Episode #11
Caring for the Parent, Not Just the Baby, with Melissa Gallagher of Alma Care
In this episode of Collected, we sit down with Melissa Gallagher, Founder & CEO of Alma Care, a company revolutionizing what postpartum care looks like for Canadian families. Melissa shares how her own fourth trimester sparked the question that started it all: is this really all the support there is? Just weeks into life with her first daughter, she realized the gaps she was experiencing weren't personal, they were systemic. Now, Alma Care brings hands-on, in-home postpartum support to families across Ontario and beyond, drawing on care traditions from around the world, including the practice of "sitting the month," which Melissa followed herself after her second baby. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who is expecting, supporting someone through the postpartum period, or working to build more human-centred maternal care. Key Takeaways: 1 in 4 women experience postpartum depression, and 40% of cases actually begin during pregnancy. Early screening could change everything Strong, proactive postpartum support can reduce postpartum depression by up to 60% Birth isn't the finish line, it's the start. The four to six weeks after delivery are a short window with lifelong impact Most cultures outside North America protect the postpartum window. There's deep wisdom in traditions like sitting the month, from nourishing foods to true rest Overnight support doesn't weaken your bond with baby. Rested parents show up more present, more connected, and more excited to snuggle that 7am cry Employers are starting to step up, offering postpartum care as a benefit and shifting from reactive to proactive support for growing families Find Alma Care at almacare.ca and follow along on Instagram About Collected by Unum Co. Collected by Unum Co. is a podcast about the power of lived experience; how stories can shape more human-centred systems, services, and spaces. Each episode, hosts Megan and Farah sit down with people who are challenging the status quo, leading with empathy, and making an impact through their work and their stories. Stories move us. They open eyes, shift systems, and remind us what really matters. Real change begins when people show up for people, and this is the space where those conversations live. Created by Unum Co., a patient-experience consultancy and creative studio helping health care organizations connect with people through storytelling, strategy, and digital engagement. 🔗 Learn more at unumco.ca 💌 Connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram Subscribe, rate, and share the show. Your support helps more people discover these stories. Collected by Unum Co. is a podcast about the power of lived experience, and how stories can shape more human-centred systems, services, and spaces. Created by Unum Co., a patient-experience consultancy and creative studio helping health care organizations connect with people through storytelling, strategy, and digital engagement. 🔗 Learn more at unumco.ca 💌 Connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram Subscribe, rate, and share the show. Your support helps more people discover these stories.
