Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Lally, RN, MSN, PHN.
Hi Grace, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born to be a nurse. I was delivering my dolls’ babies by the age of three, and I was keeping a journal with my pregnant patients and their ailments at the age of nine. My mom is a retired nurse, and ancient practice around the world dictates that women who help babies be born pass knowledge down from mother to daughter. Nursing and the care of pregnant and parenting folks is a lifelong career that chose me.
I attended UCLA School of Nursing for my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and began my work as a young nurse at Ronald Reagan UCLA in the high-risk pregnancy and post-delivery units. I loved this work but felt troubled by the complications and challenges my patients faced. I kept asking myself, “What can I do as a nurse to prevent poor pregnancy outcomes?”. The answer to that was Public Health Nursing.
With clarity on my next step, I went on to study for my Master of Science in Nursing at UT Austin with a maternal child public health focus. This specialized study led me to find Nurse-Family Partnership. I went on to work for Nurse-Family Partnership for almost eight years supporting first-time low-income families through personal nurse visits. I found I loved being in the community – sitting with families in their homes, places of work, the park and using my nursing skills to support their pregnancy and parenting.
In 2018, I gave birth to my son Lewis and experienced what my hundreds of patients up to that point had been through. My world was turned upside down; it didn’t matter how much education and nursing experience I had, I felt lost and alone as a first-time mom. I quickly realized ALL families can benefit from personal nurse support – no matter how many resources they have. From then on, I ensured that my friends and family had access to my support as a specially trained nurse – while still working full-time to support high-risk families.
I gave birth to my daughter Della Mae in November of 2020 and experienced severe postpartum depression. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever been through and solidified my commitment to providing high-quality services to families.
Recently I made the decision to go full-time in my Concierge Nurse business – Graceful Pregnancy. My education and experience contribute to my focus on high-risk pregnancy, perinatal mental health, infant feeding support, racial birth justice, and support of LGBTQI+ pregnant/parenting community. I am honored to offer in-home services to pregnant and post-birth families throughout Los Angeles and Orange County
The mission of my services is to allow families to feel cared for, advocated for, and supported by a healthcare provider to promote health and reduce stress in the pregnancy and newborn phase. The pregnant/postpartum people in our community deserve support, and I am honored to provide it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest challenge has been getting the word out that I am here for families. Folks I talk to who have already had children say, “I wish I had your support when I was pregnant!”. I do not want to be the best-kept secret, I want pregnant folks and newly post-birth folks to get the support they deserve.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I enrolled in El Camino City College’s Small Business Development program in January of 2023 to develop my business plan and was assigned my incredible mentor, Albion Samo. This worked well for me and many of the LA and OC city colleges have no-cost Small Business Development programs.
The birth community in both Los Angeles and Orange County have been warm and welcoming and there is a truly supportive attitude towards each other.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.gracefulpregnancy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cyv4USnx32Z/
