Meet Dr. Nicole Kumi

We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Nicole Kumi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Nicole, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I didn’t find my purpose in a moment of clarity. I uncovered it slowly, in the quiet aftermath of one of the most disorienting times of my life: the postpartum period.

When I became a mother, I was stunned by how much I disappeared in the process. Everyone asked about the baby, but no one asked about me, not my mental health, not my identity, not how I was adjusting. I struggled silently with postpartum depression and anxiety, and like so many women, I thought it was just me. I had to push through, smile more, and be grateful.

But somewhere deep in the fog, I realized I wasn’t broken, I was becoming. I didn’t need to suffer in silence, I needed support. Once I began to heal, I saw clearly: mothers are profoundly under-supported, misunderstood, and unseen, especially in the early months after giving birth.

That realization became a fire I couldn’t put out. I became certified in perinatal mental health, pursued deeper training, and eventually founded The Whole Mom to provide the education, community, and emotional support I wished I had. My purpose was never to “fix” moms, it was to see them, support them, and walk beside them as they rediscover themselves.

I found my purpose by walking through my unraveling and choosing to rebuild in a way that creates space for other women to do the same.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

At The Whole Mom, we support mothers through one of the most transformative and often isolating seasons of their lives: the postpartum period. Our mission is to care for the whole woman, not just the part of her that became a mother.

We offer virtual coaching programs, educational resources, and supportive community spaces that help moms navigate the emotional, mental, and identity shifts that come after birth. From our Fourth Trimester Program, which includes group coaching and real-time mental health support, to our Butterfly Boxes, which are filled with self-care items and affirmations, everything we do is rooted in the belief that when we care for the mom, we strengthen the entire family.

What excites me most is the transformation I get to witness. I’ve seen women go from feeling invisible and overwhelmed to feeling seen, supported, and confident in who they’re becoming. That kind of shift doesn’t just help a mother, it ripples out into her relationships, her parenting, and her healing.

Right now, I’m especially thrilled about two new initiatives:

We’re planning a Wellness Retreat for Perinatal Providers — a space to pour back into the professionals who care for moms, and create opportunities for collaboration, rest, and shared resources.

I’m also expanding our Butterfly Boxes through partnerships with OBs and pediatricians, so moms receive them at their 6-week postpartum checkup, a moment when most feel forgotten and care is terminated. These boxes serve as a reminder that they are still worthy of care.

At its heart, The Whole Mom is about permitting mothers to matter — to explore who they are, not just who they’ve become. We’re rewriting the postpartum experience with compassion, community, and honest conversation.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three qualities have been foundational in my journey: resilience, empathy, and the ability to educate and advocate with clarity.

Resilience – The path to building The Whole Mom wasn’t linear. It came from my struggles with postpartum mental health and the realization that the system fails mothers at one of their most vulnerable points. There were moments of self-doubt, burnout, and heartbreak, but resilience allowed me to keep going, to pivot when needed, and to stay anchored to the mission even when the path felt unclear.

Empathy – Everything I do is rooted in understanding what it feels like to not be okay and to not know where to turn. That emotional truth is what allows me to connect with moms, providers, and partners authentically. Empathy builds trust, and in this work, trust is everything.

Educational Advocacy – I learned early that it’s not enough to care. You have to communicate clearly and boldly. Whether I’m speaking to moms, OBs, or mental health professionals, I’ve had to translate lived experience into action, research into understanding, and emotion into programs that change lives.

Advice for those starting their journey?

Build from your lived experience, but don’t stop there. Take the time to get trained, certified, and grounded in the work.
Your story gives you purpose, but your skills give you power.

Don’t wait to feel “ready.” Just start, and let your audience grow with you. People don’t need perfect, they need real.

Protect your heart and your mission. Surround yourself with mentors, peer support, and systems that nurture you, too.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. Just be willing to show up, learn, and hold space for the version of you that’s still becoming. That’s where the magic lives.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

At The Whole Mom, I’m deeply passionate about building a collaborative ecosystem of care. One where moms aren’t handed a brochure and sent on their way, but instead are wrapped in consistent, connected support.

That’s why I’m looking to partner with professionals and organizations who touch a mother’s life before, during, or after birth. This includes:

OB-GYNs and midwives are the first to see warning signs, but often don’t have time for extended follow-up

Pediatricians who interact with moms frequently in the early postpartum period

Birth workers and doulas who are already holding emotional space and want to offer continued mental health support

Pelvic floor therapists and chiropractors who notice physical signs of distress that may be tied to emotional overwhelm

Therapists and social workers who want tools for earlier intervention and ongoing coaching

Hospitals, clinics, and nonprofits that serve vulnerable or under-resourced communities

Corporate wellness teams looking to better support employees returning to work after maternity leave

These partners not only refer to The Whole Mom, they also become part of a community of providers working together to change maternal outcomes. I’m also excited to offer in-service trainings, collaboration on events, and even co-branded offerings like Butterfly Boxes or postpartum care kits.

We can’t keep siloing maternal care. When we support the whole mom, everyone benefits, and that starts with building bridges between the people already doing the work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thewholemom.com
• Instagram: nicole_kumi
• Linkedin: Nicole Kumi
• Other: Free Mini Course on PP Mental Health:https://fourthtrimesterblueprint.com/
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