Clinical clarity
Spot red flags before they escalate
Recognize early warning signs of hemorrhage, hypertension, infection, cardiomyopathy, and thromboembolism — and know when “watch and wait” is no longer safe.
4th Trimester Care Training
Protect Birthing People in the Most Overlooked 12 Weeks of Care
This evidence-informed training gives nurses, doulas, CHWs, and perinatal teams a clear framework to recognize postpartum red flags early, prevent avoidable complications, and center equity in every follow-up visit.
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Why focus on the fourth trimester?
The Risk Doesn’t End at Delivery
The weeks after birth are when birthing people are most vulnerable — and yet they often have the fewest clinical touchpoints. This course is built to close that gap and turn routine follow‑up into truly protective care.
The Reality
More than half of maternal deaths happen postpartum.
Hemorrhage, infection, cardiomyopathy, hypertensive emergencies, and mental health crises often appear at home — not in the delivery room. Without clear teaching and confident assessment, families may “wait it out” instead of seeking urgent care.
What this training changes
This course helps your team move beyond checkbox discharge teaching into proactive, risk‑aware postpartum care:
- Spot red‑flag symptoms earlier in the fourth trimester
- Explain danger signs in clear, culturally responsive language
- Plan follow‑up that doesn’t leave high‑risk families behind
- Center equity and trauma‑informed support in every interaction
When the fourth trimester is treated as essential care, not an afterthought, families are safer, more supported, and less likely to experience preventable crises.
What you’ll walk away with
Turn “Call Us If Something Seems Off” Into Clear, Actionable Care
This training gives your team simple, memorable anchors for the fourth trimester — so everyone knows what to look for, what to say, and what to do next.
Whole‑person focus
See beyond the physical exam
Integrate mental health screening, lactation, rest, nutrition, and birth spacing into postpartum care that actually matches how families live.
Equity & access
Support families facing the barriers
Factor in income, transportation, housing, and racism in care — and adapt follow‑up so high‑risk families are not the easiest ones to lose.
Communication
Explain danger signs clearly
Use trauma‑informed, culturally responsive language so birthing people and partners know exactly when to call, when to go in, and how to advocate for themselves.
Teamwork
Align OB, pediatrics, CHWs & doulas
Create shared plans and referral pathways so no one is working in a silo — and families experience seamless postpartum support.
Real‑world use
Apply it on your next shift
Leave with practical checklists, scripts, and decision points you can plug into discharge teaching, home visits, and telehealth touchpoints right away.
The goal: fewer missed warning signs, stronger follow‑up, and families who feel informed — not alone — in the fourth trimester.
Who This Training Is Designed For
If you touch postpartum care, this course is for you. Clinical teams, community programs, and lactation or mental health providers will all find tools they can plug into their own workflows.
Hospital & clinic
OB, postpartum & triage nurses, midwives, providers
For bedside and outpatient teams who need fast, reliable ways to spot postpartum risk, teach danger signs, and structure early follow‑up for high‑risk birthing people.
Community‑based
Doulas, CHWs, home visitors & peer supporters
For those hearing the “something feels off” concerns in living rooms, churches, and community centers — often before families reach a clinician.
Specialty support
IBCLCs, therapists & program leads
For professionals integrating lactation, mood, safety, and social needs into postpartum plans — and leaders responsible for building fourth‑trimester pathways and protocols.
Great for teams and cohorts: hospitals, health departments, doula collectives, CHW programs, and community‑based organizations.
Enroll Your TeamTaught By
Veronica Simpkins, RN, IBCLC
Co-Creator of A&V Learning Studios
With over a decade of experience in maternal and infant health, Veronica brings real-world expertise, heartfelt guidance, and practical insight to help you step confidently into birthwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still wondering if this training is the right fit for your team? Here are answers to the questions we hear most often.
The training is built with teams in mind — hospitals, health departments, community‑based organizations, doula
collectives, and CHW programs. If you’re an individual and want to join, you can still enroll, but the biggest
impact comes when multiple people from the same system go through it together.
The course is delivered virtually, so teams can join from anywhere. Sessions blend short, focused teaching
with real-world scenarios and discussion. Recordings and materials are available afterward so you can revisit
key concepts or onboard new staff.
The core training is designed to fit into busy schedules — typically delivered as a series of short sessions
that can be completed over a few weeks. We’ll work with you to choose a cadence that matches your staffing and
workflow.
Yes. The core framework stays the same, but examples, scenarios, and tools can be tailored to your patient
population, staffing model, and existing postpartum initiatives. We’ll talk through this during the onboarding
process.
Yes. Participants receive printable and digital tools — like scripts, checklists, and planning prompts —
designed to plug into discharge teaching, home visits, and follow-up workflows.
That’s expected. The training is designed for mixed groups — from new staff to seasoned clinicians and
community-based birthworkers. We focus on shared language and practical tools everyone can use, regardless of
role or years of experience.
Ready to Center the Fourth Trimester?
If you’re ready to make postpartum risk, recovery, and support a core part of your practice — not an afterthought — enroll in the training and get started.
Enroll NowComplete your enrollment in just a few minutes and get instant access once your registration is confirmed.