Fourth Trimester
Postpartum Nurse and
Infant Feeding Support in
Washington DC area
The term "Fourth Trimester" encompasses the vital 12 weeks following childbirth. This period can be filled with profound changes and emotions as parents adjust to life with a newborn. At the same time, there are so many new things to learn and adjust to, interactions with healthcare professionals may often feel limited.
This is where Fourth Trimester steps in.
As a dedicated mother, nurse, postpartum doula, and certified breastfeeding specialist, I support new parents and families with newborns in the Washington, DC area, all offered in the comfort and safety of your home.
With a personalized and family-focused approach, my mission is to empower parents through the challenges and dynamics of the postpartum period. Let me support you in caring for your newborn and yourself, ensuring that you and your baby thrive during this transformative life phase. Together, we can navigate this journey and embrace each day with confidence and joy.
Services
Postpartum Nurse Support
As a registered nurse and a certified postpartum doula, I offer in-home support to families in the Washington, DC area.
This care comes in the many forms - physical, emotional, and educational - for families in the days and weeks after baby comes home. Care focuses on the entire family unit - the birthing parent, the partner, and the newborn. Topics may include managing postpartum recovery, processing the birth experience, infant sleeping, swaddling and other comfort measures, infant development, and baby wearing.
Parents may also benefit from preparation of healthy meals, light household chores, and selecting appropriate baby products.
Overall, I aim to support your family in adjusting to the new rhythms of life with a newborn. Services vary for each family and, together, we can create a plan of care tailored to your specific needs.
Breastfeeding and
Infant Feeding Support
Feeding your infant is one of the most significant stressors during the newborn phase. Whether you choose breastmilk or formula, this experience involves various physiological and emotional aspects, and many parents find it challenging.
As a nurse and Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, I offer hands-on support and education to this important aspect of infant care, in your own home. My approach entails helping you clarify your infant feeding goals, and then providing the necessary tools and information to help you and your infant achieve the healthiest outcomes.
In my consultations, I draw from up to date research and evidence while recognizing the importance that a path forward must feel right for you and your family.
The fourth trimester is a magical time filled with wonder and awe. All the while, newness and change may bring upon many different feelings.
Allow me to support you in this period of transition;
to listen, to guide, and to connect with you as
your family commits this time to connecting with your newborn.
About Me
My name is Katie Williams and I have over 15 years of experience in maternal and child health, working in hospital, community, and home settings, both globally and locally. The health of women and their families has been a consistent priority throughout my education and career. "Fourth Trimester" represents the latest evolution of this lifelong passion, working directly with families in the community of Washington DC.
I hold academic degrees in nutrition and nursing, which inform my clinical practices, as well as a Master's in Health Science with a focus on international health. After years of professional work in public health and global reproductive health programs, I returned to nursing school to apply a broader concept of health to families. For nearly 10 years, I have worked as a nurse and have found that supporting new parents in their homes has the most significant impact. I also have extensive training in breastfeeding, postpartum physical and mental health, infant health and care, child development, and facilitating attuned parent-child interactions.
I recognize the importance of connection and strive to create a safe and supportive space for every parent to foster meaningful relationships with their baby, partner, and themselves. As a parent of two elementary school children, I understand the stresses of new parenthood firsthand. Drawing from both my personal and professional experiences, I hope that "Fourth Trimester" can help you build lasting connections.
