Embrace Postnatal Retreats
Birth Workers You Need to Know - Edition 2
How many times have we been around a new mom finding their footing in the world of parenthood and say something along the lines of: “man, I love being a mom, but this is a whole lot of work. I am tired all the time, and when I’m not, I am either hungry, overwhelmed, dealing with sensory overload, questioning if I am doing this right, or a mix of all the things.” This sentiment is repeated by new moms on the daily and is not a new phenomenon. There are so many factors that impact the daily rhythms of a new mom, and for many self-care is the first thing to be overlooked.
You wake up a tad early in the morning to brew some coffee and sit in silence for a moment before the house wakes up. As you pour yourself a cup, you hear the baby crying, the dog barking, and your phone going off. By the time you return to your coffee, the temperature can only be remedied by a spin in the microwave.
You get your baby settled in the bouncer, enjoy a full-body shower, and emerge a freshly clean, wonderfully smelling new woman. You take care in picking out your outfit to suit your postpartum body, dry your hair for the first time in ages, and feel a bit more like yourself. You grab your baby to head outside for some sunshine when he lets out a stream of vomit straight down your shirt.
You schedule a night out with your husband which is long overdue and carefully write out the instructions for the babysitter, prepare to leave, and receive a text that reads: “I can’t come tonight, I’ve been coughing all afternoon and don’t want to risk the well-being of your baby.”
Most moms can relate that we’ve been there. We do our best to carve out times in our day and weeks to focus on our own well-being, whether that is a moment to ourselves to begin the day or prioritizing date night with our husbands. And yet, often times in early motherhood it just doesn’t happen. We see the value in investing in ourselves, but the follow through is challenging to accomplish without support. Thankfully, there is support available to new moms in the DFW area! Connie from Embrace Postnatal Retreats has a heart for creating spaces for new moms to just be. Embrace’s mission is to transform the postpartum experience for mothers and families in the DFW area. Their method is by creating a sanctuary for new mothers to rest, recover, and soak in new knowledge so they can confidently approach the journey of motherhood.
How did Embrace Postnatal Retreats come to be?
Connie attributes the creation of Embrace to be the outcome of her life’s work. Connie began nursing school with the hope of eventually creating a business that impacted her community in positive ways. As a young teenage mom, she moved away from home and worked her way through nursing school with many bumps and detours along the way. From her recollection, the postpartum coursework was the toughest part of nursing school and challenged her in many ways. Upon graduating, the first job she landed was in the mother/baby unit. Ha! Although she questioned the position in the beginning, Connie worked in that department for nine years on night-shift. Over her career, she’s spent time on many units and began to ask the question what is my purpose and passion? Through prayer, reflection, and countless experiences pointing her towards postpartum mothers, Connie ended up back in the mother/baby unit. At this point, she came across a business in New York that ran retreats for postpartum mothers. She quickly discovered that this was not a service available in the DFW area, and her dream of creating a business for her local community took form.
Embrace began as a prayer for Connie to use her education, experiences, and gifts to serve the community of mothers she served each day in the hospital. Working as a mother/baby nurse gives her a front row seat to grasp what new mothers truly need in a season that is almost entirely others- focused.
How do you keep the services of Embrace accessible to all new moms?
When you look at the scope of similar retreats across the United States, the reality is that most of them cost an arm and a leg. Connie believes that luxury does not have to come in the form of fancy hotels, high price tags, or extravagant experiences. What new moms need is to be seen, to be heard, to be empowered, and for their basic needs to be met (along with some extra pampering because they deserve it!!). Connie’s goal is to offer different experiences and packages that will work within their budget so that every new mom can know the support of the Embrace community.
What can I expect from a daytime Embrace Retreat?
The hope is that you walk away from Embrace feeling rested, supported in your individual recovery, and filled to the brim with knowledge that empowers you to mother confidently. I (Connie) partner with many local businesses that provide the services that I believe new mothers need, such as:
Childbirth classes
Breastfeeding classes
What to Expect at the Hospital Guide
First 48 Hours Guide
Newborn care
Pelvic Floor Exercises
Chiropractic care
In-home support
Massage Therapy
My (Connie’s) heart in providing spaces for these offerings is that new moms understand they don’t have to do it alone. Our daytime retreats are often full of new expectant mothers who are eager to learn all they can to support their growing family. Instead of being crushed by the weight of all they may not know, they are able to leave these retreats feeling empowered with new tools, knowledge, and resources.
Another thing I (Connie) want to mention is that I love when expectant mothers find community at our events! We do our best to foster opportunities for mothers to get to know one another at our retreats, because we all need a friend as we enter a new season.
What is one thing Connie hopes every new mom knows about herself and her journey into motherhood?
I (Connie) want every new mom to know that she is important, beautiful, and deserving of a day to herself to receive the support she wants and needs without guilt.
Blog by: Annie Webb
BMC Admin Assistant
Birth doula.