It was Talonda Rogers’ own experience that led her to start a Chester County organization focused on closing the postpartum care gap for families of color.
She was 25, freshly graduated from West Chester University, and pregnant with her first child. Soon before labor, she signaled to doctors health concerns that included blurred vision and extreme thirst that she later found were related to gestational diabetes. During her delivery, her blood levels dropped and doctors had to perform a C-section, which led her to give birth to her stillborn son, Brandon.
She didn’t feel advocated for, said Rogers, 50, a mother of three who went on to establish a career in nursing. She founded The 4th Trimester MOMMIE in Downingtown in 2020 to ensure women of color and new mothers receive care throughout and after pregnancy, along with mental health support and mentorship.
Rogers, who is planning to host an event for mothers at her space next Saturday, realized the need for an organization like hers after she began researching postpartum care and learned more about stark racial disparities in the U.S. Black women face greater chances of pregnancy-related death than other groups, according to the CDC, which also reports that most pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.
“I realized more attention needs to be brought to this issue,” said Rogers, who is also the director of nursing of the Chester County Intermediate Unit Practical Nursing Program. “I felt like I sat at the perfect intersection to highlight the issue, since I was a mother who had experienced some things and disparities with Black women, with the mortality crisis in the United States.”
The 4th Trimester MOMMIE offers therapeutic maternal massages, low-impact yoga exercises, mood rooms, child-loss support groups, and physical health assessments, but also hosts events that aim to educate, support, and empower new mothers during the postpartum period.
Rogers’ annual free community wellness event, the “MOMMIE Shower,” on May 16, provides health resources for women and families, and a place to gather, learn from speakers, and connect with community groups. It will be hosted at the Equity Health Center in Coatesville from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Rogers said most women who seek her help need health questions answered. She primarily assists low-income women and families facing socioeconomic challenges. Some women might be uninsured or underinsured, she said, and those barriers can lead to issues such as transportation shortages and a lack of childcare.
MOMMIE has double meaning: It stands for mom, but it also stands for Maternal Outreach, Mentorship, Mobilization, Inclusivity, and Education — principles that Rogers seeks to practice through her business.
Kenshayia Huggins, 26, mother of two from Coatesville, was one of Rogers’ patients in 2024. Huggins said she sought her services after giving birth to her first child. The hospital treated her dismissively, she said, failing to adequately treat her post-preeclampsia and sepsis and leading her to be hospitalized for seven days after the baby was born. The 4th Trimester MOMMIE services provided emotional and practical support, she said.
“She helped me because they weren’t listening to me,” Huggins said.
Cheyanne Young, 31, from Coatesville, was introduced to Rogers by her mom. During her pregnancy, she joined a Facebook group for mothers that highlighted the importance of early medical intervention. Her family and her husband’s support were crucial throughout the childbirth process.
“During postpartum, it was kind of hard,” Young said. “Nobody’s worried about you anymore. All they want is the baby. They’re not worried about my feelings. It was overwhelming and it gave me a lot of anxiety.”
Brianna Lavender, 35, a mother of three from Coatesville, too, said Rogers was there for her in ways her medical providers were not during a challenging postpartum period. Despite being a nurse herself, Lavender faced delayed responses to her concerns after giving birth to her third child, including a blood clot she passed after giving birth.
Rogers was “the only person” she could think of reaching out to.
For Rogers, getting texts from mothers like Lavender is part of her mission.
“Moms, I am here,” Rogers said. “You need to focus on yourself so you can be whole for yourself and to take care of your families.”