The Fourth Trimester: Caring for Yourself After Childbirth with Kimberly Johnson
Today we have such a fascinating guest on the podcast: Kimberly Johnson! She’s here to discuss a topic that is not often discussed in today’s society, and that is the “fourth” trimester. More often than not, women are provided with care and help up until their baby’s birth — but, once the baby is born, that help goes away and they are left in the dark. No longer is the woman tended to when it’s actually the most crucial time in her life to get the self-care that she so desperately needs.
Kimberly Johnson is all too familiar with this experience, having gone through postpartum trauma herself and realizing the crucial pieces that were missing in after-birth care. Since then, she decided to make it her mission. She has written a book called The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality; is the host of the Magamama Podcast; and is a birth doula, a certified Sexological Bodyworker, and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner.
In this podcast, we discuss with her the importance of postpartum care — actionable tips you can take right now whether you’re pregnant, planning on getting pregnant, or are currently in postpartum; self-care rituals to help ground you; as well as her own postpartum experience and things she has done to help herself.
Topics Discussed:
[1:44] Sophie and I talk about the importance of staying grounded and keeping to your self-care rituals when things get hectic (especially around these holiday times)!
[7:38] About our guest today, Kimberly Johnson, and how her mission relates to these important self-care rituals.
[9:00] Screenshot this podcast as you listen and let us know what resonated with you. Tag us and tag a friend!
[10:08] More about today’s episode.
[11:11] The three key things to keep in mind and practice over the holidays: self-care, rituals, and having clear boundaries.
[12:54] Our relationship tip of the week.
[15:00] Announcing our giveaway! We’re giving away five free relationship courses.
[17:12] The conversation portion of the podcast and the story of how we connected with Kimberly!
[18:50] Kimberly tells us her story with pregnancy and postpartum, and how she came to write her book, The Fourth Trimester.
[27:03] Kimberly talks about the importance of evaluating women’s pelvic floor postpartum.
[28:40] Discussing the tragic lack of information available for postpartum care.
[33:34] The importance of preparing for postpartum self-care.
[38:50] Sophie’s experiences postpartum.
[41:40] The goal of Kimberly’s book: improving pregnancy care going forward and giving the gift of postpartum care to the new generation.
[43:22] Everything we need in postpartum is what we need in our culture right now.
[44:36] More about Sophie’s and my experience postpartum and the difference self-care and outside help can make.
[53:02] Discussing the stigma around postpartum sex.
[57:47] The best gift you can give a woman who’s about to give birth: postpartum care.
[59:26] Actionable tips for pregnant women!
[1:00:06] All about vaginal steaming and how it can improve your postpartum experience.
[1:07:00] The night-and-day differences between Asian postpartum self-care and American postpartum self-care.
[1:10:08] Remember these actionable tips for self-care in postpartum!
[1:14:29] Statistics on marital satisfaction after childbirth.
[1:15:07] The best advice Kimberly has ever received.
[1:17:15] Kimberly’s hardest moment.
[1:18:06] Kimberly’s daily self-care rituals.
[1:18:50] What gets Kimberly ignited? And about Kimberly’s course, Activate Your Inner Jaguar.
Relationship Tip of the Week
When you feel anxiety knowing that you’re heading into a situation that has been anxiety-provoking in the past, take some time to do some work ahead of time to prepare yourself. Think your way through it, create your boundaries, and get really clear with understanding what it is that you need in these situations. Shift your perspective into “What can I bring into this situation that can make me more comfortable?” You have the power to create the situation you want.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Participate in Our Giveaway (in just 3 easy steps!)
1. Go to @dradijaffe on Instagram and find his “Give Away Alert” post with our guest this week, Kimberly Johnson.
2. Tag 3 friends in the comments
3. Share the post to your own story
Sitting Moon: A Guide to Rejuvenation after Pregnancy, by Daoshing Ni and Jessica Chen
Kimberly’s Instagram: @Magamamas
Activate Your Inner Jaguar (Online Course)
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