Yazmin’s story: How one mom found healing and hope through virtual postpartum care
The first time Yazmin Musa became a mom, joy quickly gave way to isolation. Postpartum depression crept in, leaving her feeling lost and overwhelmed.
But as she prepared to welcome her second baby, Yazmin made one important change—she asked for help.
Through Levanto's Postpartum Care program, she found personalized support, compassionate experts and a reminder that taking care of herself was just as important as caring for her baby.
Her story shows the difference that the right support can make in the postpartum experience—and how no mother has to go through this challenging season alone.
"I wish as women we would share more about it being something normal—that your life is really about to change, and it's normal to not feel like you," Yazmin said. "If you put the right support in place now, then it'll be much simpler if you start to struggle later on."
A tale of two postpartum care experiences
Yazmin's first pregnancy didn't go as planned. After being induced and expecting a vaginal delivery, complications led to an emergency C-section.
"There was a lot of shock that came with that," she said. "That shock led to a lot of regret and mom guilt, and all that mom guilt led to a lot of negative feelings."
Without adequate support in place, those early months spiraled. Postpartum depression set in. The joy she'd anticipated felt distant, replaced by a fog of self-doubt and struggle.
When Yazmin became pregnant with her second child, she knew things had to be different, and it started with her mindset.
"The second time around, I said I was going to try a vaginal delivery after C-section," she said. "But when complications came about and it was time to deliver my son, I knew that I just wanted a healthy baby. The delivery method didn't matter."
That shift in mindset set the tone for everything that followed, opening the door for Yazmin to find the support she needed for a more positive, joyful postpartum experience.
Building the village before the baby arrived
This time, Yazmin didn't wait to seek help. She worked with a therapist before delivery, setting up support systems and discussing potential challenges. And she discovered Levanto's Postpartum Care program.
"I just happened to find out about the program through email around the time I needed help with breastfeeding," Yazmin said.
Breastfeeding was challenging, and she had been working with an in-person lactation consultant referred by her pediatrician. As she was being advised to wean her baby from the nipple shield, she started seeking additional help.
Through Postpartum Care, her nurse advocate provided additional resources and phone support, especially when transitioning from nipple shield to bottle feeding. Yazmin appreciated having a trusted medical resource and care that was personalized just for her.
"I contacted the nurse, and we got on the phone and tried different things," she said. "But most importantly, she just listened to me."
Postpartum essentials: The power of weekly check-ins
For Yazmin, a teacher who works with visually impaired students and travels between multiple schools each day, weekly check-ins became her lifeline.
"You get so wrapped up in baby world at the newborn stage," she said. "That you kind of forget all about everything around you. Those weekly check-ins allowed me to have at least one moment during the week where I was asking myself: How am I doing? What is going on in my mind? How do I need support?"
The program provided more than just a listening ear. Yazmin received:
- Tailored weekly articles based on her postpartum stage, covering everything from breastfeeding techniques to returning to work
- Direct access to a lactation consultant who helped her troubleshoot challenges, including weaning from a nipple shield and establishing a pumping routine for work
- Practical guidance on breast milk storage, workplace pumping regulations and navigating the logistics of breastfeeding while working
- Easy access to specialized care, including pelvic floor therapy when Yazmin was experiencing pain
"I don't think I knew exactly what pelvic floor therapy really was until I went there and actually went through it," she said. "I couldn't believe I didn't do this the first time around."
The program also shared articles and resources, empowering Yazmin to understand her body and advocate for her own postpartum care.
The importance of postpartum depression self-care
Perhaps most importantly, Yazmin had already established a relationship with a therapist before her second baby arrived—something she credits with making all the difference in her postpartum depression self-care.
"When it got hard afterward and I went back to my therapist, it was a relief because she already knew me," Yazmin said. "She knew the complications that came with my pregnancy."
That's the power of proactive mental health support—addressing needs before they become crises.
"I don't think mental health support is something that's talked about enough," Yazmin said. "I don't think people realize that you should have mental health support as you're transitioning from pregnancy into postpartum."
Taking time to care for her mental well-being made all the difference for Yazmin, giving her energy and confidence to juggle the demands of work and family without facing the overwhelm that had plagued her before.
Three months after giving birth, Yazmin returned to her demanding career. Her mother cared for her son and preschool-aged daughter while her husband worked from home. It could have been overwhelming. Instead, she found her rhythm.
"I learned that I'm enough," she said. "I'm enough as a mom. I'm enough as who I am as a person. Everything I do, I do with love."
That lesson translated into clear boundaries: when she's at work, she focuses on her students. When she's home, work stays behind. And for her mental and physical health, she carved out 5 AM workout sessions—time for herself before the household wakes.
"My kids get the best version of me," she said. "My husband gets the best version of me. And we're all happy."
Yazmin's message to other moms
Yazmin's son just celebrated his first birthday—a milestone that feels miraculous compared to where she was a year after her first baby.
Now, she shares the Postpartum Care program with every expecting coworker and friend.
"I specifically texted a coworker about it because she had already left for maternity leave," she said. "I said, 'Hey, I know you're having your baby. I just want you to know this is a resource that is there, and it's free.'"
Her advice is simple but powerful: don't wait until you're drowning to reach out.
"I hope that more women can benefit from this program," she said. "I just wish more people knew you don't have to be in the trenches alone. There's help out there. You just have to be open-minded and willing to seek that help.
Building your postpartum care support system
Yazmin's story shows the transformative power of having the right resources at the right time. No mother should have to navigate the challenges of the postpartum season alone.
The Postpartum Care program offers:
- Weekly check-ins with dedicated postpartum nurses
- Lactation support and breastfeeding guidance
- Tailored educational resources delivered to your phone
- Easy access to specialized care when needed
- Mental health screening and support
