Jane Honikman gave her first baby up for adoption because she felt pressure to “do things in order”. She later finished college, married the father and had additional babies with the same man who is now her husband. Jane described her experience of giving up her first baby as a trauma. Compounding that trauma was the feeling that her second baby, another girl, was severely jaundiced as a kind of karmic punishment for what she’d done with her first baby. The experience triggered tremendous grief and guilt. Jane was not able to recover from her traumas until decades later through therapy. She waited until she was in her fifties to get the help she needed, having felt waves of anxiety and depression throughout her life. Jane encourages women to seek out the help they need as soon as they are able, and not to postpone healing. In our latest episode, we share an outline to help address postpartum anxiety and depression issues. This is relevant for EVERYONE, not just people who are “depressed”.
Mental Health
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Become The Best Version Of Yourself
In a word, Ann Jonas is resilient. She incorporates her own sense of spirituality into her coaching work, having experienced the sudden loss of her parents (her father killed her mother and died himself shortly thereafter in jail) and subsequently experienced the loss of her partner when her daughter was only two years old. One of Ann’s takeaways from her journey thus far is that “life happens for you, not to you.” She uses the metaphor of a car as the way we can look at life. There’s a huge front windshield so we can look ahead and look around us. Listen to Ann share how to become the best version of yourself on Episode 24 of the Fourth Trimester Podcast.
Breastfeeding
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The Real Story Behind Breastfeeding (& How To Set Yourself Up For Success)
Women who don’t meet their personal breastfeeding goals tend to think it is their own fault. It is time for women to stop blaming themselves.
Women are starting to learn that difficulty with breastfeeding isn’t their fault, and that oftentimes what is happening is that the hospital environment and modern medical system isn’t setting women up for breastfeeding success.
Body , Recovery
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How New Moms Can Prepare for and Recover from Birth
Having worked with women through all stages of pregnancy, from pre-natal right through postpartum, Susi Hately has observed that a lot of new moms seem resigned to the fact that post-baby body is just ‘the way things are’ – prolapses, dry vaginas, painful sex, leakage, etc. Susi is on our show to help educate expecting mothers on how to take care of their wellbeing during pregnancy, post-partum and beyond.
Breastfeeding , Recovery
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Dr Monica Hannon: The Two Most Common Birth Issues
Dr Monica Hannon is our guest on episode 21 and she shares some of the major issues that mothers and partners face during the first six weeks following the birth of a baby. Find out when it makes sense to pick up the phone and call your doctor.
Fitness
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Fitness Coach Advice For Safe Exercise During Pregnancy and Postpartum
When it comes to exercise postpartum, the primary message is to take the time you need to heal. Don’t rush to “get your body back” because it is easy to do more harm than good by pushing your body too hard before it is ready. The best thing to do for your body right after having a baby is to rest and recover. There are people out there who want to help you and who have the right tools to help you. It is okay that your body takes time to heal and build strength back. There are smart ways to develop strength and function, such as learning how posture and breathing can help you in everyday activities. When your body is ready, and that could be months or years after giving birth, you can develop a fitness strategy that is appropriate for yourself.
Relationship
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Four Relationship-Saving Questions To Ask Before Baby Arrives
In the third trimester—or sooner!—make some time to ask each other four essential questions that can help avoid unnecessary stress. You may not have the exact answers, but simply bringing these topics to the table before baby gets here can set the foundation for a strong relationship later.
Fatherhood
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Dad Real Talk: How First Time Dads Can Become The Father They Want To Be
Episode 18 is the Fourth Trimester Podcast episode that is all about Dads. We talk with an at-home Dad, Andrew Gentry-Law, who shares his personal experiences with newborn twins, and about his work in helping other new dads in their roles as fathers. Listen to hear more about a real life “Dudes Group”.
Birth , Recovery
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Covering the Basics for the First Few Weeks with a Newborn
What does every new parent need to know for their first few weeks with a new baby? We directly and specifically look at the first days and weeks after baby comes and speaks to the needs of recovering parents and how those dovetail with their baby’s. The social-emotional experience and how it is effected is considered thoroughly.