7 Domains of the Fourth Trimester
The 12 weeks following childbirth are a critical yet often overlooked phase of postpartum recovery. While the baby is being welcomed into the world, the birthing parent is undergoing a profound transformation that deserves equal attention and care.
Part of the 7 DOMAINS OF WOMEN'S HEALTH podcast, this collection explores the life-changing period of postpartum recovery through seven essential aspects of well-being.
Redefining Postpartum Recovery
Beyond diapers and doctor visits, these seven episodes take on one domain at a time, combining expert insight with lived experience to unpack what real recovery looks like. From healing bodies to shifting identities, this series offers compassionate, multidimensional guidance for navigating life after giving birth.
The Episodes
E87: The Physical Domain of the Fourth Trimester
Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, DNP, explore the physiologic changes that occur after childbirth. From shifting hormones to healing tissues and resetting body systems, they discuss what truly happens in the months following delivery—and why some changes may be lifelong. The fourth trimester reframes recovery as a vital part of the pregnancy timeline, not a footnote to it.
E88: The Emotional Domain of the Fourth Trimester
Perinatal mental health expert Lauren Gimbel, MD, joins Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, DNP, in the emotional domain of the fourth trimester to explore how hormones, neurobiology, and human evolution shape early parenting. The conversation delves into maternal-newborn bonding, postpartum mood disorders, and why identifying emotional distress in new mothers is critical for the health of the entire family.
E89: The Social Domain of the Fourth Trimester
Certified nurse midwife and perinatal mental health researcher Gwen Latendresse, PhD, joins Katie Ward, DNP, to explore how social connection shapes postpartum recovery. From family and peer support to community care and digital interventions, they examine how a person's social environment can either buffer or intensify the emotional demands of new parenthood.
E90: The Intellectual Domain of the Fourth Trimester
Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, DNP, explore how new parents cognitively adapt after childbirth. Perinatal mental health specialist Jamie Hales joins the conversation to unpack the neurological and intellectual shifts that shape early parenthood and offers insight into how people make meaning of their birth experiences and mentally transition into their new roles.
E91: The Financial Domain of the Fourth Trimester
Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, DNP, unpack the expenses of welcoming a newborn—from unpaid leave and rising childcare costs to hidden medical bills and the long-term impact on career and retirement savings. The conversation examines disparities in access to resources, the role of social safety nets, and practical ways families can prepare and adapt.
E92: The Environmental Domain of the Fourth Trimester
Lactation specialist Anna Burch, RN, joins Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, DNP, in the environmental domain of the fourth trimester to explore how surroundings influence postpartum experiences. The conversation examines what makes an ideal feeding environment at home, the impact of workplace and public space accommodations, and how stressors such as noise, lighting, and privacy can affect milk production.
E93: The Spiritual Domain of the Fourth Trimester
Rana Jawish, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry and faculty lead for the Stillbirth Center of Excellence, joins Kirtly Jones, MD, in the spiritual domain of the fourth trimester. They discuss the role of faith and culture in welcoming newborns, and how compassionate care can provide meaning and healing for families navigating profound loss in the fourth trimester.
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