This experienced mom stayed 7 nights at Yuzi. Here’s what she had to say about it.

As someone who’s gone through a difficult postpartum journey in the past and who was aware of postpartum care facilities existing in other parts of the world, Kendal, a Seattle native, entrepreneur, wife, and experienced mother, knew that if the opportunity ever presented itself, she would stay at a postnatal retreat for a future postpartum journey. We’re glad the stars aligned and the timing was right to have opened up Yuzi as Kendal welcomed her second earthside baby, a son!

We often get a lot of questions about what it’s like to stay at a postnatal retreat so we asked Kendal to share her experience with us.

What were your initial thoughts when you first arrived at Yuzi?

Words that come to mind when I arrived at Yuzi are that it’s grand, luxurious, lush, tranquil, and whimsical. I was happily greeted by two of Yuzi’s staff upon arrival and it made checking-in and getting my belongings (which I had a lot of with a baby) to my room very easy and stress free. I admittedly was quite anxious and frazzled pulling up to the hotel with all my stuff and my son, but the staff were absolutely wonderful in helping me get sorted and settled in.

What was the highlight of your stay with Yuzi?

The highlight of my stay with Yuzi was connecting with other mothers and families who were there during the same time I was. If I could offer a piece of advice to future families, while you may be absolutely exhausted and want to hunker down in your room and skip a class or two…don’t. Where there are opportunities to connect with others experiencing the same thing as you, build your network of support beyond the walls of Yuzi. Parenthood and especially motherhood can be extremely lonely sometimes, so making new friends that understand what you are going through as well as support you along the way is so important for our continued well-being. I’ve already met up for lunch with my new mom friend I made at Yuzi :)

How did this experience compare to when you brought home your first?

I think anyone who experiences Yuzi after their first will tell you they wish they had experienced it from the beginning of their postpartum journeys. Being thrown into parenthood is hard. Those early days are so scary and grueling. I remember being terrified to leave the hospital because I wouldn’t have any of the nurses help anymore. With my first, my nurse team was so kind and patient helping with swaddling to trying to get my son to latch properly. Going home with no more support was such a terrifying idea at the time. As the early days passed, I’d dread the night as it signaled the impending tough time ahead of waking up to feed when my body was exhausted and needed rest. Yuzi not only offers amazing support and resources in every area a mother needs in those newborn days, but it offers added time to transition into your next role as well. The caring staff made me and my son feel nurtured, nourished and taken care of in a way that I hope every mother gets to experience. As mothers, we endure so much throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum that every woman deserves to be taken care of in the way that Yuzi takes care of us.

What would you say to a family who is considering Yuzi as part of their postpartum support plan?

To any family considering Yuzi as a postpartum support plan, it’s an investment your family deserves and needs. It’s educational. It's mentally and physically supportive. It’s socialization and community building. It's delicious and healthy meals (that you don’t have to think of and make yourself while exhausted). It’s time given to rest if you choose to utilize the care team’s 24/7 on-call support. It’s an opportunity to relax, bond and just “be.” Given the opportunity, take it and be sure to add on a massage (or two) at the spa!

Which services did you find most beneficial?

I found the pelvic floor therapy session with Dr. Darshana to be extremely informative. I knew right away I was going to work with her after my stay as she was very professional, knowledgeable and approachable! The resources Yuzi provides families are so helpful in potentially eliminating research time to find additional support. Of course having industry experienced staff available 24/7 to watch the baby when I was overwhelmed or wanted some time to myself to get massages was incredible as well. Speaking to the massages - they were truly the best I’ve ever had! The bodywork was so needed after all I had been through and continue to go through with breastfeeding.

How did the retreat impact your emotional wellbeing?

The retreat created such a safe and warm space for my emotional wellbeing. I felt seen, heard, valued and celebrated by the staff and all that was offered during my stay.

Thank you so much, any last thoughts you’d like to share?

I want to give a special thank you shout out to all the staff who took such good care of me and my son during our time at the retreat!

In the US, postnatal retreats aren't yet a common part of postpartum care. That's why we created Yuzi — to democratize postpartum care that every family deserves.

As more families recognize the importance of postpartum doulas, night nurses, lactation consultants, and wellness experts, we encourage you to consider adding a postnatal retreat to your care plan. In fact, we are seeing many HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs being used to fund Yuzi stays. During those crucial early days, a retreat offers the compassionate support of a professional team in a setting that provides the rest and comfort of home.