BORAM CARE: MUST VISIT POSTNATAL RETREAT

Boram Care is a must visit postnatal retreat in NYC for mamas. After having several friends recommend their services to me, I knew I had to look into them myself.  Entering the third trimester, I felt my anxiety seeping in. Everything became more real and I felt a sense of panic. I didn’t feel ready and I felt lost in the whole process. Not only was I anxious about giving birth, but I was anxious about the fourth trimester. There isn’t enough talk about the postpartum recovery. If anything, I think that’s more important than what people put emphasis on such as going into labor or even setting up a nursery.

Personally, I’m a huge advocate of mental wellness and self care. When my sister gave birth last August, I remember my mom was more concerned about her health than the baby’s. And that’s not to say she didn’t care about her grandson. In the Asian culture, the mom comes first. It’s similar to the analogy of putting your mask on before helping others or filling your cup first. It was in that moment that I realized that birth is a beautiful experience, but we should not overlook the mom’s health and wellness in the process.

About Boram Care

This is where Boram Care comes in. CoFounder, Boram Nam, started Boram Care when she realized that “New York City did not offer a place for new moms and their babies to rest and recover after birth.” As a result, Boram Care was born. The mission of Boram Care is to make postnatal care essential. It’s a retreat designed to help moms build a strong postpartum foundation. Moms can choose their length of stay depending on availability. Packages for superior rooms start at $800/night, and suites start at $1,500. Stays are all-inclusive of room, 24/7 care team, meals and other amenities.

Initial Boram Care Outreach

My first contact with Boram Care was back in November 2022, when I entered my third trimester. I hopped on a call with the team who gave me an overview of this must visit postnatal retreat and answered any questions I had. After the call, I felt a sense of burden lifted because Sarah and Allison put all my worries to ease. I also had conversations with friends who completed their stay at Boram Care, so I had a good idea of what kind of care I would receive.

My birth experience wasn’t what I imagined or expected. I actually had a smooth pregnancy and loved my pregnancy journey. However, after birth, my son Hunter was in the NICU for 10 days due to some health complications. My partner and I originally planned to go straight to Boram after discharge. Due to the unforeseen circumstances, we brought Hunter home for two weeks to bond with us and to spend quality time with family. Boram was extremely accommodating with my schedule and was very understanding of my situation.  They were flexible to change my retreat dates and it so happened that they moved to their new, current location at Thompson Central Park. I truly believe everything happens for a reason and the timing all worked out.

My Stay and Experience at Boram Care

I have to admit that I had high expectations of Boram Care, but my actual experience was more than I could imagine! The retreat is definitely luxurious to say the least. Going to Boram Care was exactly what my body, mind and soul needed. I was greeted with open arms and a team that didn’t feel like a hospital, but rather family. Upon arrival, I knew that Boram Care was the best way and place to help me transition into motherhood.

I stayed at Boram Care for 7 nights but I could’ve easily spent a month.  My stay wasn’t just beneficial for me, but my partner as well. We learned a lot from the staff and felt more confident in being first time parents. We had a suite that overlooked NYC and it was spacious, clean and beautiful. My days consisted mostly of resting, eating, nursing and bonding with my son. Other perks included a postnatal massage, workshops that gave me knowledge on how to take care of my baby boy and one one on hands on educational sessions in my room.

Boram also offers daily three meals (for the mom only). Since my partner didn’t stay overnight everyday due to work, it was fine with us. We kept visitations limited and had our close family visit throughout the week. There is also a women’s lounge that is stocked with snacks. It is beautifully decorated and a great space to get a change of scenery. This was also the location of where the workshops were held.

What I took Away from Boram Care

Aside from the 24/7 nursery, which helped improve my sleep tremendously, I gained a calmer headspace and a healthier mindset. It’s difficult to explain what the retreat meant for me and did for me. During those 7 days, I  learned to shower myself with self compassion, grace and patience. I actually didn’t shed one tear that whole week! Letting go of mom guilt on the first night as the staff whisked Hunter away to the nursery stirred me into the right path for the rest of my stay. Having access to the baby monitor on my phone also eased my concerns away. Whenever I woke up to pump or use the bathroom, I would check up on him and sometimes even messaged the staff to make sure everything was OK.

After staying a week, I understand why Boram Care is a must visit postnatal retreat for mamas! I learned to slow down and be easy on myself. After all, this retreat was about me. I reminded myself that it was perfectly fine to take a nap, to take a walk or even get a massage. By carving out me time, my mental health immensely improved. This was also due to the one on one conversations I had with the care associates and the intimate, quality bonding time I had with my baby. I no longer felt stress or overwhelm, but rather a sense of peace and joy.

What makes Boram Care so special is definitely the staff and team. I loved interacting with every single one of the care associates and I got to know some of them on a personal level (shoutout to Jillian, Joy and Kiana for being so helpful!). They came to my rescue when Hunter was crying and taught me techniques on how to soothe him and  how to relieve gas. I also received one on one sessions on lactation, bottle pacing and burping, baby wearing, swaddling, and bathing. It’s one thing to watch a youtube video on these topics, but it’s another to get a personal hands on session. Truly, any questions or concerns I had, they were there for me and just one text away.

Final Thoughts

Leaving Boram Care was a bittersweet moment. I was sad because the team treated Hunter and I so well. However, I was also excited to bring my son home since I now have more experience and knowledge than I did a week ago. I felt confident in my skills as a first time mom due to all the guidance and support I received at Boram Care. The best part is that the relationship and care doesn’t end just there. Boram Care offers continued care services, so you can get support at home.

All in all, Boram Care is a must visit postnatal retreat for expecting moms or those who know someone who will be giving birth in NYC! It was the best decision I made in my postnatal recovery. Feel free to use my name during booking.

*Thank you Boram Care for hosting my son and I. We are forever grateful for your support and you have made my transition as a first time mom an unforgettable one!