The Postpartum Coach
Gabrielle McDade
Supporting pregnant and postpartum parents, because we were never meant to do this alone.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
"We had an awesome experience with Gabrielle. She was very calm and grounded with me, she coached me and was able to communicate with me. She was also amazing with my husband. Gabrielle was attentive, insightful, informative, and enthusiastic. She knew what she was talking about and she didn't push any agendas. "
- Lexi F.
Hi, I'm Gabrielle
I am a Midwife, Mother, and Coach.
My philosophy is simple - I do not have my own agenda for your birth or postpartum. My only goal is for you to feel fully informed and empowered during this chapter of your life.
My personal journey into motherhood was a humbling one. I found myself in an almost constant state of feeling stretched beyond my capacity and yet at the same time feeling like I was never doing enough. My incredible midwife held and supported me through these challenging times. But after our final visit at eight weeks postpartum, I felt lost and utterly alone. My journey with my midwife was now complete, but my journey as a mother was just beginning. I felt like I could have continued working with my midwife throughout the first year of my son’s life. I needed so much more support than I had in place, and didn’t know where to turn.
It was out of these dark and lonely moments that a fire ignited in me around providing more comprehensive care beyond the fourth trimester. My work was largely inspired by my own postpartum journey. I had an amazing team of midwives, an empowered birth, and a rock solid postpartum plan - and I still struggled deeply with postpartum depression and anxiety. I was so well resourced and still felt completely alone.
The first 5 months of my son’s life were some of the darkest and most challenging days of my life. I had a supportive partner, a postpartum doula, and tons of family support - but there was something missing. I wanted to talk to my therapist but it was so hard to get out of the house and I wasn’t sure she would be able to show up for me in the ways that I needed, because she was not a mother herself. It felt important that the person that I was leaning into for support could conceptually understand what I was struggling with.
The truth is, that my ideal client was me three years ago.
I spent the first few months of my son’s life stuck in the swampy waters of doubt and insecurity. What I needed more than anything was a kind voice reminding me to be gentle with myself. What I’ve learned through my journey of motherhood is that we need to care for ourselves, so that we can show up for the work of motherhood with a full cup and an open heart.
Motherhood is a gritty and life-changing path. It is the most beautiful and challenging work of a woman’s life. I am here to tell you that you do not have to do it alone. Now, more than ever, we need our village of support. It is my greatest passion to be a lifeline to mamas who are in the thick of it.
Here’s a quick snapshot of who could benefit from working with me.
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Mamas who are navigating challenges in their relationships. This includes your relationship to your partner, your work, your child, and most importantly yourself.
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Mamas who are looking for a resource besides Google and their pediatrician for the millions of questions that continue to come up during motherhood.
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Mamas who need nurturing around the intense transformation demanded by new motherhood.
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Mamas who are struggling with feeding their babies.
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Mamas who want to explore what nourishes them and create more balance in their lives.
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Mamas who need more connection with other mothers on the same journey.
I have supported birthing families over the last 13 years. I became a midwife after three years of academic study with the National College of Midwifery alongside clinical apprenticeship. Throughout my career, I have found myself awed by the resiliency, grace, and wisdom of birthing families.
I am dedicated to serving all women, birthing people, queer, trans, and non-gender conforming individuals.