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Trigger Warning: discussion of a birth injury and recovery.  This week’s episode was inspired by Emily Juchau who shared her own Today We Tried moment of coming home from the hospital with baby #2 and an unexpected accessory: a catheter from a birth injury. The response to her story was massive (her Reel has 21.5M views!) and we wanted to dive deeper into this topic to help other birthing people in a similar situation feel less alone. Christy and Emily are joined by Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald, a Urogynecologist and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgeon, to talk about how bladder injuries can occur during birth, the healing process, and much more, including the critical importance of paid leave, why ob/gyn departments are chronically underfunded, and how to advocate for yourself in the 4th trimester and beyond.  See Emily’s story here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZw0RmuqjfQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link  

We’re back with more tales from the 4th trimester! This week, Christy chats with Bennett Kaspar-Williams about his 4th-trimester experience as a trans, non-binary seahorse dad. Bennett invites us to question the gendered nature of pregnancy and postpartum, gives his tips for diapers for you and baby, and shares how he navigated the fog of early parenthood. Plus, Christy and Bennett talk about the importance of creating a mental health checklist (just important as making those freezer meals!). In conjunction with this episode, Colugo is re-launching its limited-edition Pride Compact to raise money for Family Equality. Head to www.hicolugo.com to check them out! 

This week, we’re talking about going back to work after having a baby and why paid parental leave – which is crucially important – is only the beginning when it comes to supporting parents. Christy shares how her strong support of paid parental leave ran into the reality of trying to take leave while in a leadership position at a small start-up. While things didn’t go exactly as planned, her experience validated the importance of finding ways to support parents both during and after the 4th trimester. We also share Colugo’s parental leave policy, the additional benefits we have to help make Colugo a start-up that works for working parents, and ways to bring these policies to your workplace.

No matter how you feed your baby - bottle, boob, or a combo of the 2 - feeding your baby dominates the 4th trimester. We’re doing a deep dive into this often fraught topic today Christy shares the feeding struggles she’s faced and the perspective she’s gained after feeding 4 babies. Listen for tips and validation to feel more prepared for or supported in your feeding journey with your little one.

We’re talking postpartum bodies and there’s a lot to cover! There’s a trip to the ER, pelvic floor PT, and affirmations. Christy shares how even with all of her privilege, she had trouble finding the support she needed postpartum and offers insight into what worked for her and what changes we need to make to better support new parents in the 4th trimester.

This week, we drop into the early days of Christy’s 4th trimester when she’s just home from the hospital with Holland. These early days hold so much– sleep deprivation, anxiety, all encompassing joy, and more –and we’re holding nothing back. Listen to hear what Christy’s learned as she takes on the 4th trimester for the 3rd time, including why sleep is everything and why leaning into moments of joy is key. And, you’ll never guess what happens when Christy and her family move at 3 weeks postpartum. It’s a wild, joyful and anxiety-filled ride. 

This season, we’re taking on the 4th trimester! There’s so much written about pregnancy, but not enough about what comes next. We wanted to change that by creating space for real conversations about the 4th trimester. Using in-the-moment recordings, audio diaries, and conversations with Zac, TWT’s producer, Christy documented her own journey, throughout her 4th trimester. Each week we’ll cover a big topic - like postpartum bodies, hormones, feeding, and parental leave - during this wild, challenging, exhausting, fun, scary, bizarre, rewarding time. We hope this season will help parents feel more connected and confident as they take on their own 4th trimester.  This week, Christy shares her birth story. On the evening of her due date, Christy felt decreased fetal movement. Thinking she was probably overreacting but wanting to be sure, she called a Lyft to take her to the hospital. Listen to the episode to find out what happened next!  TW: This episode contains details of labor & delivery, including a postpartum hemorrhage. 

Christy, Colugo’s Chief Parent Officer, is joined by Ted, her husband, and Colugo’s founder, and their 3 kids to celebrate the end of Season 1 of Today We Tried. They give an update on a big “season of change” for their family, including the impending arrival of baby #4, and they give a sneak peek of what’s next for the podcast and Colugo. Mentioned in this episode: Slumber Pod, baby names, and counting baby kicks.

Christy, Colugo’s Chief Parent Officer, is joined by Kevin Gerdes to kick off Pride Month. Kevin is a real estate agent and Black, gay, single dad in LA who is fostering Baby S. Kevin shares his story of what inspired him to become a foster parent, the process, and how fatherhood has changed and inspired him. Mentioned in this episode: LGBTQ Stories, Aviva, The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez

TW: This episode references prostitution and alludes to sexual abuse. Christy, Colugo’s Chief Parent Officer, is joined by Venus Morris Griffin, a real estate agent, motivational speaker, and mom of 7. As Venus says in the podcast, her life changed in 10 seconds when she received a call from an unknown number. Listen to hear her inspirational story of how she overcame multiple obstacles, kept her family together, and found success. Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Venus’s story here.

Christy, Colugo’s Chief Parent Officer, is joined by Dr. Diana Samuel, a psychiatrist and Assistant Clinical Professor at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Diana and Christy discuss the importance of prioritizing your mental health as a parent and how to find help when you need it. Diana also shares tips for small adjustments you can make to your day-to-day life that can have a big impact on mental health. Mentioned in this episode: Feeding Littles and the rise of online therapy 

Christy, Colugo’s Chief Parent Officer, is joined by Darina Walls, a Colugo Community member who reached out to share her story of navigating multiple moves as a military spouse, including a move from Hawaii to Virginia with a 5-week-old baby. Darina has great advice for anyone planning for a move or any big transition, including the importance of planning, working as a team, and tapping into networks of people who are ready and eager to help. Mentioned in this episode: Wild Child Compact, trying new things, the importance of unpacking right away, International Women’s Day, and Hawaii