"We're not living in a particularly supportive culture around new parenthood."
This week, on The Femails, we are joined by Lauren Smith Brody, the author of The Fifth Trimester, to talk about motherhood and work. Smith Brody enjoyed a successful 16-year career in women's magazines, eventually becoming the executive editor at Glamour Magazine.
When Smith Brody had her own children, she noticed an absence of support for working parents—both on a financial and on an informational level. That's when she came up with the idea of the fifth trimester.
The Fifth Trimester
After having her two children, Smith Brody was finding it incredibly hard to return to work. She decided that the "fifth trimester" was the mother's return to work—and she sought out to help other women navigate these previously murky waters.
We are all familiar with the first three trimesters, which make up a pregnancy. The "fourth trimester" is a term coined by Doctor Harvey Karp and is defined as the first three months of a baby's life. The fifth trimester is a parent's return to work—and how to combat all of the doubt that might come along with it.
Episode Highlights:
- Learn what companies and industries are currently supporting parents after the birth of a child.
- Listen to how you can advocate for new parents at your company in order to encourage improved policies.
- Explore how to manage your expectations versus real-life.
Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts. A full transcription of the episode can be found here.
For a preview of the episode, watch this snippet of the interview in the video below:
