Replace Parenting Perfectionism and Other Myths With Self-Trust

Replace Parenting Perfectionism and Other Myths With Self-Trust

Author: Sarah Roselinda Trott May 16, 2026 Duration: 45:03

Many parents enter pregnancy and postpartum believing they can prepare enough, plan enough, or perfect their way through uncertainty. But becoming a parent often challenges the very patterns we once relied on to feel safe. In this episode, learn how self-trust, emotional flexibility, and even storytelling can help parents navigate the identity shifts of the fourth trimester with more resilience, compassion, and confidence.

Britta Bushnell, PhD is a childbirth educator, author, and expert in mythology and psychology who has spent more than 25 years supporting families through birth and early parenthood. Her work explores the cultural myths around control, perfection, and certainty, and how parents can move through major life transitions with greater self-awareness and emotional grounding.

Full show notes: fourthtrimesterpodcast.com

Connect with Britta Bushnell, PhD brittabushnell.com | Transformed by Birth Podcast | Instagram

Britta’s book Transformed by Birth: Cultivating Openness, Resilience, and Strength for the Life-Changing Journey from Pregnancy to Parenthood

Other books mentioned The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown | The Case against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering

Learn more A Parent’s Guide To Building Self-Trust (And Why It Matters) | Prepare Your Body and Pelvic Floor for Birth and Recovery | Intimacy After Baby and Reconnecting With Yourself and Your Partner

Resources HelloGaia Parenting Copilot | FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Birth Plan | FREE DOWNLOAD Customizable Fourth Trimester Plan | Postpartum Soups and Stews Collection

Connect with Fourth Trimester Facebook | Instagram

If this conversation helped you feel more grounded, supported, or less alone in your parenting journey, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating or review wherever you listen. These small actions help more parents discover the Fourth Trimester Podcast and support us in continuing to bring you evidence-based conversations that strengthen families.


Sarah Trott, a new mother herself, navigates the profound and often overlooked transition into parenthood alongside her postpartum doula and co-host, Esther Gallagher. Their conversations form the heart of Fourth Trimester: The First Months and Beyond. This isn't just a parenting podcast; it's a dedicated space exploring the physical, emotional, and logistical realities of the postpartum period, that critical window after birth where both baby and parents are learning and healing. Esther brings decades of experience as a perinatal educator and care provider, offering grounded wisdom, while Sarah asks the questions from her fresh, personal perspective as a mom to a vibrant baby girl. Together, they delve into topics from newborn care and maternal recovery to mental health and redefining identity, all with a focus on practical support and non-judgmental guidance. Listening feels like being welcomed into an honest, supportive conversation between a trusted mentor and a friend who's in the thick of it. You'll hear their genuine rapport and the tangible benefit of this partnership, as they aim to fill the common gap in care and preparation for life with a new baby. This podcast serves as an audio companion for mothers, fathers, and all caregivers seeking to nurture themselves as they nurture their newborn, moving through the fourth trimester and beyond with more confidence and compassion.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Fourth Trimester: The First Months and Beyond | Parenting | Newborn Baby | Postpartum | Doula
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