Meet Our Homecoming Package
There is no greater joy in life than welcoming a new baby to the family. The cuddles, the coos, the adorable tiny outfits! As mothers, we treasure these moments dearly, and we also recognize the unique stresses of becoming a mother. We remember the breastfeeding struggles, the pain of healing from childbirth, and the pure exhaustion. The days and weeks after bringing home a baby are often as challenging as they are beautiful.
We've been there. We have cried alongside our new babies as we learned how to care for them while also learning how to care for ourselves as new mothers. Now we have the great honor and privilege to support fellow mothers as they embark on this incredible journey.
Our Postpartum Experiences
As healthcare professionals, we both felt relatively confident that we knew what to expect after having a baby….we couldn’t have been more wrong. Our postpartum experiences were so surprising to us as new mothers, but as we have grown and connected with fellow mothers, we’ve learned that we were in good company. We felt unprepared and blindsided by some of the new things that were happening to us (looking at you, night sweats), as well as how much more difficult typical daily life activities (finding time to eat and shower) were with a newborn. There was lots of advice and support to be found around the care of our babies, but not nearly as much information on the steps we should have been taking to care for our own bodies and minds. As a culture we are hyper-focused on the health and wellbeing of the baby. Don’t get us wrong, providing good care for newborns is SO important. But in placing so much emphasis there, we have fully neglected to provide support systems for mom so that she can focus on caring for baby without repercussions to her own health and well being.
A Better Model…
Did you know that Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand, Sweden, and France all provide in-home care from a nurse, midwife, or pelvic floor physiotherapist in the days immediately after birth? In addition to the immediate presence of healthcare providers, many cultures also do an excellent job of prioritizing rest during the 4th trimester. Japanese mothers traditionally move home during their last trimester to receive assistance from their own mothers after birth. In both China and Mexico, mothers are expected to spend 30-40 days resting at home after birth, while members of their family or community take over all household chores, laundry, cooking, and childcare for siblings. With all other household tasks outsourced, the new mother’s only job is to rest, heal, establish her milk supply, and bond with her baby. A postpartum period without pressure to “bounce back” or to prove your worth by continuing to run a household, work, and generally keep all the balls in the air without help….sounds kind of dreamy, right?
The Homecoming Package is our response to the lackluster postpartum experience we believe many women share. We believe new mothers deserve to be cared for in much the same way as a newborn, for they too have just been born. Women today are often missing the knowledge, support, and validation that traditionally came from her “village” of other women. We all need someone to say, “Hey, why don’t you sit down for a bit and rest. Here’s your water. Have you taken your Colace today? Have you eaten this afternoon? Why don’t you go get a hot shower while I fold this laundry. You look beautiful. Here’s some fresh pajamas and your chapstick. Letting my nipples air-dry after breastfeeding really helped me avoid thrush…you might consider trying it. Your little one is so lucky to have a mom that cares as much as you do.”
How We Can Help…
We can’t be in your home to make sure you have dry pajamas in the middle of the night, fetch you a glass of water when you get stuck in an unexpected cluster feeding cycle, or conduct weighted feeds to ease your mind that little one is getting enough. But we CAN ensure that you have fresh towels near your bed, water and snacks on a rolling cart that can go everywhere you go, and a stash of breast pads near every prime nursing spot in the house. We can share our favorite community resources of local experts in everything from breastfeeding to postpartum fitness and pelvic floor health (with some amazing boutique coupons thrown in for good measure).
Looking back on our postpartum experiences this is the support we wish we’d had. Our goal is to “mother the mother” and lighten the load for the new family. We often want to go beyond the meal train to care for new parents and siblings, but we don’t want to overstep, aren’t sure what they need, or aren’t able to physically provide help because of time or geography. The Homecoming Package makes a wonderful baby shower gift, push present, or grandparent gift. This service is centered around the new mother, but having tidy living spaces, a stocked fridge, and an organized nursery benefits the whole family. Bringing home a newborn is a milestone. Imagine her face as she walks through the front door to discover a carefully curated, nurturing, and restful space to create treasured memories and fall in love with that beautiful baby.
How It Works
When you book a Homecoming Package with us, we start with a phone or video consult where we learn all about your home, lifestyle, dietary preferences, areas of stress, your baby’s gender and/or name, and your birth plan. We prepare based on the information you give us and then remain “on call” until you go into labor. When you head to the hospital to give birth, we head to your home to fluff your nest and get it ready for your new arrival!
When you return from the hospital or birthing center, your home will feel fresh, tidy, and prepared to nurture your family. You'll find a beautiful welcome station for guests, a thoughtfully organized nursery, a rolling cart stocked and ready to support your feeding and personal care needs, plenty of hydration and high protein snacking options, fresh florals, and peri-care essentials in a portable caddy.
While so much of the focus around childbirth is on the precious new arrival, we keep our focus on nurturing the precious new mother. Our Homecoming Package mixes organization with care- our favorite combination. Welcoming new life into the world takes a village and we would be honored to be a part of your village!
