Recovery

Perinatal Herbalism Can Provide Enjoyment, Rest & Recovery

by: Sarah TrottPosted on:

Esther introduces Beth Rees and the topic of Perinatal Herbalism to our audience. On our show we like to hear about all sorts of supportive approaches to pregnancy, postpartum and parenting. Beth tells us about how herbs can nourish us and add enjoyment, rest and recovery to our intensive work growing our families. 
We discuss:
How Beth became a doula/herbalist
Geeking out about Birth and Postpartum
Heart-opening  
Herbal self-nourishment and caring for the new mom and baby
Herbalism/Acupuncture integration
Local approaches
Gentle Giants of the herb world
Internal and external nourishment and healing
Show notes for specific herbal supports for parents and children

Childcare

How To Hire A Nanny

by: Sarah TrottPosted on:

Trusting another person to care for your child can be challenging. Having a plan in place for hiring and employing a childcare provider will go a long way in alleviating some of the stress. Put your plan in place with episode 63, including:
when to start looking for a nanny / childcare provider (accounting for how long it can take to hire someone)
how to pre-screen candidates and conduct the interview process (because you need more than one interview with your final selections)
conducting a nanny trial period 
how to develop and maintain a good line of communication between parents and care providers
what to expect for how to pay a nanny (over the table vs under the table) and having contracts 
how to consider the nanny’s perspective, including pressure they may feel (e.g. if you don’t have any backup care)
how to set clear household expectations 

Mental Health

The Secret To Raising Confident Kids – Confidence Master Class

by: Sarah TrottPosted on:

Confidence-building is a lifelong exercise for all people, including parents. Listen to this Confidence Masterclass on episode 62 of the Fourth Trimester Podcast. Learn the confidence-building foundations. This audio masterclass is designed for women and mothers in particular. The course covers: 
The importance of demonstrating confidence to our children
Loving and respecting yourself 
What self care means 
How to unearth your true identity 

LGBTQ

Our Family Coalition – LGBTQ+ Parenting

by: Esther GallagherPosted on:

LGBTQ Parenting and the community organization that supports it in the Bay Area are our topic in this episode. Our Family Coalition is a non profit that is also involved in policy work and advocacy throughout the state of California. Our guests Dy Nguyen and Jeanette Page bring their individual and collective experience to the show to talk about family-making outside the heterosexual box. 
We discuss:
Differences in the process of becoming a family with kids
Getting pregnant— finding a donor/partner/village, acquiring sperm, insemination services
What the LGBTQ “village” can look like
Our Family Coalition programs: playgroups, support groups, parenting classes
Big events

Birth

The Importance Of Birth Education (Know Your Options!)

by: Sarah TrottPosted on:

Sometimes simply knowing your options is what makes all the difference. Education is key for pregnant mothers as they prepare for their birth and early motherhood.
Birth Education is important for women because the “childbearing year” of pregnancy, labor, birth and the fourth trimester,  is the moment where fundamental respect, care and nurturing can be experienced and where culture-change can begin in each life with the benefits paying forward to individuals and society.
 
In this episode we have the honor and delight of speaking with a mother-daughter duo whose work together spans this cultural intervention of doula work in the context of social justice.  We weave together these elements along with the practical benefits of doula care. We explore the generational and traditional threads of women caring for families.

Birth , Recovery

Healing Birth Trauma

by: Sarah TrottPosted on:

Every woman deserves the opportunity to fully heal and recover from birth trauma. It is never too late to address a past trauma.
Listen to this episode of Fourth Trimester Podcast to hear: 
How to recognize that you’ve experienced trauma or PTSD 
How to begin addressing a potential trauma – the first steps to take for healing 

Childcare , Recovery

Chicken Soup for the Soul – Life Lessons for Busy Moms

by: Sarah TrottPosted on:

On Episode 56 of the Fourth Trimester Podcast we speak with Lynn Benson, co-author of “Chicken Soup for the Soul Life Lessons for Busy Moms.”
Listen to hear more about: 
Signs you’re suffering from burnout as a result of caregiving
The physical, emotional stress and financial toll of caregiving
Tools and resources available to help family members with the challenges of caregiving