Meet Rachel Ellis, RN: ICU Nurse and Postpartum Care Provider
Rachel Ellis, RN, has been working in the critical care setting for the past five years. However, on the side, she provides postpartum care to new moms. Here’s her story.
Why Did Rachel Decide to Start Her Postpartum Side Gig?
Rachel’s decision to start a side gig in postpartum care started after the birth of her first child in 2009. She realized that she didn’t have the language for the postpartum experience and that providers offered little-to-no education or care about the postpartum period. She wanted to have a wonderful postpartum experience for herself and wanted everyone to know they could have the same experience. In 2022, Rachel became a certified postpartum care practitioner through Innate Traditions and created a business called Nourished Beginnings.
What Need Did Rachel See in the Community, and Who Uses Her Services?
Rachel noticed a lack of postpartum care education and care in modern-day America, leading to negative postpartum experiences for many women. Her services are typically used by women who have already been through the postpartum process and are looking for outside help outside their partners. Most of her clients live a holistic lifestyle and typically experience more natural ways of birthing, such as unmedicated or home birth. Rachel’s services are not covered by insurance, but she is connected to a large doula agency that can match families looking to utilize health insurance or working on a sliding scale based on income.
Approximately How Many Patients Does Rachel Serve?
Rachel typically takes on 1-2 clients a month and works with a new mother for the first month after their baby is born. Although it can be challenging to balance her full-time job and side gig as a postpartum care provider, Rachel is choosing to go per diem as a bedside nurse shortly to allow room for her business to blossom.
Did Rachel Have Previous Entrepreneurial Experience?
As someone with no previous entrepreneurial experience, Rachel had to navigate website design, marketing, and social media. However, beyond the program she took through Innate Traditions, it didn’t take much financially to start her business. It has been more of a time commitment than anything else.
What Does Rachel Enjoy Most About Her Side Gig?
Rachel enjoys the freedom to create hours that work for her lifestyle and family and teaching the education series “Innate Traditions Planning for the fourth trimester” with clients and their partners/friends/families. She loves that this education series brings the piece of the community into the postpartum time before a woman even arrives there.
What Are Some of the Challenges?
Rachel faces challenges such as finding time to bulk cook for clients throughout the week with a toddler and infant at her side and learning certain things on the go since she is new to running her own business. Luckily, she has a great community that she’s a part of where she can ask questions when more support is needed.
What Are the Most Significant Rewards of Having a Side Gig?
Rachel finds her work gratifying because she witnesses new mothers come out of their postpartum cocoons feeling rejuvenated and wanting to do it all over again. It truly doesn’t feel like “work” at all.
What Would Rachel Say to Someone Considering Starting a Side Gig in Postpartum Care?
Rachel recommends remembering your boundaries and centering the new mother while informing everyone in the new mother’s postpartum space what your role is. Education is essential beforehand as this will help all parties recognize what you will be doing during that time. She advises taking time to prioritize your needs and remembering that you can’t pour from an empty cup as you serve others.