The birth of your baby may signal the end of your pregnancy, but it’s only the beginning of so much more to come. As you begin your postpartum journey, it is normal to feel like you need a little extra emotional support and care. Your postpartum period is a time of tremendous change, responsibility, and healing. The care you receive after giving birth is just as important as your prenatal care.
We celebrate pregnancy and focus so much on the arrival of the new baby, but what about after the baby is here? We need to start taking care of new moms the way we take care of newborns because these babies don’t come with an instruction manual.
You may feel that you are stretched thin after your birth, not just physically but emotionally as well. It can be a challenge to think about self-care, let alone make time for it. Whether it’s your first child or your fifth, a “village” of support can offer the resources you need.
The Owner/Founder of Golden Gate Doula Associates, Jennifer Darwin started The Village Postnatal Retreat Center after she saw the need for more support in the Postpartum Period. Many of the clients at Golden Gate Doulas would tell her that they just didn't feel ready to go home the day after they gave birth at the hospital. She created the Retreat Center as a way to offer these new families a more enjoyable postpartum period.
Those first few weeks with your baby should be a time you look back on with joyful memories. Getting the support you need for your family is key to creating that positive experience.
Bringing home a new baby can be overwhelming, but we want to help!
It’s because you have to take care of yourself before you can care for others.
When flight attendants give their pre-flight safety instructions, one of the things they tell you is, be sure to place the oxygen mask over your own face first before assisting anyone else, even your own children.
Why is that?
- Janice
First-time parent
" I was so overwhelmed at the hospital's postpartum ward (the constant interruptions, the firehose of information, and generally feeling like I had been hit by a bus after 30 hours of labor). Arriving to the Village was a haven compared to that experience. It was exactly what I needed in my overwhelmed state. ... I learned so much from the staff and felt so much more confident and more psychologically ready to be a parent when I returned home."
- Sanya,
First-time parent
I cannot express enough how absolutely transformative my experience at The Village Postnatal Retreat in San Francisco was. As first-time parents and after a tough pregnancy, we were incredibly nervous about the transition to parenthood. This retreat was exactly what I needed. From the moment I arrived, I was enveloped in an atmosphere of care and compassion that truly felt like a warm embrace during one of life's most vulnerable times
- Julie,
First-time parent
"As a first-time parent, I did not feel ready to go home after being discharged from the hospital. My time at the retreat center allowed me the chance to truly rest by being able to send our baby to the nursery. Had I gone home directly from the hospital, I would've felt physically exhausted and emotionally nervous. Instead, by the time we left, I felt excited and confident about going home and parenting my baby.
I didn't know what I needed postpartum, but the staff at the retreat center are experts in this life stage and they've thoughtfully designed an experience that meets those needs before you even know to ask for them.
- Audrey,
Third-time parent
We had an amazing stay at the Village, after the birth of our third. I ended up having a c-section, and this was far and away the best money we spent related to our kiddo. My healing went infinitely faster because of the rest and care that we all got at the Village. We highly recommend!
- Alex and Mai
First-time parents
I was initially hesitant to make a reservation at the village, but it was worth every cent we paid and more. Staying there for a week was the best early decision we made as parents. It gave us the space we needed to plan out the next few months, we were able to learn a ton from the classes and we were able to get some rest after the tough early weeks with our little guy.
...
If you're on the fence, just make the reservation. It was absolutely critical for us as new parents.
- Bo
First-time parent
It gave my wife and me the space to rest, heal, and figure out this whole parenting thing with actual support (and genuinely helpful training).
When we needed a break to eat, a night to sleep, or just a moment to decompress, the staff stepped in with open arms — no judgment, just warmth and kindness.
We’ve recommended The Village to every expecting parent we know, and we truly believe it made a huge difference in our transition into this new chapter. It’s a really special place, and we’ll always be grateful for the time we had there.
What they're saying
