About

Abby Neuens the Founder and CEO of NeuMamas with husband, son, and daughter in graphic illustration

She needed community + self-care

Abby Neuens (she/her) is a parent, partner, and professional. She has a passion for building purpose-driven brands, supporting equitable, accessible + inclusive wellness, and creating meaningful experiences.

Abby holds a BA in Communication and Media Studies from St. Norbert College and has more than a decade of branding, marketing, communications, and b2b/b2c sales experience. She has climbed the coveted corporate ladder, collected the accolades, and challenged the status quo many times on her path to a passion-filled, intentional life.

In addition, she is a graduate of NPTI and a NASM CPT, CNC + BCS who specializes in women’s wellness. Abby has coached women as a personal trainer + group fitness instructor at a luxury athletic resort, educated women through community based programs, supported women through corporate wellness initiatives, and served women through her private practice.

Combining her education, experience, and expertise she founded NeuMamas, a purpose-driven wellness brand normalizing community self-care for women. Our mission is to teach women how to take care of themselves by taking care of each other.

Our Seasons

How we take care of ourselves and each other changes with our seasons.

Preconception

Preparing body and womb

Preconception is defined by the medical community as the three month period prior to conception. This definitive period may lead many women and pregnant people to underestimate the time it actually takes to prepare their body and womb to safely carry a baby to full term, which is considered 39 weeks or nine months for most women experiencing a low risk pregnancy [1].

This is evidenced by the dramatic rise in infertility over the years. According to many reputable health organizations and professionals, male and female infertility is largely attributed to poor diet & lifestyle choices, environmental toxins, exposure to chemicals in personal care products & household cleaners, and economic & cultural disparities that make access to reproductive healthcare challenging.

Whether a pregnancy is six months or three years away, women and pregnant people can make immediate, positive changes to their lifestyle and habits. Consider such actions as, quitting smoking, removing toxic personal care products & household cleaners, or adjusting medications.

inclusive illustration representing woman with a prosthetic leg

Pregnancy

Caring for body and womb

Pregnancy is defined by the medical community as a 40 week period starting the first day of a woman’s last normal menstrual period. It’s divided into three trimesters, the first trimester is week 1 – week 12, the second trimester is week 13 – to week 28, and the third trimester is week 29 – to week 40 [2].

Each pregnancy is unique, but many commonalities exist among women and pregnant people from morning sickness, to mixed emotions, to intense food cravings. Eating nourishing whole foods, getting restful sleep, practicing safe movement, receiving affectionate touch, and so much more is needed during this sacred season.

Illustration of pregnant woman reading a book

Labor & Birth

Trusting body and womb

Labor is classified into three stages by the medical community. The first stage begins with the onset of labor and ends when the cervix is fully opened. It’s the longest stage of labor, usually lasting about 12 to 19 hours [8]. Many women and pregnant people spend the first stage of labor at home. This is a good time to rest, take a shower, spend time with family, or go for a walk. It’s important to time your contractions and keep your doctor or midwife informed about your progress. This information will allow them to advise you about when to leave for the hospital or birthing center or prepare tools such as an inflatable birthing tub for your home birth.

The second stage involves pushing and the birth of your baby. It typically lasts 20 minutes to two hours. You will push hard during contractions, and rest between contractions. Pushing is hard work, and a support person such as a doula, partner, or spouse can keep you focused, calm, and motivated. If your labor isn’t progressing at a safe pace for you and baby you may be given alternative options such as a C-section which is a surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus.

It’s important to know your birth rights and the policies & procedures of the establishment where you plan to give birth. Take a tour and ask about pain management techniques, integrative therapies, food & drink policies, water birth options, and free movement practices such as squatting, kneeling, sitting, or lying for the actual birth. It’s your birth – ask questions – a lot of questions and don’t stop until you have the answers you’re confident accepting as truth.

The third stage involves delivery of the placenta also known as the afterbirth. It’s the shortest stage, initiated by contractions that usually begin five to 30 minutes after birth. During this time you may have the chills or feel shaky which is very normal as your body and hormones recalibrate. Once your placenta is delivered labor is over. Your doctor or midwife will repair any tears or episiotomy cuts at this time. You can typically start skin-to-skin right away if you choose and any repairs can be made while you bond with your newborn.

At first glance, labor & birth seem to be short seasons, but the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual experiences during this window of time will change you forever. All labor and birth experiences are different. Some women feel empowered others feel terrified. Some women have a birth plan that is followed to the t, other pregnant people have no birth plan, but have the birth they always envisioned. It’s important to give yourself time and space to process all of your emotions and feelings of your birth. Those who experience birth trauma can seek professional support to help them understand what happened during their birth and how to heal with time.

