Support Isn’t a Luxury
In this edition of The Tea, we’re sharing a Tea Time conversation with Ria Savoy, TeaCup member and founder of Little Angel Sleep Solutions. As a certified doula, sleep consultant, and newborn care specialist, Ria offers a deeply grounded perspective on postpartum support. Guided by Stephanie Pellish, this feature is a reminder that support isn’t a luxury—it’s essential.
Why new parents deserve real care, not “figure it out” energy
Becoming a parent is one of the most meaningful transitions a person can experience.
And it can also be one of the most lonely.
Even when you’re surrounded by love, the day-to-day reality can feel like: “Is this normal?” “Am I doing this right?” “Why does this feel so hard?”
That’s why this Tea Time conversation with Ria Savoy landed so deeply.
Ria is a TeaCup Entrepreneurs member and the founder behind Little Angel Sleep Solutions. She’s a certified doula, certified sleep consultant, and trained newborn care specialist—and what she offers families goes far beyond schedules and swaddles.
Her work is about calm, confidence, and care… especially when the early weeks feel like survival mode.
Why Support Matters in the Fourth Trimester
Ria shares something so many moms feel but rarely say out loud: Support can look like a luxury… until you’re in it.
Because when you’re home alone with a newborn, exhausted, learning everything for the first time, the “little” things don’t feel little. They feel enormous.
Support fills the gaps no one prepares you for:
the emotional weight of being the default parent
the anxiety that comes when sleep disappears
the pressure to “look fine” when you’re not
the overwhelming responsibility of keeping a tiny human alive
Ria put it simply: sometimes families don’t even need someone to do things. They just need someone to be there.
To normalize what’s happening.
To ask how mom is doing.
To include dad’s feelings too.
To hold the calm when the whole house is crying.
What True Support Looks Like
Ria’s newborn care work starts with the basics (because basics are not basic when you’re new).
She teaches parents how to:
hold and transfer a baby confidently
change diapers and handle bath time safely
set up safe spaces (including the “put the baby on the floor” tip every new parent should know)
And then she goes deeper—because so much of this isn’t about technique. It’s about nervous systems.
Ria shared one of the biggest reasons her support changes everything: she is the calm in the storm.
Sometimes she walks in and the baby stops crying.
Not because she’s magic, but because she’s grounded.
And babies can feel that.
Her advice is refreshingly practical:
If baby is fed + dry + safe, it’s okay to let them fuss for a minute
Put the baby down for two minutes if you’re overwhelmed
Go take deep breaths, reset, and come back calmer
Your energy matters more than your perfection
This is the kind of support most parents don’t realize they’re allowed to ask for.
Why Doulas and Sleep Support Aren’t “Extra”
Ria shared something powerful: many parents reach out once they’ve already been white-knuckling it for weeks.
And when she arrives, what she’s really doing is helping them rebuild trust in themselves.
Yes, she helps babies sleep.
Yes, she supports feeding.
Yes, she teaches routines.
But what she’s really giving families is:
reassurance that they aren’t doing it wrong
language for what they’re feeling
tools that work after she leaves
education on what to watch for—and how to advocate with pediatricians
a reminder that if something feels off, it deserves attention
Because support doesn’t just change the baby’s experience.
It changes the parent’s experience of becoming a parent.
And that impacts everything.
The Thread That Connects It All
One of the most beautiful parts of Ria’s approach is that she doesn’t show up as “just one thing.”
She explained it perfectly: her roles all intertwine because babies don’t live in categories.
Sleep impacts feeding.
Feeding impacts bonding.
Bonding impacts emotional regulation.
And the entire family system is connected.
That’s why families who hire her often say they feel like they’re getting the best of all three worlds…because she sees the whole picture.
And at the heart of it all is her mission: to help parents enjoy the early days… because you don’t get them back.
Support Is How We Thrive
The truth is, things work better when more than one mind is involved. When lived experience meets fresh eyes. When someone can say, “This is normal,” or “Here’s another way,” or simply, “You’re doing okay.”
That same principle is what fuels TeaCup Entrepreneurs.
Just as new parents feel steadier when they’re supported by someone who’s been there before, women in business grow faster and more sustainably when they’re surrounded by others who understand the season they’re in. Different perspectives don’t complicate things — they strengthen them. Shared wisdom reduces isolation. Community creates confidence.
Whether it’s caring for a newborn or building a business, the greater good is served when support is normalized instead of reserved. When we stop treating help as a luxury and start seeing it for what it really is: a foundation.
Because when women are supported — at home, in motherhood, and in leadership — everyone rises.
If you’re craving encouragement, validation, and real stories from women building businesses that actually support people… you’re in the right place.
Join TeaCup Entrepreneurs and get community, strategy, and stories for women entrepreneurs—straight to your inbox
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