doula Wisdom & Holistic Practices for Pregnancy, Birth & Early Motherhood | Thriving Postpartum: Embracing the Indigenous Wisdom of La Cuarentena

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.

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, everyone really.

You'll learn the early aspects of newborn development in terms of practical, evidence-based tips for nurturing early connection as well as learn how that impacts lifelong health.

Full show notes fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

Dr Joanna's book The Baby Bonding Book: Connecting With Your Newborn

Connect with Dr Joanna Parga-Belinkie Pediatrics on Call podcast | LinkedIn | Instagram

Learn more Wire Your Baby for Success Through Optimal Newborn Brain Development | The Power of Touch in Supporting Infant Development

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.

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

Sonal's book The Doctor & Her Black Bag: How Old-Fashioned Care Tackles Maternal Mortality and Benefits America’s Economy

Connect with Pediatrician Dr Sonal Patel nayacare.org | Facebook | Instagram

Learn more Family Financial Wellness: Three Finance Must-dos for Families | How to Maximize Maternity Leave & Paternity Benefits with MAMAttorney Daphne Delvaux | How Partners Can Prepare for Parenthood (The Power of Snuggling)

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.

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, and societal expectations.

Now, she is dedicated to helping other women do the same: break free from limiting beliefs, trust their intuition, and confidently advocate for the birth experience they deserve.

Full show notes fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

Connect with Petra Cruz birthingcometrue.com | Instagram | The Journey To VBAC Podcast

Learn more How a Friend or Family Member Can Help You if You Don’t Have a Doula (What is a Doula?) | Somatic Experiencing Can Build Attachment Between Parent And Child | Postpartum Support International | International Cesarean Awareness Network

Our favorite Fourth Trimester Books The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother | Becoming the Parent You Want to Be: A Sourcebook of Strategies for the First Five Years | Growing Together: Doula Wisdom & Holistic Practices for Pregnancy, Birth & Early Motherhood | Thriving Postpartum: Embracing the Indigenous Wisdom of La Cuarentena

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.

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 has her own podcast called the Birth Lounge. Here's some of what we discuss:

• how to avoid unnecessary C-sections
• how to confidently ask for options
• what to do if things don't go as expected
• crucial information to prepare you for hospital birth

Full show notes: fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

Connect with HeHe Stewart Tranquility by HeHe | The Birth Lounge Education Platform

HeHe's Podcast The Birth Lounge Podcast

Learn more The 10 Questions Every First-Time Parent Asks | Home Birth As An Alternative To The Hospital | How a Friend or Family Member Can Help You if You Don’t Have a Doula (What is a Doula?)

Our favorite Fourth Trimester Books The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother | Becoming the Parent You Want to Be: A Sourcebook of Strategies for the First Five Years | Growing Together: Doula Wisdom & Holistic Practices for Pregnancy, Birth & Early Motherhood | Thriving Postpartum: Embracing the Indigenous Wisdom of La Cuarentena

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.

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
• Creating a plan that aligns with your values
• Tips on what to ask for
• Factors to consider when making your own decisions about when, how and whether to return to work

Full show notes: fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

Work with Michelle One-on-One: Greenlight Coaching Offer Code: RETURNTOWK for $100 OFF

Virtual workshop: Return to Work Group Workshop: Virtual Code: 4THTRIMESTER for $15 OFF (On $40 or more)

Connect with Michelle Olsen greenlight-coaching.com | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

Learn more How to Maximize Maternity Leave & Paternity Benefits with MAMAttorney Daphne Delvaux | Prepare For Taking Maternity Leave Like A Pro

Our favorite Fourth Trimester Books The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother | Becoming the Parent You Want to Be: A Sourcebook of Strategies for the First Five Years | Growing Together: Doula Wisdom & Holistic Practices for Pregnancy, Birth & Early Motherhood | Thriving Postpartum: Embracing the Indigenous Wisdom of La Cuarentena

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.