Jackie Crown
Founder of Fourthouse Wellness
Mother of Buckley (3.5 years) and Lennon (20 months)
Jackie Crown is a Doctor of Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, and a certified Postnatal Nutrition Coach, uplifting women to take charge of their postnatal recovery to enhance maternal wellness and vitality. She supports each client on her path to recovery from pregnancy, childbirth and into motherhood, considering all components of her mental, physical & emotional wellbeing. She is the founder of Fourthouse Wellness.
Born and raised in Mill Valley, I eagerly returned home to the Bay Area in 2010. It was during my final Volleyball season at Colgate University where I met my now husband Michael, who was a collegiate athlete himself and could lovingly relate to the privilege and intensity of representing our school as Division I athletes. We decided to venture west for warmer weather and to be closer to my family, initially landing in San Francisco and later planting roots in Marin, where we now live with our two young children, Buckley (3.5) and Lennon (20 months).
I started my professional journey in marketing and partnerships, working for incredible brands like LVMH, AKQA and Twitter. I ultimately sought a deeper calling with my work, enrolling in the Health Coaching program with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and eventually going back to school to receive my doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from a pre-eminent college in San Francisco. This program gave me a new perspective about the human body and the true meaning of wellness, viewing each and every symptom as clues as to someone's health. Ultimately it was the experience of having my first born and struggling with my own postpartum recovery that led me to my highest calling - helping women plan for and recover from the intense physiological process of having a baby. Enter FOURTHOUSE, a wellness brand aimed at elevating the standard of perinatal care, supporting women throughout their journey into motherhood, dismantling stigmas around perinatal mental health and the idea of an immediate "bounce back", and helping women assemble their care team of specialized providers to assist in their recovery from pregnancy and childbirth.
Did you always know you wanted to be a mother?
Becoming a mother was always something I wanted for my future, and as I saw my older siblings (nuclear and in-laws) build their families, my love and adoration for babies and young children grew and grew.
Being an aunt was one of my proudest roles in life, and of course now being a mother of my own children, I feel an even more profound sense of responsibility and strength in the deeply challenging and rewarding work of raising babies.
How has motherhood informed or changed your current career path?
Becoming a mother is what inspired the idea for FOURTHOUSE, seeing a gaping hole in the field of perinatal care and applying my clinical experience to help rewrite that narrative. My goal as a working mother is to achieve a sense of balance that feels good, always prioritizing the daily rituals that bring me joy - preschool drop-off, dinner with the kids, weekend family time, walks with friends, to name a few. In this way I am incredibly grateful to have created a career for myself that gives me tremendous flexibility in doing work I love all while simultaneously supporting my family.
Tell us something that is bringing you joy as a mother right now.
My two kids are growing into their bond as siblings - playing on their own, the older taking care of his younger sister, reading books together at bedtime, making up games together, etc. These are the moments I find myself watching in awe and with a huge smile on my face, ever grateful for the opportunity to give my children a sibling with whom they will experience life's ups and downs.
As a Montessori parent, anything you have implemented in your home or parenting to instill independence for your children?
What speaks to me about Montessori is really this idea of independence, setting our children up to care for themselves and participate in the family and in the household. We encourage them to dress themselves, fill their waters, wash their hands, clear their plates to the best of their abilities, and while we certainly have more spills and crazy outfits than we might have if doing it all for them, the look of pride on their faces when they complete a task themselves is truly priceless.
Any words on trying to juggle parenthood, relationships, and being a business owner?Two things!
One: There's no one way to do it. Everyone will prioritize things differently, so don't look around for the perfect formula for achieving balance. Instead I create space to check in with myself and make sure where I'm spending my time is both fulfilling and productive. When I get out of balance, so too does our whole family.
Two: Ask for help. We are fortunate to have childcare at home and family nearby to support our needs for date nights, nights out with friends, work functions, etc. We are better parents when we can prioritize our own lives in addition to our family life.
Anything you have learned since starting your own business?
There are so many wonderful people out there, eager to network and help solve problems. Networking with former colleagues, fellow clinicians and other entrepreneurs has helped me feel as though I'm still working in community with others, even while working in private practice and building a brand on my own. Support is out there, go find it and open doors!
Your business is caring for mother's post-partum, any self-care you are practicing right now?Meditation and daily exercise (even a 20 minute walk or a quick at home pilates video) are important for me, as is eating food that fuels me and makes me feel my best. My work is really centered on the idea of functional nutrition to support physical and emotional healing, so I'm always experimenting with food and supplements myself.
Current must-haves in your household at this moment:
This is a random assortment of the things I love, but these items bring me joy, inspire me and or help me find peace even on the craziest days!
Oak Essentials cleansing balm - doubles as a cleanser and an oil for facial massage, smells dreamy!
Kintu coffee mug for early school drop off morning lattes
the book that inspired FOURTHOUSE and a must-read for all new mothers: The Postnatal Depletion cure
Favorite local activities to do with your children currently?
Marin Country Mart mornings
Blackie's Pasture beach and bike path to park
Fox + Kit for rainy day indoor play.