Love letter from our founder, Julia Grace Kim
Sanhu House is my heartfelt offering to women and birthing people. As a new mother, I envisioned a space that nourishes the body, mind, and soul, encouraging women to invest in their radical rest and healing from the very first day of motherhood.
The journey through pregnancy and birth is transformative yet often traumatic, leaving many new mothers physically and emotionally drained. Without proper support, the risks of complications—such as prolonged bleeding, infections, chronic pain, and postpartum depression—are high. Comprehensive postpartum care in those tender early days is not just beneficial; it's essential.
Drawing from my experiences growing up between California and Korea, where my aunt ran a renowned sanhujoriwan, I founded Sanhu House to fill a critical gap in U.S. healthcare. Combining 24/7 on-premise expertise, coordinated medical care, and traditional Korean postpartum practices, Sanhu House provides a sanctuary where both mothers and newborns are deeply cared for, against the serene backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.
FAQs
Where is Sanhu House located?
Sanhu House is located at the Oceana Santa Monica in the heart of Los Angeles, California.
When should I stay at Sanhu House?
Sanhu House provides postpartum care from delivery to 12 weeks after delivery. We recommend booking your stay directly from the hospital or at least within the first 8 weeks after delivery in keeping with the tradition of Sanhujori. Our goal is to provide support and recovery for when it is needed most, so contact our team at hey@sanhuhouse.com to customize a timeline that works best for you.
What should I pack for my stay?
Sanhu House provides many of the essential postpartum items for you and your baby, but we encourage you to bring any personal belongings that help you feel more at ease. A list of recommended items for you to pack for the stay will be sent to you after you book.
Where does my partner stay?
Partners are encouraged to stay with mother and baby, promoting bonding and shared learning. Let us know how we can customize your needs for both parents during your consultation.
Are families and friends allowed to visit?
We understand family visits are essential when welcoming a new baby. For older siblings such as toddlers, we are happy to have a rollaway bed in room to promote bonding and comfort. While we want the whole family to be comfortable during this time, please note our mission is to provide the penultimate rest and recovery for mom, which does not include any babysitting or programming for older siblings at this time.
Will you be providing round the clock care?
Yes! Our Care Team will be available to you 24/7 for in-person support or questions via our WhatsApp channel. Additionally, our nursery is open 24 hours with care specialists ready to support infant sleep schedules.
Will I have lactation support?
Yes, our Care Team can offer lactation support anytime during your stay, and our lactation counselors come in for scheduled sessions booked based on your stay package.
Can meals be modified to accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions?
Yes, during your booking process we note your dietary needs and work with our postpartum food partner to ensure those needs are met. We will collect this information during our intake consultation with you!
Can adopting or surrogate mothers stay at Sanhu House?
Absolutely - whatever your way of coming into parenthood is, we would love to help you on your journey to rest and recovery.
What happens if I deliver my baby before or after my original due date?
At Sanhu House, we understand babies come when they are ready! We will do our best to work with you and accommodate your needs, based on availability.
Our Team
Julia Grace Kim
Julia Grace Kim is the CEO and founder of Sanhu House. Julia grew up in a family of nurses and hospitality professionals. She started her career in not-for-profits and her mission in life is to make life-improving medical services more accessible. Prior to starting Sanhu House in 2022, Julia worked at Open Society Foundations, one of the largest grant making institutions in the world, advancing justice, education, and public health around the globe. Julia holds an MSc from Columbia University and a BS from Northeastern University.
Avery Pollick
Avery Pollick is the Chief Operating Officer at Sanhu House. She oversees business strategy, finance, operations, and guest services. Prior to joining the Sanhu House team, Avery spent the first decade of her career as a tech executive for companies like Google and Nike. But in 2014, a challenging postpartum journey disrupted her path, shifting her focus to transforming the U.S. birthing experience. Now a successful serial entrepreneur, Sanhu House is her third startup specializing in women's health.
Anja Akhile
Anja Akhile is the Maternal Care Specialist at Sanhu House focusing on quality of care and excellence for our guests at Sanhu House. As a mother of 3, Doula, and Resident Midwife, Anja brings deep expertise in the birthing space to our community - from outlining our care standards, to assessing guest needs, and working with our healthcare partners.She has a B.A from the University of San Francisco and also brings 7 years of retail management experience working with companies such as lululemon and Nike, which she translates into valuable direction for our on-site teams.
Elise Peterson
Elise Peterson, the Head of Marketing at Sanhu House, brings over a decade of experience as a strategic brand marketing professional. With a proven track record of innovative campaigns, she excels in executional leadership across consumer marketing, focusing on experiential activations, multi-platform storytelling, and connecting brands with consumers. Previously the Senior Brand Director at ByHeart, Elise has consulted for numerous parent-focused brands, amplifying the stories of working mothers through her entrepreneurial ventures.
Kerry Nakayama
Kerry Nakayama is the Head of Operations at Sanhu House. She focuses on financial budgets, data needs, and oversees operational activities of the company. She holds her Masters in Data Science from SMU and a BS in Mathematics and Studio Art from Tulane University. She brings her expertise from the corporate world of Analytics and Data Science from companies including Apple, AT&T, and Scopely.
Miri Kwon (Advisor)
Miri Kwon is an operational executive with proven experience in building and scaling businesses across multiple industries. Prior to co-founding Sanhu House in 2022, Miri was SVP & Head of Operations at Jetty, a leading real-estate tech startup based in NY. She’s also held various leadership roles at Accenture Consulting, Venmo, Bank of America, and SoFi. Miri has an MBA from University of Michigan and a BA from Ewha University in Korea.
Jay Desai (Advisor)
Jay Desai is the Founder and CEO of PatientPing, a care coordination platform. Jay has deep experience in healthcare as a policymaker, investor, executive, and most recently as an entrepreneur who built and sold PatientPing for >$550m over 7.5 years. Jay advises and invests in dozens of healthcare companies.
Jeong Ok Kwon (Advisor)
Jeong Ok Kwon is the Senior Advisor of Sanhu House. She started her career as an ICU nurse at Korea’s Hanyang University Hospital but realized how much she loved working with newborns and mothers and transitioned to working at a postpartum center in Korea as an RN. Her career quickly advanced and she became the Head Medical Director of the Prenatal Center, where she oversees the infant and mother care program, training, as well as management of all nursing staff.