26 | JULY 25 • 2024 
J
N

T

he ups and downs of 
the first, second and 
third trimesters of 
pregnancy are no secret.
Expectant mothers go 
through numerous transitions 
that include tiredness and 
nausea, a burst of energy and, 
finally, nesting and settling 
down. Yet, it’s the fourth 
trimester of pregnancy that 
fewer people know about 
and plan for, but is the most 
important of all.
The fourth trimester, or the 
12 weeks following delivery, 
poses unique challenges for 
postpartum moms. In addition 
to the risk of developing 
postpartum depression or 
anxiety, new moms are often 
sleep-deprived, have increased 
nutritional needs (that are not 
always met) and may even 
face a lack of community or 
support. 
It’s perhaps one of the 
least-understood elements of 
America’s maternal mental 

health crisis, but a new 
Ferndale business is putting the 
wellness of new moms front 
and center.
Fourth Tri Sanctuary, 
located on a quiet portion of 
Woodward Avenue, offers 
essentials for postpartum 
mothers. Services include 
fireside chats, baby bonding 
and education, pelvic floor 
activities, sleep education, 
infant feeding support and 
movement classes.

BY MOMS, FOR MOMS
It’s a concept for moms created 
by moms themselves.
Co-founders Melissa 
Scodellaro, Kacee Must and 
Erin Smith, who understand 
the postpartum transition 
firsthand, knew a space was 
necessary where moms would 
be supported with community, 
good nourishment, and rest 
and relaxation.
Must, a Jewish 
businesswoman who also 

owns Citizen Yoga, was first 
approached by Scodellaro with 
the idea when she was pregnant 
with her daughter three years 
ago.
Scodellaro, who worked as 
a hairstylist, always received 
questions from her clients 
about how to raise children, 
or simply how to handle being 
a new mom. Realizing there 
was a gap in education that 
included little-to-no resources 
for pregnant or postpartum 
mothers, Scodellaro 
understood that a community 
just for moms needed to be 
built.
Together, Fourth Tri 
Sanctuary’s co-founders began 
to hatch a plan for a space 
that welcomed mothers into 
parenthood. They researched 
and studied similar models 

in Korea, Israel and China, 
realizing that very few spaces, if 
any, existed in the U.S.
“One of the reasons we 
chose a day space is because 
we want our community to 
be long-term, not just a band-
aid,
” Must, 40, says. As one of 
just a few postpartum-focused 
centers in America, Must 
believes each similar business, 
including Fourth Tri Sanctuary, 
plays a critical role in making 
maternal mental health a 
priority nationwide.

POSTPARTUM ESSENTIALS
Upon opening in February, 
Fourth Tri Sanctuary took 
into account everything a 
postpartum mom could need 
— a space for naps, “meal 
trains” or nourishing food, and 
other moms to lean on who are 

Fourth Tri Sanctuary makes maternal 
mental health a priority.

A Postpartum 
Community

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

HEALTH
Fourth Tri 
Sanctuary on 
Woodward in 
Ferndale.

Kacee 
Must