Fourth Trimester Voices

So many moms are told their fatigue, hair loss, mood swings, or low milk supply are “just postpartum.” But sometimes the answers are in your labs. 🧪

In this episode of Fourth Trimester Voices, I’m breaking down the 5 essential labs every mom should check after birth:
✔️ Vitamin D
✔️ Thyroid function
✔️ Iron & Hemoglobin
✔️ Hemoglobin A1C

Understanding these labs could be the difference between feeling dismissed a...

Too often, women—especially Black women—are taught to stay quiet in medical settings. To be polite. To not “make a fuss.” But silence can be deadly.

In this episode, we uncover:
🔸 Why the “good patient” mindset costs lives
🔸 The history behind women’s silence in healthcare
🔸 How to reclaim your voice and advocate for yourself

Your voice matters. Your life depends on it. 💜

#PostpartumCare #MaternalHealthMatters...

Choosing where to give birth isn’t just about a room with a view it’s about building the right team for your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. In this episode, I break down how to decide between choosing your OB first or your hospital first, why your primary care physician matters for postpartum, and the key questions you need to ask your OB to make sure you’re supported long after delivery. If you’re pregnant or planning, this is ...

Postpartum women have been expected to suffer in silence for generations. From cultural expectations to gaps in medical care, the system has never been designed to support mothers after birth.

In this episode, we’re uncovering:

🔸 The historical and cultural roots of postpartum silence
🔸 Why the 6-week checkup is not enough
🔸 How the healthcare system continues to fail moms
🔸 What we must do to break the cycle—for ourselves and futur...

Bladder leaks after having a baby are more common than you think—and they’re not something you just have to live with. In this empowering episode of Fourth Trimester Voices, we sit down with Lauren Barker, CEO and Co-founder of Uresta, a revolutionary bladder support device designed to help women live leak-free.

Lauren who is currently postpartum herself shares her story and opens up about Uresta’s mission, how it works, and why res...

Let’s talk about something often overlooked but so necessary in postpartum recovery—your alignment.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Brittney Christian, chiropractor and founder of Well Prepared Nest, to break down the real benefits of chiropractic care for moms before and after birth. We discuss when to start, what’s safe, and how targeted care can help with pain, posture, pelvic alignment, and even emotional regulation during ...

You don’t need another onesie or wipe warmer—you need a plan. In this episode, we break down the three most overlooked but essential things every new mom truly needs postpartum. From building your village to protecting your mental health, we’re shifting the conversation from stuff to support.#PregnancyTips#NewMomLife#BabyRegistry#PregnancyPlanning#PostpartumSupport#FourthTrimester#ExpectingMom #PregnancyJourney#RegistryMustHaves#pr...

“My son has a rare genetic condition.”
Those are the words Dr. Ogechi Nwoko never imagined she’d say those words.

During pregnancy, she had an unshakable feeling that her child was blind. After birth, small signs were brushed off by doctors and loved ones. But soon, the truth unraveled as he started having siezures: he was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition.

Her postpartum journey wasn’t about recovery—it was about survival, ...

What happens when your birth plan collides with a medical emergency?

In this powerful episode, Dr. Bessie Lynnette Staplefoote-Boynton shares how her journey into motherhood was anything but expected. While still in medical school, she developed preeclampsia—forcing an early delivery and a sudden initiation into life as a NICU mom.

She opens up about:
⚠️ Recognizing the symptoms of preeclampsia
👩🏽‍⚕️ Balancing the roles of me...

On this episode of Fourth Trimester Voices, I sit down with Dr. Shefali Chheda of Harmony Pediatrics to talk about why your baby’s doctor is also YOUR postpartum ally. As a mother herself, Dr. Chheda shares how her own parenting journey transformed the way she practices medicine.

We explore why a pediatrician should be considered part of a woman’s postpartum village—not just someone who cares for the baby. From informed decision-mak...

Postpartum isn’t just emotional—it’s physical. And for many moms, the journey back to feeling like themselves includes considering a Mommy Makeover.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Olatomide Familusi, founder of Eleve Plastic Surgery, who pulls back the curtain on what Mommy Makeovers really involve. We talk body image, confidence, the most common procedures, and how surgery can be a powerful tool for healing—not vanity.

Dr. Famil...

We’ve reached the end of Season One—and what a journey it’s been.

In this final episode, I’m sharing the story behind Fourth Trimester Voices, why I launched this platform, how it connects to my work with EMCare2U, and what’s next in the fight for better postpartum care.

💛 I’ll be taking a 3-week break before launching Season Two—with even more powerful stories and expert guests.

Now’s the perfect time to:
✔️ Catch up on any episodes ...

This isn’t just a story about motherhood—it’s about survival.

I’ve walked through the postpartum season three times. Two ended in heartbreaking loss. One brought new life.
Each experience shaped me. Each one showed me how broken our system is when it comes to supporting women—especially after loss.

In this episode, I’m sharing my truth: the physical pain, the emotional toll, and how those moments of grief and recovery led me to cr...

🖤 Black Maternal Health Week Spotlight 🖤
This week, we’re talking about a silent killer that’s affecting Black moms at alarming rates: Postpartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM).

Black women are up to 15x more likely to develop this life-threatening condition — and many are dismissed or misdiagnosed until it’s too late.

In this episode, I break down: ⚠️ What PPCM looks like
🩺 How to talk to your doctor
📊 The stats we can’t ign...

Moms, before you take that next social media tip as gospel—WATCH THIS. In this episode, we dive into the dangers of digital misinformation targeting pregnant and postpartum moms. From viral TikToks to mommy forums, not all advice is created equal—and some of it can be downright dangerous.

As a board-certified emergency physician and postpartum advocate, I'm breaking down how to spot red flags, what questions to ask, and how to prote...

The 6-week checkup is often the only follow-up moms get after giving birth—and yet, it’s rushed, superficial, and misses the mark for so many.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

✔️ What the 6-week visit is supposed to cover
✔️ What often gets overlooked
✔️ The questions you should be asking
✔️ And what real postpartum care should look like

This is your body, your healing, your life. Don’t settle for being told “you’re clear...