4th Trimester Project

A Village for Mothers

My Care Team

During pregnancy, most women have a series of clinic visits with their health care provider – the closer to birth, the appointments become more frequent. After childbirth this is often a different story. The focus of check-ups shifts to the baby with many women not even getting a postpartum check up.

New recommendations are for postpartum women to have ongoing clinical support instead of waiting weeks or months for medical attention. Women deserve quality health care services right when they need it. This section includes information about postpartum care, clinical specialists, and has suggestions for how to get what you need.

What is the most important thing to know? If you don’t feel right, ask for help. If your concerns aren’t taken seriously, insist on attention. This can be hard to do. You might be afraid about how you will be perceived and for good reason. But you matter and if your current health care team isn’t helpful, don’t be afraid to call someone else who will listen to you.

Topics in My Care Team

Birthing Parent Health Information One-Pager

Sep 26, 2023
Below, you can view the new parent health information one-pager, along with an overview for ideas to introduce and use the tool in practice. These are helpful for clinics to distribute at discharge or during postpartum visits.

Birthing Parent Health Information One-Pager

Below, you can view the new parent health information one-pager, along with an overview for ideas to introduce and use the tool in practice. These are helpful for clinics to distribute at discharge or during postpartum visits.

Communicating with Your Health Team

Mar 27, 2023
Talking with health care providers can be hard. If you are lucky to have had an opportunity to develop a good relationship with your doctor, midwife or nurse practitioner before and during pregnancy, it will be easier to talk with them during your postpartum visit(s). Unfortunately, sometimes things happen that make it difficult to trust […]

Communicating with Your Health Team

Talking with health care providers can be hard. If you are lucky to have had an opportunity to develop a good relationship with your doctor, midwife or nurse practitioner before and during pregnancy, it will be easier to talk with them during your postpartum visit(s). Unfortunately, sometimes things happen that make it difficult to trust […]

Finding the Care You Deserve

Mar 27, 2023
It is very important that new moms feel comfortable talking to their providers when they have questions or concerns. We at the 4th-trimester project promote woman centered care. “Woman-centered” care means that your provider should listen to you, respect you, and respond to you in a timely manner. You should always feel free to contact […]

Finding the Care You Deserve

It is very important that new moms feel comfortable talking to their providers when they have questions or concerns. We at the 4th-trimester project promote woman centered care. “Woman-centered” care means that your provider should listen to you, respect you, and respond to you in a timely manner. You should always feel free to contact […]

Maternal Health Warning Signs: When to Call 911 and When to Call Your Provider

Sep 17, 2023
Maternal Health Warning Signs video reel series with Nurse Nikki Video part 1: When to call 911 – maternal health warning signs that are urgent and considered a medical emergency. Video part 2: When to call your provider – maternal health warnings signs where you need to contact and connect with a health care team member and address with […]

Maternal Health Warning Signs: When to Call 911 and When to Call Your Provider

Maternal Health Warning Signs video reel series with Nurse Nikki Video part 1: When to call 911 – maternal health warning signs that are urgent and considered a medical emergency. Video part 2: When to call your provider – maternal health warnings signs where you need to contact and connect with a health care team member and address with […]

Postpartum and Intimacy Checklist

Sep 8, 2023
< Resources Nurse Nikki shares a checklist for health care teams to use while speaking with new moms about sex and intimacy. As health care providers for pregnant and postpartum families, we often stick to what we know. Maybe your job is helping families get pregnant, stay pregnant, and have a healthy birth. Or maybe […]

Postpartum and Intimacy Checklist

< Resources Nurse Nikki shares a checklist for health care teams to use while speaking with new moms about sex and intimacy. As health care providers for pregnant and postpartum families, we often stick to what we know. Maybe your job is helping families get pregnant, stay pregnant, and have a healthy birth. Or maybe […]

Postpartum Care Plan

Sep 20, 2023
Navigating postpartum recovery and transitioning to new parenthood. We have created a Care Plan for care team members and birthing parents to customize and tailor recovery. < Resources

Postpartum Care Plan

Navigating postpartum recovery and transitioning to new parenthood. We have created a Care Plan for care team members and birthing parents to customize and tailor recovery. < Resources