Pregnant woman sitting on birthing ball with man kneeling next to her for support

Postpartum

Accepting body transitions

Postpartum is defined by the medical community as the ‘fourth stage of labor’ and has three distinct phases. The first phase is characterized by the 6-12 hour period post labor when rapid changes are happening within a woman’s body and the likelihood of a crisis is very real. Even though labor has ended postpartum hemorrhage, uterine inversion, amniotic fluid embolism, and eclampsia are still cause for concern [3]. The second phase is characterized by the 2-6 week period when a woman’s body continues to undergo major changes in terms of hemodynamics, genitourinary recovery, metabolism, and emotional status. The third and final phase is characterized by the 6 month period when a woman’s body is focused on restoration of muscle tone and connective tissue to the pre-pregnant state.

Each woman and pregnant person will experience a unique postpartum season depending on the nature of their birth, vaginal vs. cesarean, their feeding decisions, and their body’s many natural reactions such as recalibration of their hormones [4]. A support system is incredibly important during this vulnerable season. Postpartum depression (PPD) often caused by changing hormones, anxiety about caring for the baby, and lack of sleep is very real. Help remove the stigma associated with this silent epidemic by creating a safe space for the new parent to ask for and receive support to navigate their new role.

Illustration of black woman breasting a child and pumping breastmilk

Parenthood

Learning a new role

Parenthood isn’t typically defined by the medical community. It’s defined by the immense love a parent feels for their child, the newfound purpose they wake up to every day, and the exhaustion they ignore after sacrificing restful sleep for days, weeks, and maybe even years. It’s defined by every parent in their own words and that’s what makes parenthood truly beautiful – personal narratives that tell the collective story of this selfless, gratifying, and challenging role.

A parent is someone who nurtures you, who makes you feel like your deepest, truest self, who cares about your fears, and encourages your dreams. A parent is someone who loves you no matter what, who listens when no one else will, who has unmatched patience in all situations, who shares wisdom and teaches you from a place of love, and who intuitively knows exactly what you need when you need it. A parent is a selfless, loving human being who overcomes sacrifice, hardship, judgement, bias, and more to ensure that their child’s, health, education, character, personality, intellect, and emotional stability are protected, respected, and supported at all costs.

There are many types of parents – birth, foster, adoptive, surrogate, single, co-parent, LGBTQIA+, parents with disabilities, mental illnesses, or a history of addiction or incarceration. Parents are remarkable and many if not all are so focused on caring for everyone around them especially their children that they tend to forget to take care of themselves. Our society forces parents to manage competing priorities from family needs to career expectations, and societal obligations. Help change the narrative surrounding parenthood, so that future generations have a more inclusive and supported experience.

Menopause

Appreciating body changes

Menopause is defined by the medical community as the end of your menstrual cycles and reproductive years [9]. Menopause is typically diagnosed after you have gone 12 months without a period. Most women and people with a menstrual cycle will go through menopause in their late 40s leading into their early 50s. Menopause is a biological process and one of the many natural transitions a woman will experience during her lifetime. Perimenopause is the time (could start as early as your mid-30s) leading up to menopause and common symptoms during this life season include irregular periods, mood changes, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and changes in sexual function.

Preventative health care such as getting a mammogram, a colonoscopy, and regular pelvic exams is important during this season. Participating in a regular movement practice, getting restful sleep, managing stress, and eating nourishing foods will help alleviate some of the common symptoms of menopause.

Illustration of two women offering comfort to one another

Loss

Coping with loss and grief

Miscarriage is defined by the medical community as a pregnancy that ends on its own within the first 20 weeks of gestation [6]. Miscarriage occurs for many reasons such as hormonal problems, infections, maternal health problems, or lifestyle choices. The risk of miscarriage can be reduced by moving regularly, eating nutritious whole foods, getting restful sleep, managing stress, and making positive lifestyle choices. Evidence based information aside, miscarriage is a traumatic often isolating experience for many women and pregnant people. The societal obligation to ‘feel better’ immediately makes many women feel that the trauma they’re experiencing is not valid. Support women during this season by asking about their story and listening without judgement.

Abortion is defined by the medical community as the termination of pregnancy [7]. Nearly one in four women will experience an abortion during their lifetime whether for medical or financial reasons, trauma from previous birth experience(s), pregnancy due to rape or incest, or another reason. Society places a social stigma on abortions often silencing pregnant people from sharing their stories out of shame, fear, guilt, or confusion. Create space for them to feel heard, seen, and supported as a human being.

The loss of a child through an illness, disease, sickness, accident, an act of violence, a natural or manmade disaster, or another cause is a significant, traumatic experience for parents. They will feel the loss of their child, the loss of the time they planned to spend with their child, and the loss of themselves. Every parent will grieve in their own way and in their own time. Support them during this unimaginable time by giving them space to feel the magnitude of their emotions, process what has happened, and figure out what’s next. Grieving parents can seek support from a bereaved parent’s group, a spiritual community, health professionals, or family & friends.

Grief is the emotional reaction to loss and can cause an overwhelming mix of emotions ranging from fear, anger, confusion, guilt, shock, and profound sadness. Grief can disrupt a person’s physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. Support someone who is grieving by preparing wholesome meals, listening intently, offering physical comfort in the form of a tight embrace, or sitting in silence while they processes their story.

Black woman and white woman embracing one another

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