Today We Tried Colugo

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.