Mother Leader: Robyn Youkilis, Certified Health Coach & Author

Robyn Youkilis (She/Her) is an AADP Certified Health Coach, author, speaker, sought-after TV personality, and leading expert in holistic digestive health. She is the Founder and CEO of the global health coaching practice, Your Healthiest You. For nearly a decade, Robyn has helped clients shed both physical and emotional weight through her straightforward yet supportive coaching style. She is the author of the best selling books, Go with Your Gut and Thin From Within – The Go with Your Gut Way to Lose Weight, and has been featured by The View, The Today Show, The Cooking Channel, The Wall Street Journal, Health, Mind Body Green, Well + Good, The Chalkboard Mag and more. Robyn currently lives in New York City and Los Angeles with her husband and their daughters, Navy and Dover. She enjoys traveling, music festivals and eating dessert at fancy restaurants, one bite at a time.

How postpartum are you? 

3 months 

How have you transformed since becoming a parent?

The first time, it was an all encompassing worldly swell of love that hits you in the face, like waves in the ocean. It feels like you get this whole hug of love from the universe and beyond. With the second, it has been different.

With the little solo time you do get, what’s your favorite thing to do?

Meditate. Otherwise, scrolling on IG is an indulgence as well. That first 10 minutes to be on my phone in the morning, and checking accounts I love is a nice zone out. Feels yummy.

If you could describe your postpartum experience in one word, what would it be and why?

First time– a lot of PAIN. And also BLISS. Everything felt NEW. Second time– a lot more ANXIETY. At times, it feels like it’s eating me whole. A lot of HARD moments. Being a mom of one is a completely different experience than having two.

What’s something that caught you off guard during the first 3 months of parenthood?

The first time, the painful pooping. I would pray to God on the toilet. The second time, how hard it’s been to find a rhythm with schedules and that I felt exhausted and like there were very few energy pops. I really felt my age (41).

On a scale of 1-10, how supported did you feel as you navigated healing and learning how to take care of your baby? Why?

Technical support: 9. I told everyone what to do to support me, from filling up my water bottle to feeding me healthy food.

Emotionally: 3-4. I remember a lot of moments staring out the window and I didn’t know how to tell people what I needed or how to explain how I felt. 

I wish we turned colors as moms to show how our hormones are affecting us so people knew how to help.

If you could dream up the ideal postpartum journey, what would it look like and feel like?

I would walk into my room and everything would be set up as I needed. Breastfeeding stuff organized. Outfits that fit in the front of my closet. There and ready. 

Every single person would be clued in to say, “Lay down, what can I get you?” And they’d make a point to tell me often that I’m doing a good job. 

Processing my birth fully with my midwife in multiple sessions, not just one. A therapist or postpartum coach who I could share my hormonal thoughts about the baby with. 

A postpartum chef that would cook me food for weeks. 

A personal trainer to do ab rehabilitation with me. And a couple of sessions with a practitioner to repair DR and work on breathing.

What’s the #1 piece of advice you’d give a brand new parent?

Reward yourself for being more horizontal than vertical.