COLLABORATION: Brave Together Podcast x Fourth Trimester Podcast

Hello Brave Friends! Today we have a special collaboration episode with Sarah Trott and Esther Gallagher of the Fourth Trimester Podcast, hosted by Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell. We spend so much time preparing for pregnancy and birth, but what about everything that happens after the baby arrives? Sarah and Esther join Jessica and Susanna for a conversation about the fourth trimester and why postpartum support deserves far more attention than it often receives. They explore the physical and emotional changes that happen after birth, the concept of matrescence, and why postpartum isn't necessarily a short period that ends after a few weeks or months. They also discuss the role of postpartum doulas and other support professionals, the importance of building a support system before it's needed, and the ways community and extended family can affect maternal mental health and well-being. The conversation looks beyond individual families, too. Sarah and Esther discuss barriers to accessing postpartum care, gaps in birth and postpartum education, the role of medical professionals, and the systemic changes needed to better support mothers and families. They also explore what we can learn from cultures and traditions that have historically treated postpartum recovery as a time when mothers should be cared for rather than expected to immediately return to normal. For caregiving moms, this conversation also raises an important question: What happens when an already challenging postpartum season includes medical complexities, disabilities, or other unexpected needs? Jessica, Susanna, Sarah, and Esther discuss the importance of education, advocacy, community, and creating systems of support that recognize the needs of the whole family. Whether you're preparing for postpartum, reflecting on your own experience, or looking for ways we can better care for mothers during this enormous life transition, this conversation is a reminder that support shouldn't be a luxury. We see you, and we love you! We are incredibly grateful to Rise Educational Advocacy for sponsoring Season 11 of Brave Together Podcast and for supporting our mission to strengthen and encourage caregiving moms. Find more info on Rise Educational Advocacy here.  Find more on The Fourth Trimester podcast here.  Subscribe to The Fourth Trimester podcast here.  Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here. Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enough here. Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Together here. Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Together here.  Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here. Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.  JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.  Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.  Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.  Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org  If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here. Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance! Disclaimer

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