At 5-months postpartum I was really in need of some rest and relaxation. I was dreaming about a "postpartum spa" where I could take my baby if I needed to do so, and where he would be not only safe but welcomed. But because I live in the Midwest, nothing like that really came to mind so I worked with AI to create some fantasy environments (see below). And in my research on the topic, I came across the concept of "postpartum retreats" and have hence not been able to stop thinking about it. These "retreats" are located in bigger U.S. cities and around the globe.
According to the Gottman Institute’s study, “Bringing Home Baby,” new parents take on approximately 300 new tasks per day once a newborn is home so it's no wonder new moms are exhausted and looking for new and dynamic solutions. And while postpartum care facilities might be newer, posh addition for the U.S. audience, postpartum care in other countries is vastly superior.
For example, South Korea has been doing this good work for centuries. There this practice is known as "sanhujori," and it emphasizes the physical and emotional recovery of new mothers; it is a traditional practice deeply rooted in their culture. Many other countries prioritize postpartum care as well. According to this February 2025 article which compared how much global countries respect this type of care, South Korea comes in third, Norway first, and Finland second.
AI EXPLORATION
For my own needs, I wanted to utilize AI to create three design concepts (see below) to address this "new mom" deficit. I love using AI to work through design problems as it's instant feedback. First, I imagined a residential space that was dedicated to the new mama's healing journey. A true luxury! Think "she shed" meets glam room or meditation space. Designed with soft colors and diffused light, touches of green plants, and a mixer of materials for depth and warmth.
Second, I imagined a space where women could go get spa services in the months after birth, like nails or massage, a little self-care moment in a demanding time. It would need to be a public spa (think Korean day spa) that incorporates childcare into the experience.
Third, I wanted to envision a space that was intended as a community, meet-up space for postpartum women. Think Soho House meets med spa. Why? Because sharing information about this new life is caring and isolation in this time period is a real hurdle. Designed again with soft colors and light, modern-organic furnishings, and plants.
THE REAL REAL
I am by far not the first person to be sharing the love on this topic. As recently as January 2025 Vogue did an article on the topic; you can read that comprehensive overview HERE. A similar recap and roundup of REAL postpartum retreats in the USA can be found a 2024 article by the Modern Mom entitled, "Are Postpartum Retreats Worth It" (see her graphic below). The author listed out the 2024 resources she found at the time and since then there have been a few updates like one facility moving from D.C. to Chicago under new ownership. (Yay! Happy for those of us in the Midwest to now have something closer to access!!) Overall, all of these options look premium and amazingly supportive! And I wish I could have taken advantage of these luxury experiences with the birth of my son.
The two facilities below stood out to me personally as top picks!
BORAM (New York, USA)
Boram explains that while the postpartum retreat is a relatively "new concept" for most Americans they are quite the norm in other places. The company aims to support mama and baby in those initial days of life. Giving the exhausted mama the benefit of rest and reflection. The best thing is that I am seeing these facilities back their missions up with research! For example, according to the Journal of Perinatal Medicine "the women’s post-delivery health is the most critical factor influencing the well-being of their children," and this is the driving motivation behind Boram. So what this shows us, is that while this all seems like a true luxury it is really a necessity that we as Americans are just now grasping hold of and popularizing.
AHMA & CO (California, USA)
Ahma & Co. explains in their marketing below and on their website one of the primary research-based reasons behind the critical need for such institutions. Their research cites a lack of thorough education immediately post birth by the U.S. healthcare system. So if this is true, there is definitely a need for more of these types of businesses in the USA.
Ahma & Co. was also designed putting qualitative research into practice. (Loving that they again are talking about the RESEARCH!) Per their About page "from conception to birth, Ahma & Co has been thoughtfully developed, with feedback from real mothers in forms of personal interviews, focus groups, and surveys, along with an advisory board of incredible women who understand the challenges all too well." This means they are a company basing their services around relevant needs and I cannot see how they could not be successful taking that approach in business.
The aesthetic of the Ahama & Co brand as well as the design of the facility appears very calming. Through the use of soft colors, plush materials, and refined furnishings they truly created a safe haven for moms and babies. It seems like the most luxurious place to experience such a life altering event. Overall, all of these U.S.-based postpartum care facilities are a dream come true from the outside view! And while I would very much still like my postpartum spa day (and I'm sure it's still coming!) at least I can rest assured knowing that other mamas out there are getting a 5-star treatment for their birth and post-birth experience.