Beyond survival: how Suun Health is reimagining maternal care

Overview

Suun Health, an Estonian-German maternal care startup, is working to extend support beyond delivery and across the postpartum period. Co-founder and CMO Carina Vantsi argues the healthcare sector should stop normalising suffering during pregnancy, birth, and recovery. The company combines physical studios, healthcare professionals, personalised education, and AI-powered guidance, and says it has supported more than 50,000 families.

Key Takeaways

Suun Health combines physical studios, healthcare professionals, personalised education, and AI-powered guidance.
The company says it has supported more than 50,000 families.
It was founded in 2022 by paediatric nurse Anna Strubel with entrepreneurs Carina and Keiro Vantsi.
Vantsi argues maternity systems often focus on survival rather than wellbeing, leaving women without needed support.
Research suggests up to one in five women may experience a traumatic birth.

Stats & Key Facts

#Suun Health has supported more than 50,000 families.
#The company was founded in 2022.
#European maternal mortality fell by around 80 percent from the 1950s to the early 2000s.
#It fell by a further roughly 50 percent from the early 2000s to 2023.
#Up to one in five women may experience a traumatic birth.

Rethinking Maternal Care

Vantsi challenges how the sector frames the birth experience.

›She urges the sector to stop normalising suffering during pregnancy, birth, and after birth.
›She notes people often say everyone is doing well when a baby is born.
›She argues birth is not the end of the journey.

Vantsi says many women are recovering from an enormous physical and emotional experience, reflecting a growing recognition that maternal care should extend far beyond delivery.

Why Reducing Mortality Isn't Enough

Progress on survival has not closed gaps in wellbeing.

›European maternal mortality fell by around 80 percent from the 1950s to the early 2000s.
›It fell by a further roughly 50 percent from the early 2000s to 2023.
›Pregnancy, birth, and the first year after birth remain among the most neglected and least supported periods.

The article argues modern maternity systems have made significant progress reducing mortality but often remain focused on survival rather than wellbeing, leaving many women without the support they need.

The Hidden Toll of Birth

Many women carry lasting effects that go unacknowledged.

›Research suggests up to one in five women may experience a traumatic birth.
›Awareness is increasing around obstetric violence.
›These experiences can leave lasting physical and psychological scars.

Obstetric violence refers to inhumane, disrespectful, or negligent treatment of women during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period. Vantsi argues this support should be treated as essential rather than optional.

How Suun Health Works

The startup blends digital and in-person support.

›It provides digital and in-person support throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
›Its model combines physical studios, healthcare professionals, personalised education, and AI-powered guidance.
›It says it has supported more than 50,000 families.

By combining studios staffed with professionals, tailored education, and AI guidance, Suun aims to cover the gaps the article says traditional maternity care leaves open.

The Founding Story

Personal experience and clinical insight shaped the company.

›Suun Health was founded in 2022 by paediatric nurse Anna Strubel.
›She co-founded it with entrepreneurs Carina and Keiro Vantsi.
›It grew out of honest conversations about maternal care differences across countries.

Through her work, Strubel saw first-hand the realities of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care, as well as the gaps in support available to women and families.

A Missed Diagnosis

Vantsi's own experience underscored the stakes.

›During her first pregnancy she had undiagnosed gestational diabetes.
›Her baby was born early and very large, with a week in intensive care due to complications.
›In her second pregnancy she insisted on early testing and the condition was managed with insulin.

Vantsi recalled raising concerns about drinking a huge amount of water, but said it was not taken seriously the first time. With proper management in the second pregnancy, the outcome was completely different and the baby was born healthy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Suun Health do?

It provides digital and in-person support for women throughout pregnancy and postpartum, combining physical studios, healthcare professionals, personalised education, and AI-powered guidance.

How many families has Suun supported?

The company says it has supported more than 50,000 families.

When and by whom was Suun founded?

It was founded in 2022 by paediatric nurse Anna Strubel alongside entrepreneurs Carina and Keiro Vantsi.

Why does Suun say reducing maternal mortality is not enough?

Although European maternal mortality has fallen sharply since the 1950s, the article argues systems remain focused on survival rather than wellbeing, leaving pregnancy, birth, and the first postpartum year neglected.

What inspired the company?

It grew from conversations between the founders about maternal care differences across countries and from Carina Vantsi's experience with undiagnosed gestational diabetes that led to complications in her first pregnancy.

Suun Health is building a model that treats postpartum support as essential, aiming to address gaps that survival-focused maternity systems leave behind.