This episode is a guide for how friends or family members can take a deeply human and holistic approach to supporting birthgivers when professional doula services are either inaccessible or unaffordable. 

Importantly, your support person (or persons if you are able to secure multiple helpers!) can provide crucial support before, during and after childbirth.

Whoever is attending your birth - and/or helping you after the birth - must give this one a listen - your mom, your partner, your sibling, your friend, or anyone else who will be there.

Listen to the full episode to hear step-by-step guidance on:
* The Role of a Support Person
* What to do Pre-Birth
* Strategies for Providing Support During Birth
* Practical Advice for Postpartum Support
* What to do Post-Birth

Make sure your support person listens to this episode and that together you talk through expectations and practical examples of what you'd like to happen.
There are lots of links in the show notes on our website that will be helpful resources for your support person.

Full show notes: 
fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

How a Friend or Family Member Can Help You if You Don’t Have a Doula (What is a Doula?)

My name is Sarah Trott. I'm 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. 

When I first became pregnant, I had never heard of postpartum Doulas, let alone knew what they did. So much of the training and preparation that expecting parents do is focused on the birth and newborn care. Once baby is born, often the first interaction parents have with medical or child professionals, other than the first pediatrician visits, is the six-week checkup with the OB/GYN. What about caring for mama and family between the birth and the six week doctor visit? What are the strategies for taking care of the partner and the rest of the family while looking after your newborn? 

Our podcasts contain expert interviews with specialists from many fields to cover topics including postpartum doula practices, prenatal care, prenatal and postnatal yoga, parenting, breastfeeding, physical recovery from birth, nutrition, newborn care, midwifery, negotiating family visitation, and many more.

First-hand experience is shared through lots of stories from both new and seasoned parents. Hear what other parents are asking and what they have done in their own lives. 

We reference other podcasts, internet resources and real-life experts who can help you on your own parenting journey. Visit our site at https://fourthtrimesterpodcast.com/

We hope you have a well-resourced and enjoyable experience as new parents.

Sarah Trott & Esther Gallagher xo

Education

Training

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Educational Technology

Kids & Family

Parenting

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

Self-Improvement

How can partners prepare for the fourth trimester? Sure, we have lots of practical suggestions such as relationship proofing, practical preparation, but there are some big considerations outside the practical. Listen in to learn how to create a level of connectedness that will ease the way for everything else that is to come. Enjoy! Sarah and Esther xo Full episode notes:  fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

How Partners Can Prepare for Parenthood (The Power of Snuggling)

Parents benefit hugely from having regular and purposeful emotional outlets - when we take care of our own emotions, we are able to be more present, patient and connected with our children and families.  Listening Partnerships are a tool we recommend for every parent to keep in their parenting toolbox. Why? It's FREE, it takes 5 mins a week, and it has tremendous benefits!!!  Sarah and her real-life listening partner Kaitlin Solimine break down how to create and benefit from a listening partnership. Tune in to learn: What is a Listening Partnership Benefits of Listening Partnerships How to create one of your own Tools you can use
Full show notes:  fourthtrimesterpodcast.com  FREE Download Resources: (Go to https://fourthtrimesterpodcast.com/resources-recommendations/) Customizable Birth Plan / Intentions Document

Listening Partnerships, Unlocking Deeper Connection, and Elevating Family Dynamics

It's Black Maternal Health Week and in this episode Sarah talks with Dr Amanda P Williams about the current state of postpartum maternal health and birth equity. Sarah first heard Dr Williams give the keynote talk at the Future of Maternal Care Summit. She invited Dr Williams onto the program to share her insights with all of our Fourth Trimester listeners. Dr Williams is raising the bar for all birthing people and families by helping hospitals and innovators with improved practices and solutions. She is the Clinical Innovation Advisor with the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative. Her legacy is about 'finding a better way' in the name of improved outcomes for women and families. Listen to the episode to learn information that impacts us all, including practical guidance new and expecting families can put into practice right away, including:What the data tells us about postpartum maternal health Postpartum medical warning signs and preventing complicationsCreating a postpartum village and doula supportExciting work that’s being done to innovate around maternal careWhere new and expecting parents can go to find resources and supportWhat to gift a pregnant or postpartum person (answer: blood pressure cuff, breast pump, doula)
Full show notes: fourthtrimesterpodcast.com FREE Download Resources: (Go to https://fourthtrimesterpodcast.com/resources-recommendations/) Customizable Birth Plan / Intentions Document

The State of Postpartum Maternal Health with Dr Amanda P. Williams

Sarah, Nancy Myrick (Certified Nurse Midwife and birth center Director) and Leda Mast (Board Member of the SF Birth Center Foundation) discuss the ins and outs of birthing at a birth center.  They talk through the unique benefits birth centers offer and explore a wide range of birth center related topics designed to help inform the birthing journey, including:Birth framework: Three Main Options for Where to Give Birth - Hospital, Birth Center, HomeWhat a Birth Center isWhy People Choose Birth CentersWhat It is Like to Give Birth at a Birth CenterWho is a Good CandidateHow Unforeseen Complications Are HandledThe Team Present for the Birth The Pros and Cons of Different Birth Location Options How to Learn More and Find Birth Centers in Your Area
Full show notes:  fourthtrimesterpodcast.com FREE Download Resources: (Go to https://fourthtrimesterpodcast.com/resources-recommendations/) Customizable Birth Plan / Intentions Document Overview of Birth Team Members & Roles

Embrace Empowerment: The Transformative Benefits of Birth Center Birthing

In this episode of Fourth Trimester, we're joined by Dr. Melissa Dennis, a seasoned OBGYN with over two decades of experience in healthcare. Dr. Dennis shares her evidence-based insights and practical advice on how to navigate the often-overlooked but critical phase of birth recovery.  We discuss essential knowledge and practices that can support smoother recoveries and enhance the overall post-birth experience, including: The Role of An OBGYNBirth Team Scenarios An Overview of the Six Week Check Top Recommendations for Improving the Birth Recovery Experience

 Full show notes:  fourthtrimesterpodcast.com 
 FREE Download Resources:  (Go to https://fourthtrimesterpodcast.com/resources-recommendations/) Customizable Birth Plan / Intentions Document  Overview of Birth Team Members & Roles  
 Other Resources Mentioned: partumhealth.com postpartum.net

How a Friend or Family Member Can Help You if You Don’t Have a Doula (What is a Doula?)

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