Rebuilding Postpartum: Access, Equity, and Community Care with 4th Trimester ED Rachel Scandling | Golden Hour, Episode 50
The first weeks after birth are supposed to be tender, supported, and deeply cared for. But for far too many women—especially low-income, immigrant, and asylum-seeking mothers—postpartum becomes a period of isolation, fear, and survival.
In this episode, Dr. O sits down with Rachel Scandling, Executive Director of 4th Trimester, a nonprofit transforming postpartum care for the families most often left behind. Based in Southern California and along the U.S.–Mexico border, 4th Trimester provides practical support, emotional care, and advocacy rooted in dignity and community.
Together we talk about:
• What postpartum care should look like
• The realities facing moms navigating trauma, immigration, housing instability, or lack of healthcare access
• How community-based support can prevent crises and save lives
• Why “postpartum deserts” are a growing public-health problem
• What every new parent deserves—but rarely receives
• How clinicians, policymakers, and advocates can help rebuild postpartum systems
• And what gives Rachel hope for the future of maternal health
Whether you’re a new mom, a clinician, a doula, or someone fighting to improve women’s health outcomes, this conversation is a powerful reminder that postpartum care is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline.
Keywords: postpartum, 4th trimester, maternal health, postpartum depression, birth recovery, immigrant families, community care, postpartum support, women’s health, birth justice, perinatal mental health, postpartum resources, birth trauma, equitable healthcare
About 4th Trimester |
4th Trimester believes the weeks and months after birth should be a time of deep care. They are a nonprofit organization changing how new mothers and birthing people experience the postpartum period. Many of their team has been through the trenches of postpartum themselves and know how isolating it can feel without enough support.
Headquartered in Pasadena, and serving southern California and along the U.S./Mexico border, 4th Trimester serves those most often left behind by traditional systems, including low-income, immigrant, asylum-seeking, and disaster-impacted families. They provide practical support, emotional care, and advocacy that puts parents' needs first.
Rachel Scandling, Executive Director Bio |
Rachel brings nearly 20 years of leadership experience across LA’s public, academic, and nonprofit sectors. A hands-on leader and systems thinker, her career has spanned fundraising, programming, and management for organizations of all sizes, with a consistent focus on supporting women.
Before joining 4th Trimester, Rachel led the graduate producing program at CalArts and served as Producing Director of its Center for New Performance. She’s a member of Loud Community, a woman-led network advancing community care, and did he
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