It takes a village to raise a child. And in those days and weeks following childbirth? Research finds that mothers benefit from an awful lot of support.

In fact, women who benefit from culturally-embedded support in the fourth trimester report extremely low incidences of baby blues and postpartum mood disorders as opposed to cultures without such support.

Today I’m speaking with postpartum doula and newborn care specialist Gigi Vera Vincent. Gigi is on the show to divulge how we can both honor and respect the postpartum period. For those of us not expecting, Gigi also suggests tangible ways to best support the parents in our lives who are.

Here’s a preview:

[5:00] The Number One fact new mothers need to know about the fourth trimester

[6:45] How to manage expectations versus reality during the postpartum period

[12:45] 3 types of support that new mothers need, according to research (and how to give it)

[14:30] Socially acceptable best practices for new mothers who don’t feel like entertaining

[17:30] Lining up your support services ahead of time: How (and where) to seek out physical and emotional support

[26:00] Postpartum depression versus postpartum anxiety versus baby blues: How to tell the difference

Resources mentioned:

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