For newly postpartum birthing people, the journey through the ‘fourth trimester’ is nothing short of turbulent. Amidst a whirlwind of emotions, challenges, and the overwhelming responsibilities that accompany the care of the newborn, the concept of self care silently fades to the background. This was the experience of Stephanie Foley, visionary founder and CEO of Yuzi Care. Rather than deem this all-too-common challenge the norm, Foley structured her platform around a commitment—transforming maternal care through innovative technology.
We spoke with Stephiney about Yuzi’s holistic approach to supporting parents during what she defines as one of the most critical and transformative periods. “At Yuzi, we are incredibly proud of our approach to postpartum care, which combines the best of both worlds: personalized in-person services and cutting-edge tech-enabled support,” says Foley. “Our postpartum retreats are a novel concept in the United States, though well-established globally. As technology becomes increasingly prevalent, we leverage it to enhance, not replace, the personalized care we provide.”
As mentioned before, Foley’s personal experience largely governs her approach. As the demands of motherhood joined forces with those of the professional sphere, Foley found herself deeply dissatisfied by a lack of comprehensive support. Among her early motherhood experiences were NICU stays and postpartum depression, and she found herself, in her own words, at her wits end, wondering if she was not cut out for motherhood. Her personal knowledge spoke to her experience’s placement within the cultural fabric of motherhood in the United States. According to the MGR Center for Women’s Mental Health, about 85% of birthing people face some kind of mood disturbance during the postpartum period. “My pain was universal and a collective cry for help, for healing, for support, and for connection.”
The shared pain and need for an improved postpartum experience galvanized her.
“I knew that I had to do something, not just for my own sake, but for every mother out there working through her own unique maternal journey. This is why I founded Yuzi, a consumer wellness tech company on a mission to reimagine the maternal care experience. We aim to build the world's largest maternal care network and the most advanced care platform, revolutionizing how society cares for mothers, their families, and care professionals. Our first product, Yuzi Retreat, accompanied by an in-app experience, is tailored to new mothers and care providers, offering the support and connection that is so desperately needed.”
As technology becomes increasingly prevalent, Yuzi Care is leveraging it to enhance personalized care, rather than replace it. Among their offerings are personalized concierge services, which enables Yuzi to tailor their services to meet the unique needs of each family; tech-enabled support that allows them to provide seamless, on-demand access to support and resources; luxurious self care, with offerings of in-room foot baths and face masks; and an expert care team of doulas, midwives, and registered nurses that is available around the clock.
A typical day at the Yuzi Retreat, the Northeast premiere’s postnatal retreat centering postpartum recovery and bonding, includes the establishment and review of a personalized care plan, a nutritious breakfast, workshops and classes geared toward promoting relaxation and bonding, therapeutic treatments, a family-centered dinner, and restful sleep.
Transforming the face of postpartum care is no easy feat, and so, running Yuzi Care has presented a number of challenges, many of which Foley is taking intentional steps to address. “One of the most difficult aspects is hearing the desperation from families and parents when they ask if their insurance covers our services, and we have to inform them that it does not. This barrier to access is heart-wrenching and underscores the systemic issues within our healthcare system.”
In response to this challenge, Yuzi Care has taken a number of steps to ensure that more families can benefit from their valuable offerings. Among them is the establishment of their “Sponsor a Mom” program, which allows people and organizations to sponsor a mother in need. Through the program, they are able to cover the cost of her retreat and associated care. Additionally, Yuzi is leaning on advocacy and awareness to establish better maternal health policies and insurance coverage for postpartum care. “By raising awareness about the importance of comprehensive postpartum support, we hope to influence policy changes that will make such care more accessible and affordable in the future.”
———————–
About Stephiney Foley Stephiney Foley is the visionary Founder and CEO of Yuzi, a platform committed to transforming maternal care through innovative technology. Her own challenging journey into motherhood, including experiences with NICU stays and postpartum depression, ignited her passion to reimagine the postnatal experience for mothers across the United States. As a Chinese immigrant, Stephiney brings a unique perspective and a wealth of experience to Yuzi. Her professional background includes roles as a technical product leader at industry giants such as Amazon and Tesla, where she honed her skills is product development and technological innovation. Additionally, Stephiney served as an operations leader in the U.S. Army, with deployments in Afghanistan, where she demonstrated leadership and resilience in high-pressure environments. Stephiney leverages her diverse professional background and entrepreneurial drive to lead Yuzi’s mission. Yuzi Care delivers comprehensive support, care, and education to new mothers, aspiring to build the world’s largest and most connected maternal care network. Her strategic vision focuses on utilizing cutting-edge technology to create a seamless and supportive postnatal experience for mothers. Under Stephiney’s leadership, Yuzi is making significant strides in enhancing the postnatal journey for mothers, providing essential resources and fostering a supportive community.
Learn more about Yuzi Retreat
