Postpartum Midwifery Care: Fourth Trimester & Beyond with Serena Saeed-Winn, CNM, WHNP, IBCLC
September 25, 2025
This episode of The Root Cause Medicine Podcast takes a deep dive into postpartum care—challenging the idea that one six-week checkup is enough. Serena Saeed-Winn, CNM, WHNP, IBCLC, shares how earlier postpartum visits may help identify concerns such as thyroid changes, support lactation comfort through therapeutic breast massage and lymphatic techniques, and guide gentle scar care for improved comfort and pelvic floor recovery. You’ll also hear insights on hormonal shifts, nutrient needs, and postpartum mental health considerations—plus practical strategies to engage partners and build collaborative care teams. Providers will leave with actionable, evidence-informed ideas to better support families during this critical transition.
In this episode, we explore the science of postpartum recovery with Serena Saeed-Winn, CNM, WHNP, IBCLC. Serena explains why the standard six-week visit may miss key opportunities to support tissue healing, hormonal recalibration, lymphatic flow, and maternal mental health. Drawing from more than a decade of clinical experience, she discusses how multi-touchpoint care can enhance recovery and help families feel supported.
Clinical Takeaways from This Episode
- Redefining Postpartum Care: Why the six-week visit may miss key needs—and how earlier touchpoints can support maternal well-being and mental health.
- Therapeutic Breast & Lymphatic Techniques: Step-by-step discussion of breast massage, lymphatic drainage, and partner involvement that may help relieve engorgement and support healthy milk flow.
- Supporting Wound & Scar Healing: Practical ways to guide sitz baths, gentle scar mobilization, and pelvic floor comfort strategies.
- Postpartum Neuroendocrine & Mental Health Screening: Considerations for thyroid labs, preeclampsia monitoring, and timely mental health referrals.
- Family Systems & Partner Engagement: How partner education and involvement can help reduce isolation and support the family unit.
- Postpartum Nutrition & Labs: Labs to consider (thyroid, iron studies, vitamin D) and food-first nutrition, hydration, and select supplement strategies for whole-body recovery.
- Building Your Care Team: Best practices for collaborating with lactation consultants, pelvic floor PTs, mental health professionals, and other postpartum resources.
Guest Introduction:
Serena Saeed-Winn is a certified nurse midwife and women’s health nurse practitioner with more than a decade of experience in birth and postpartum care. She is the founder of the KAZ Project, a home-based postpartum service focused on personalized, holistic family support. Serena is passionate about creating a physiologically, psychologically, and socially integrative model for postpartum care. Learn more at KAZ Project.
Serena Saeed-Winn's Postpartum Resources
Postpartum Health Books & Authors
Postpartum Health Books & Authors
- Hormone Intelligence by Dr. Aviva Romm
- The Natural Pregnancy Book & Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health by Dr. Aviva Romm
- Women’s Power to Heal Through Inner Medicine by Maya Tiwari
Postpartum Websites & Tools
Postpartum Labs & Considerations
- Thyroid labs: consider screening first trimester and postpartum as clinically indicated.
- Iron studies: evaluate prenatally or postpartum if symptomatic or at risk.
- Vitamin D testing: consider assessing levels to guide individualized support.
Postpartum Nutrition & Supplements
- Herbal infusions (e.g., calendula sitz baths)
- Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA)
- B-vitamins (B12, Folate)
- Vitamin D and iron as needed
- Electrolytes and hydration support
Breastfeeding Comfort Tools & Supplies