A few years ago, we entered our prime birthing years and started to notice something unsettling: colleagues, family members and friends, exhausted and unrecovered from giving birth, returned to work and struggled to maintain their previous momentum while feeling afraid to slow down in concerns they would be perceived as poor performers. We knew the transition into motherhood would be hard, but the reality that they shared so honestly and vulnerably opened our eyes to the fact that while motherhood is celebrated and painted to be beautiful and magical, it is far less acknowledged and supported for what it actually is.
In those conversations, there was a statement that we heard over and over again: “Everyone talks about the pregnancy and the birth, but what about what happens after?” Women revealed that while all of their preparations had been focused on pregnancy care and birthing, what they found to be the most challenging was postpartum– a time when they’re still healing, but the attention has already shifted to the baby. We knew that mothers deserve better, and decided to combine our expertise as family nurse practitioner and brand manager to introduce the cherished and successful model of Korean postpartum care to the U.S.
“Everyone talks about the pregnancy and the birth, but what about what happens after?”
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. Ahma, meaning “mother” in various languages, also carries a secret: it’s formed with one syllable each from “Ahgi” and “Umma,” Korean words for baby and mother. Acknowledging our roots in Korean postpartum care, Ahma represents our first and foremost commitment to providing holistic care for the mother, along with her baby. Co, short for Community, represents our work to surround mother and baby with an educated and supportive village; it’s also an acknowledgement of the robust community of present and future moms who have built Ahma & Co with us from the ground up. Together, Ahma & Co represents our vision to support the mother and baby through every chapter, enveloped by a community that is powered by empathy and knowledge.
Many believe that it's difficult to comprehend the challenges of motherhood without experiencing it firsthand. We envision a world in which one doesn’t have to be a mother to understand and acknowledge the realities that she faces, or to support her. All that is required is empathy, and until all mothers can step into any leading role without feeling as if they’re making sacrifices in loving their children or in loving themselves, our team will continue to do our part in our corner of the Universe.
If you’re reading this, thank you for taking the first step in getting to know Ahma & Co. If you’re a mother, I hope you know that we’ve built this for you, because you deserve it. We hope that you’re here to stay, to support and witness our work to build a better future for mothers for many years and generations to come.
Welcome to the new standard in postpartum care.
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