For Hana McConville, one or two days of rest after childbirth was not enough. In her culture, it is not normal for mothers and fathers to leave the hospital this quickly after birth. That is why she decided to start Alma Care.

McConville told CTV News Toronto: "I think there is a stigma because there is a gap in postpartum care." "You leave the hospital within 24 - if you're lucky after 48 hours - after childbirth, and you don’t really get any guidance or help, so you’re not only sent home with a newborn, but you’re also sent home with a lack of information and knowledge about how to take care of yourself...

She said the common practice in Eastern cultures is "sitting for a month," where new mothers prioritize resting for between 26 and 100 days, including specialized care procedures such as avoiding cold fluids, emphasizing parent-child bonding, and providing postnatal health education.

The roots of this practice go back to ancient Chinese medical theory dating back thousands of years, with some beliefs documented as early as the 6th century. Part of its philosophy, according to the Pacific College of Health and Science, relies on the concept of balance presented in Yin and Yang, in the sense of internal and external temperatures.

Dr. Lily Yeh Gyles wrote: "Avoiding cold is a concept deeply rooted in traditional Chinese medicine philosophy, which says our bodies have hot/Yang and cold/Yin natures that must be balanced for good health." "Childbirth puts the body in a 'cold' state, causing the body's energy to move slowly. In typical vaginal birth, a woman pushes and opens her body, meridians, and pores for 12-14 hours.

McConville sat the month twice after giving birth to each of her children. She says this experience made her feel completely comfortable, prepared, and well supported.

She said, "It’s not a cure-all, but I think just getting good rest, feeling supported, and not feeling overwhelmingly exhausted, I think that really changed how I felt." "I felt relief."

Alma Care currently operates out of the Kimpton Hotel in Toronto, where clients can choose to stay for one night up to a month. The rooms are equipped with hospital-grade products, such as breastfeeding pillows, beds, and postpartum supplies, all designed with the baby in mind. According to its website, it is the first postpartum resort in Canada.

At the hotel, parents can choose to attend workshops in the parent lounge. There is also an on-site daycare for children, allowing parents the option to have their child stay with the care team if they choose or whenever they choose.

It also offers home care with the same services.

In an interview with CTV News, Jasmine Texon, a midwife in Ontario, said rest is an important part of the postpartum period.

Texon said, "In many cultures around the world, what we see is those cultures where midwives are part of birth care standards and postpartum care is part of the idea of what constitutes a healthy new period for parents and a new home, the period is a time of rest and support." "And this helps in raising children."

"Also, there are emotional and psychological health elements such as mental health and physical as well in the short term but possibly also in the long term - if you have healthy parents and children who are well-attached, there is also a good state for that, it has long-term community benefits as well.

Since the opening, McConville says there has been a lot of excitement around it.

She said, "I think there is a shift happening," "people see a different way to experience those products... and there is a lot of excitement around it, which has been really great to see."