Postpartum Health Care

Mar 27, 2023
Traditionally, the postpartum visit takes place 6-8 weeks after the birth of a baby. Given all that happens to women’s bodies in the early weeks after giving birth, many women find that visit to be too little and too late. There are also many women who never receive a postpartum visit! The American College of […]

Postpartum Health Care

Traditionally, the postpartum visit takes place 6-8 weeks after the birth of a baby. Given all that happens to women’s bodies in the early weeks after giving birth, many women find that visit to be too little and too late. There are also many women who never receive a postpartum visit! The American College of […]

Postpartum Plan for New Parents

Sep 27, 2023
Navigating postpartum recovery and transitioning to new parenthood. We have created a checklist and guidance for new mothers to create their own postpartum plans. During labor and delivery, mothers typically have their plans in place to address what they need to feel safe and supported during childbirth. Once the baby is born, however, the mother […]

Postpartum Plan for New Parents

Navigating postpartum recovery and transitioning to new parenthood. We have created a checklist and guidance for new mothers to create their own postpartum plans. During labor and delivery, mothers typically have their plans in place to address what they need to feel safe and supported during childbirth. Once the baby is born, however, the mother […]

Postpartum Visit Checklist

Sep 18, 2023
The postpartum visit is an important time to listen and thoughtfully engage with new parents. To support mom-centered care, the 4th Trimester Project team has tested, adapted, and launched the postpartum visit checklist. New mothers often have to work hard to make it to their postpartum visit. For some, this may be the last health […]

Postpartum Visit Checklist

The postpartum visit is an important time to listen and thoughtfully engage with new parents. To support mom-centered care, the 4th Trimester Project team has tested, adapted, and launched the postpartum visit checklist. New mothers often have to work hard to make it to their postpartum visit. For some, this may be the last health […]

Postpartum Visit(s)

Mar 27, 2023
To have confirmation that you are recovering and transitioning well in the 4th Trimester and to address any concerns, utilize your health care team. This might mean asking questions through an online form or patient “portal”, calling a nurse line, and also being seen in-person. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that health […]

Postpartum Visit(s)

To have confirmation that you are recovering and transitioning well in the 4th Trimester and to address any concerns, utilize your health care team. This might mean asking questions through an online form or patient “portal”, calling a nurse line, and also being seen in-person. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that health […]

Taking Care of You

Sep 24, 2023
Postpartum Recovery Booklet on a variety of health and self-care topics

Taking Care of You

Postpartum Recovery Booklet on a variety of health and self-care topics

Telehealth Visits: What to Expect

Mar 27, 2023
Telehealth or telemedicine has become a new normal since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many health care offices are moving some services to phone or video so patients can connect to their care team using a phone, tablet, or computer. Typically, clinics have different ways you can meet with your provider, such as video chat, phone call, […]

Telehealth Visits: What to Expect

Telehealth or telemedicine has become a new normal since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many health care offices are moving some services to phone or video so patients can connect to their care team using a phone, tablet, or computer. Typically, clinics have different ways you can meet with your provider, such as video chat, phone call, […]

Types of Health Care Providers

Mar 27, 2023
When women are pregnant, they generally see an OB/GYN, a midwife, or a family medicine provider for their health care. Usually, these providers are responsible for your postpartum care. Some women also receive group prenatal care with (hopefully) a reunion about 6 weeks after everyone has given birth.   After your postpartum visit, it may […]

Types of Health Care Providers

When women are pregnant, they generally see an OB/GYN, a midwife, or a family medicine provider for their health care. Usually, these providers are responsible for your postpartum care. Some women also receive group prenatal care with (hopefully) a reunion about 6 weeks after everyone has given birth.   After your postpartum visit, it may […]

When to Call for Help

Mar 27, 2023
Did you know some problems during pregnancy and after childbirth can happen up to a year postpartum? Knowing the urgent maternal warning signs and symptoms is important for you and the people you love. Contact your medical care team immediately if you have any signs or symptoms below. Don’t wait for office hours! The CDC […]

When to Call for Help

Did you know some problems during pregnancy and after childbirth can happen up to a year postpartum? Knowing the urgent maternal warning signs and symptoms is important for you and the people you love. Contact your medical care team immediately if you have any signs or symptoms below. Don’t wait for office hours! The CDC […]

The content of this website is not intended for use as diagnosis or treatment of a health problem. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your health care provider. If you need emergency care, call 911 right away.

The 4th Trimester Project™ is a trademark.