Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Kate Cleveland.
Hi Dr. Cleveland, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My passion for nurturing families and mothers specifically began with the birth of my son in March 2019. I spent months preparing extensively for pregnancy and for labor but was completely overwhelmed, under-supported and unprepared for recovery and the challenges I would face with my healing and with breastfeeding/chestfeeding.
I labored in a hospital for 21 hours in what my OB called at my six weeks check-up, “text book labor”. Nothing about my Pitocin induced labor, failed and forced epidural or my painful recovery felt “text book” to me as I had always envisioned something more empowering. I ended up with significant perineum and pelvic floor muscle tearing leading to significant urinary incontinence, severe pain with sitting and a debilitating postpartum uterine infection. I now know all of these things contributed to my two year long battle with postpartum anxiety, depression and insomnia. My son woke every 30 minutes to breastfeed/chestfeed for months. None of my baby sleep techniques prepared me for the sheer exhaustion that followed. As a physical therapist with over ten years experience, I am grateful I knew to advocate for myself to any provider that would listen and insist on pelvic floor physical therapy despite being encouraged to “just do kegels”. Without any local family support and a partner working long hours as a first responder, I felt isolated, depleted and overwhelmed those first months while wondering if I’d ever sleep or feel like myself again.
Desperate for answers, I researched night after night and created my modern day village of support to include a pelvic health physical therapist who helped me heal my pelvic floor completely, a pediatric dentist to address my son’s oral restrictions causing a poor latch, a lactation consultant, and a psychologist/psychiatrist for my mental health. Knowing what I know now, I wish my village would have included a postpartum doula/night nanny as I desperately needed someone to check on and care for me. As a new mother in our very independent and isolated culture, I felt I was “supposed” to be able to care for myself and for my baby alone. I now know support is not a luxury, but a necessity for mothers well being.
My challenging postpartum experience ignited my passion to support families during this sacred season. My son’s birth led to a pivot in my career and to the birth of my private pelvic health practice, Enso Mama. My goal is to equip women with education, resources and non-biased support to allow for the most gentle and joyful transition to mother possible whether for the first or fourth time. My life’s work is to center the mother. I believe if mothers are well, families are well and ultimately communities are well.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The life of a solo entrepreneur can be an emotional rollercoaster with lots of highs and lots of lows. I started my practice three years ago, but was not able to transition fully and quit my corporate healthcare job until I enrolled in Dr. Julie Grangers career and mindset coaching program Fall of 2021. I learned the only thing preventing me from pursuing my purpose and passion full time was my own self limiting mindset and the untrue stories I was telling myself. Once I made the decision to leave corporate healthcare, I went full time with a mobile PT practice. I learned quickly, thanks to Houston traffic, I needed a brick in mortar. I looked for a clinic space for months, but nothing felt right. I decided to create a clinic space in my house until the perfect location became available. I only saw patients in my home clinic for one month before I had the opportunity to share a space with Dr. Lauren Collins at Abound Chiropractic. Partnering with Lauren has been a dream as we both share a love for holistically caring for families.
We’ve been impressed with Enso Mama, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I provide compassionate, personalized, evidenced-based, trauma informed support for families as they transition into parenthood with physical therapy for both mother and baby all with a postpartum doula lens. I support mothers during their pregnancies, help them prepare for birth and support them in their recovery. I believe it is never too early or too late to prioritize your healing.
My practice is inclusive and LGBTQ+ affirming. I treat the whole person by giving them the space and support to feel seen and deeply cared for.
I received a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia in 2011 and a postpartum doula certification from Doula Training International in 2019. I am a Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist and a Pelvic floor therapist with post doctoral APTA training.
My goal is to improve access to physical therapy for common issues such as pain, urine or gas leaking, pelvic organ prolapse, GI issues, diastasis recti (abdominal separation) healing and pelvic floor healing. Many of my clients have suffered with painful sex with inability to orgasm or leak urine every time they run without realizing treatment is available.
What were you like growing up?
I have always been drawn to nurturing and supporting families. Some of my earliest memories were caring for my younger sister and babysitting for neighborhood families every weekend.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ensomama.org
- Instagram: ensomama
Image Credits:
Drea Gonzalez Eugene Drake
