Motherhood Identity Series with Stephiney Foley, co-founder of Yuzi Care

This mother is driven to support other moms during the challenging postpartum period. Learn more about her story & mission.

Stephiney Foley has experienced firsthand how complex and life-changing the postpartum journey can be. After serving a decade in the military with a focus on lean operations and deployments to war zones, she earned an MBA from Dartmouth and pivoted to the tech world, leading product teams in fintech and health startups, as well as at Tesla, Amazon, and IDEO. 

But after becoming a mom, she was inspired to shift gears completely and become an entrepreneur. In 2023, alongside her partner and a fellow mom friend from business school, she co-founded Yuzi Care, a wellness brand dedicated to reimagining postpartum care for mothers, families and caregivers. 

For Stephiney, Yuzi’s mission is deeply personal. As a mother to Shane, 5, and Felix, 3, she launched the company while navigating her own experience with postpartum depression, which amplified her passion for supporting mothers during this vulnerable time.

Her vision for Yuzi centers on prioritizing maternal well-being and providing essential support in the postpartum period, helping parents feel cared for, empowered, and connected to critical resources. 

Today, as part of our Motherhood Identity Series, Stephiney shares how her journey inspired her commitment to reshaping postpartum care for families everywhere.

Why do you think postpartum retreats like Yuzi Care are so important for mothers

Postpartum retreats like Yuzi Care are critical for mothers because they provide the dedicated support and rest that are often missing in traditional postpartum care in the U.S. The postpartum period is not just a time for a mother to recover physically but also emotionally and mentally.

Too often, new mothers are left feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and under-supported while juggling their healing and the demands of newborn care. Our retreats offer a sanctuary—a space specifically designed for mothers to recover, connect, and be nurtured, while also receiving professional, personalized care. This combination of holistic, around-the-clock support is essential for ensuring both the physical and mental well-being of new mothers.

Was there a specific moment during your NICU stays and experience with postpartum depression that you wanted to start Yuzi Care? 

Yes, there was a pivotal moment during my postpartum journey that ignited my desire to create Yuzi Care. It happened during a late-night drive from Seattle to Tacoma, trying to get my 5-month-old and 2.5-year-old to fall asleep while working 100-hour weeks at Amazon. 

Exhausted, overwhelmed, and grappling with postpartum depression, I questioned whether I was cut out for motherhood. It wasn’t until a family intervention that I realized I had PMAD (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders). My experience with postpartum depression was deeply personal and difficult.

I didn’t realize I had PMAD until my family and friends staged an intervention. Like many mothers, I was silently suffering—feeling isolated, exhausted, and overwhelmed. 

That moment of realization became a turning point for me. I knew that no other mother should have to endure the loneliness and overwhelm I felt, and it pushed me to create a space like Yuzi Care, where mothers could find the support they so desperately need.

My advice to new mothers is to listen to yourself and don’t hesitate to ask for help. Postpartum depression is far more common than most people realize, and it’s okay to admit that you need support. Whether it’s reaching out to family, seeking professional care, or even connecting with communities like those we foster at Yuzi Care, know that you’re not alone, and help is available.

Can you talk about your journey into motherhood and how that shaped what eventually became Yuzi Care? 

My journey into motherhood was filled with challenges—from NICU stays with my children to navigating postpartum depression. The experience of trying to balance motherhood, a demanding career at Amazon, and my own recovery opened my eyes to how much support is missing for mothers in the U.S.

During those difficult times, I realized how little attention is paid to maternal mental health and physical recovery. Yuzi Care was born out of my own pain and a desire to create a place where mothers can feel cared for, understood, and supported through every step of the postpartum journey.

Did any of your experiences at Amazon, Tesla or serving as a U.S. Army operations leader influence your vision for Yuzi Care?

Starting Yuzi is the perfect amalgamation of everything I’ve ever done. My experiences at Amazon, Tesla and in the U.S. Army as an operations leader have all played a pivotal role in shaping my vision for Yuzi. In the military, I honed my leadership skills and learned how to operate in high-pressure environments while focusing on efficiency and lean operations—skills that are critical in building and scaling a company. 

At Amazon and Tesla, I gained invaluable experience in innovation, customer obsession, and leveraging technology to create seamless, impactful solutions. These roles taught me the importance of operational excellence and thinking big, which I’ve carried over into Yuzi.

Combining these experiences, I realized I could apply the same principles of innovation, efficiency, and customer-centricity to reimagine postpartum care and create a scalable solution that truly addresses the needs of mothers and families.

How does Yuzi Care’s combination of cutting-edge technology with holistic postnatal support set them apart from other postpartum retreats? 

Yuzi Care’s unique blend of cutting-edge technology and holistic care makes it stand out in the world of postpartum retreats. While many postpartum care solutions focus solely on one aspect of recovery—be it physical, emotional, or social—Yuzi integrates all these elements. Our app connects mothers with professional guidance 24/7, offering seamless access to experts, resources, and a supportive community.

Meanwhile, our in-person retreats focus on luxurious, hands-on care with experts like doulas, midwives, and lactation consultants on staff. This dual approach ensures that mothers receive personalized, comprehensive care both during their stay and beyond, empowering them to recover and thrive on their own terms.

If you attended a postpartum retreat after you gave birth, how do you think it would have benefitted you?

I believe attending a postpartum retreat after giving birth would have provided me with the care, confidence, and connection that are so essential during the postpartum period. Each pregnancy is different, and after experiencing postpartum depression, I realize how valuable that kind of dedicated support would have been.

Having access to mental health check-ins, like the ones we offer to all of our guests at Yuzi, would have greatly benefited me by ensuring my emotional well-being was prioritized alongside physical recovery. The ability to be surrounded by a community of supportive professionals and other mothers would have provided me with a sense of connection and reassurance during such a vulnerable time.

How do you balance being a mom and your goals for Yuzi Care?

Balancing being a mom and my goals for Yuzi Care feels a lot like being the “chief mom” of the company. Just like in motherhood, it requires a great deal of organization, prioritization, and making sure I give attention where it's needed—without playing favorites. I approach both roles with the mindset that each day brings new challenges, and it’s important to remain flexible while staying focused on the bigger picture. Whether I’m taking care of my family or growing Yuzi, the key is ensuring that everything and everyone gets the care and attention they deserve.

How do you see postpartum/maternal care evolving in the U.S.? What changes do you want to see? 

I see postpartum and maternal care evolving to become more comprehensive and accessible. Right now, the U.S. lags behind other countries when it comes to supporting mothers after childbirth, and I believe this needs to change. I want to see postpartum care as a standard part of maternal health, not an afterthought.

This includes mental health support, physical recovery care, and community building. My hope is that postpartum retreats like Yuzi will become as common and accessible as prenatal care, and that we will push for policy changes that mandate better postpartum support through insurance coverage and societal recognition of a mother’s needs.

What’s next for you and Yuzi Care? 

Our vision for Yuzi Care is to expand both our physical retreats and digital offerings to reach more mothers across the country. We are also working on launching our nonprofit arm, Yuzi For All, which will provide scholarships for families who cannot afford postpartum care.

Additionally, we’re advocating for policy changes to make postpartum care more accessible to all mothers, not just those with financial means. We are committed to revolutionizing how maternal care is approached in the U.S., and our next steps involve scaling our mission to ensure that every mother, regardless of her situation, can receive the support she deserves.