Pampering postpartum moms shouldn’t be a luxury—how can we make it accessible for all?

For centuries and across cultures, the postpartum period—often called the “fourth trimester”—has been treated with reverence and care. From Korea’s sanhujoriwon practices to Mexico’s la cuarentena and Nigeria’s extended postpartum rest, these traditions are rooted in a simple yet powerful idea: new mothers need support to heal, bond, and transition into parenthood.

But in modern Western culture, where the focus often shifts to the baby as soon as they’re born, new moms are too often left to fend for themselves. The reality for many American mothers is deeply challenging: minimal postpartum medical care, a lack of paid parental leave, and little social recognition of the physical and emotional toll childbirth takes. At a time when families need more support than ever, American society leaves them particularly vulnerable.

This is why postpartum retreats like Boram in New York City and Sanu in Northern Virginia feel both revolutionary and deeply wise. These luxury facilities bring ancient wisdom into the modern world, offering exhausted new moms the care and attention they desperately need but rarely receive. Yet, there’s a catch: a stay at these retreats can cost around of $800 a night, putting them far out of reach for most families.

Related: Newborns need care, but so do new mamas

The return of postpartum care

On the Mother.ly podcast, I interviewed Boram Nam, the founder of NYC’s Boram Postnatal Retreat. Boram, whose business model is inspired by Korean postpartum practices, spoke passionately about the need to re-center mothers during the fourth trimester. “In Korea, it’s common knowledge that a healthy mother is key to a healthy baby,” she explained. “That’s why care for the mom isn’t seen as a luxury—it’s seen as essential.”

In South Korea, 80% of mothers check into a postpartum retreat, often with costs subsidized by the government. These retreats provide healing meals, rest, and classes on newborn care, creating a supportive environment that prioritizes maternal recovery.

The concept has only recently made its way to the United States, with retreats like Sanu, Boram, and Fourth Trimester opening in high-end hotels in urban areas. These retreats offer services like 24/7 infant care, lactation support, postpartum massages, and even counseling. Moms leave rested, recharged, and better prepared to care for their babies.

A tale of two realities

On one hand, it’s encouraging to see businesses embracing the wisdom of postpartum traditions and advocating for better care for new moms. For those who can afford it, these retreats provide life-changing support, as evidenced by moms like Charlotte Campbell, who described her week at Sanu as the “best decision [she] ever made.”

On the other hand, the hefty price tag keeps postpartum wellness out of reach for too many. In a country with the highest maternal mortality rate among industrialized nations, why is postpartum care still considered a luxury?

For many moms, the idea of spending $5,000 or more for postpartum care is laughably out of reach. And yet, the need for this kind of care is universal. Without support, many new mothers face isolation, exhaustion, anxiety, and even postpartum depression—challenges that disproportionately affect low-income and marginalized communities.

Making postpartum care accessible

Advocates like Boram Nam and Julia Kim, founder of Sanu, are working to bridge this gap. Kim hopes to see insurance companies cover postpartum retreat stays, just as South Korea’s government subsidizes sanhujoriwon. Sanu has already taken steps to allow Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to cover certain services.

But more needs to be done. Policy changes, such as federally funded postpartum care programs, could ensure that every new mom—not just the wealthy—has access to these vital services. Expanding Medicaid to cover postpartum care for a full year after birth, as some states have begun to do, is another critical step.

In the meantime, innovative models could help make postpartum care more accessible. For instance, community-based postpartum support programs, sliding-scale pricing, or partnerships with employers to offer retreats as a benefit could make these services available to more families.

Ancient wisdom, modern challenges

The return of postpartum retreats to the United States is a reminder of something many cultures have long understood: when we care for mothers, we care for society as a whole. New businesses like Boram and Sanu are helping to reintroduce this wisdom, but their work is just the beginning.

As we celebrate these modern-day retreats, we must also ask: how can we make this level of care accessible to all mothers? Because healing, rest, and support after childbirth shouldn’t be a luxury—they should be seen as investments in the wellbeing of our country’s most important asset: our families.

Sources:

1. Biden-Harris Administration Expands Medicaid Postpartum Coverage in Oklahoma. 2023. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Biden-Harris Administration Announces the Expansion of Medicaid Postpartum Coverage in Oklahoma; 30 States and D.C. Now Offer a Full Year of Coverage After Pregnancy.
2. Welcome to Fourth Trimester Postnatal Retreat. Fourth Retreat. Welcome to Fourth Trimester Postnatal Retreat.
3. Sleek Hotel Offers Postpartum Pampering and Sleep for New Moms. Washington Post. Inside a sleek hotel, new moms find postpartum pampering and sleep.
4. The effect of Omugwo on postpartum wellbeing in Nigerian mothers. Missing Perspectives. The effect of Omugwo on postpartum wellbeing in Nigerian mothers.
5. Embracing the Mexican cuarentena after I gave birth. 2024. Calo News. Column: Embracing the Mexican cuarentena after I gave birth.
6. What is a postnatal retreat? Boram. What is a postnatal retreat?