Episode Details

The weeks after birth can have a profound impact on a mother's physical recovery, mental health, relationship, and long-term wellbeing. Yet many women spend months preparing for birth and very little time preparing for what comes next. 

In this episode, I am talking to Melissa Gallagher, co-founder and CEO of AlmaCare, about the realities of postpartum recovery and what mothers need to thrive during the fourth trimester. We discuss sleep deprivation, maternal mental health, recovery, partner communication, and the practical supports that can make a meaningful difference during this life-changing transition. 

Melissa and I talk about: 

• The physical and emotional changes many mothers are unprepared for after birth
• What a protected fourth trimester can look like in practice
• The benefits of rest, nourishment, and recovery during the first weeks after birth
• Why sleep is one of the most important factors for maternal mental health
• How sleep deprivation can affect mood, resilience, and recovery
• Why mothers were never meant to navigate postpartum alone
• How cultural traditions have long prioritized recovery after birth
• The importance of having clear conversations with your partner before baby arrives
• Practical ways partners can support recovery and infant feeding goals
• The role of overnight support, lactation consultants, and in-home care
• How employers are beginning to support families during the fourth trimester
• What mothers can do if they are already in postpartum and struggling
• The three pillars Melissa believes every mother should focus on after birth: feeding baby, recovering physically, and protecting mental health

Melissa Gallagher is the Co-Founder and CEO of Alma Care, Canada’s first holistic, in-home postnatal care platform. Alma Care supports families after birth through personalized care delivered by registered nurses, certified doulas, lactation consultants, and maternal health experts. With more than a decade of experience in health, wellness, and consumer brands, Melissa is also a mother who experienced the postpartum care gap firsthand. Inspired by her own journey, she founded Alma Care to help shift postpartum support from an afterthought to a foundation of maternal and family health, with a focus on recovery, prevention, and long-term wellbeing for mothers.

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