What's your name and role at MAMA?

Hi, my name is Sarah. I am MAMA’s Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and I offer Birth Debrief sessions.

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

I have a Bachelor in Psychology and I am a trained Midwife, and I worked as midwife in Amsterdam, before my husband and I emigrated to Australia in 2015. Here I did my additional training to become a Lactation Consultant and Birth Debrief counsellor.

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

I walked into MAMA 9 years ago to inquire about the Australian Midwifery system and to get to know other midwives and like minded people, and they have welcomed me in their family with open arms. I have never left since and feel so privileged to be part of this wonderful community.

What are your favourite things about your role?

What I love most about my role is to support new families in the rollercoaster of (preparing for) postpartum. To give them knowledge, skills, hope and support, to achieve their goals and even more important to feel heard, seen and supported in this intense time. My approach is holistic and personalized, and my nature is gentle and non-judgmental.

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

When I’m not here, I am with my beautiful family; my husband and 3 boys (Hugo, Jonas and Sep), and other things I love doing are catching up with my friends, going into nature, reading books and playing soccer.

What's your name and role at MAMA? 

Hi, my name is Megan, and I am one of MAMA’s Lactation Consultants (IBCLC’s). 

What inspired you to work at MAMA? 

To be given an opportunity to work with families surrounded by the team at MAMA, alongside incredibly caring, professional, and respectful healthcare providers is a dream job that I am so very grateful for. 

What are you passionate about at MAMA? 

MAMA offers so many supportive services, it is a one stop shop in the childbearing space from pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and the postnatal period as families make the transition of becoming parents either for the first time or happily again. Everyone is welcomed with open arms; care is personalised, evidence-based, inclusive and extremely supportive.  

What are your favourite things about your role? 

I really enjoy observing a parent’s self belief, confidence and love for their baby grow as they navigate and work through any breastfeeding challenges or concerns that may arise. I have been told I am a compassionate, caring and respectful practitioner, and being able to support a family as they achieve their personal feeding goals is so special to witness. 

Where would we find you outside of MAMA? 

I love spending time with my husband Marty and adult kids (Harry, Zoe and Charlie), as well as family and friends at our beach shack on the Mornington Peninsula. My favourite things to do are walking in nature; reading a feel good book; bingeing a great tv series; and as often as I can - dancing (like no-one is watching!). 

What's your name and role at MAMA? 

I’m Meg and I’m a group facilitator and womens circle facilitator at MAMA.

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

As a past client of MAMA, i have a strong connection with the space and the team, and have been fortunate enough to receive care and support from a range of the beautiful offerings at MAMA since my daughter’s birth. I’ve been working in the perinatal space for 20 years, so it’s a dream come true to join the team and contribute my skills and expertise in a place I love to be!

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

The holistic approach to perinatal care. The fact it’s a one-stop shop. The long standing history of the service and the deep connections with local community that spring from this. 

What are your favourite things about your role?

It’s a privilege to hold space for women, to offer women safe and supportive ways to connect, and to build community in the place I call home. 

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

At home, pottering in the garden with my partner and daughter, or at work, either offering birth debriefing, counselling, Aware Parenting support and supervision via my business; or delivering training and education at a busy maternity hospital. 

What's your name and role at MAMA?

I'm Anna, a women's health physiotherapist & counsellor

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

My transition into parenthood led me to a nurturing workspace where my colleagues and clients are working to find balance physically, emotionally and mentally. I feel well placed to provide genuine, empathic and evidence-based care to all my clients.

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

It provides a community that is not easy to find in today's world.

What are your favourite things about your role?

Learning from my patients. Treatment is not one-size-fits-all so I always take the time to learn where my patients are at to be able to provide individualised care.

It provides a community that is not easy to find in today's world.

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

If at home, baking, always baking! Otherwise, my family and I enjoy exploring locally and abroad. We enjoy a roadtrip as much as a holiday overseas and like to centre our adventures around different cities, scouting out nature and enjoying a good feed.

I began practising yoga as an aid for reducing stress and anxiety. Through these explorations, I felt compelled to delve deeper; to find more of the equilibrated state of being I experienced, by inviting yogic practices and teachings into my daily life.

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

Yoga has greatly supported me throughout my pregnancies and into motherhood, and this, along with my experience as a teacher, energises a particular passion for holding space and educating women on the benefits of yoga, empowering them to trust their bodies and innate capabilities.

What are your favourite things about your role?

MAMA holds a special place in my heart as I chose to have the support and guidance of the MAMA team to deliver my second baby at home. The team are incredibly warm. The power of a supportive community is at the core of my beliefs, to encourage collaboration, co-learning and the building of strong interpersonal connections in serving both individual and collective wellbeing.

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

When I’m not working, you can find me outdoors with my two boys and husband - we like mini getaways and natural environments to explore together. I also enjoy baking nutritious treats and involving my kids.

What's your name and role at MAMA?

Bonnie Maplestone, Osteopath and Prenatal yoga teacher. B.H.SC/B.APP.SC (Osteopath). I have an Advanced Diploma in Yoga Teaching and have taught for over 20 years. I also work as a doula. I am a mother of two and have furthered my education in osteopathic treatment of babies and internal pelvic release and pelvic health.

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

I was teaching yoga and had the highest qualification I could get in Melbourne. I wanted to study something complementary to my yoga work, so I chose Osteopathy. Osteopathy is a five-year full-time commitment. Before doing Osteopathy, I enrolled in a Doula course to see if I could commit to five years of study as a mature student in the yoga business. I finished the doula course and completed the osteopathy qualifications in five years while I had my two children. It was a wild ride in which I had fertility issues, including a miscarriage. Pregnancy issues, including morning sickness and Pelvic instability, then I gave birth to a 4.1kg baby at 42-week gestation with no drugs. Postpartum, I had a uterine infection and an autoimmune condition. My second baby was born at 35 weeks via cesarian with a 2.5-week stay in the special care nursery for jaundice and feeding issues. At the end of those five years, with two healthy children, I had a moment where I realized I was a qualified osteopath, Doula, and Yoga teacher. I have gone through a wide range of personal experiences. This meant I was in a unique position to combine all my learning with my understanding and lived experience to help parents find some of the answers I couldn't find until after I had my babies.

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

I am very passionate about supporting parents. Becoming a parent is hard, and we don't acknowledge it enough. When parents find parenting hard, they think they have failed. Parenthood is a different set of skills you have never had to use before. You must also get to know a tiny human and everything that makes that baby them. Hard is normal. Hard work is not bad; it is rewarding, and just because you're finding it hard doesn't mean you're doing a lousy job. You're learning, your baby is learning, and you might just need a little help. I love helping parents, and when I see them come into the clinic a couple of months later and they look like parenting professionals, it's nice to think that maybe I had a hand in supporting their journey.

What are your favourite things about your role?

We talk a lot about how it takes a village to raise a baby and that, in the olden days, new parents had a community to help with their transition to parenthood. Modern-day parenting is often lonely; we get many answers from the internet or books that differ from our parent's journey. MAMA is fantastic community support; many healthcare professionals work predominantly on the journey to and beyond parenthood. All the Professionals here work together to truly support parents and babies through a trip you don't get a map for.

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

Playing with my children. I love my work and my kids, and I don't have much time for anything else right now.

DescWhat's your name and role at MAMA?

Sonya Edmonds, Clinical Aromatherapist | Massage Therapist specialising in Pregnancy & Postpartum Infant Massage Instructor. I'm also a Midwife, Nurse, Mum to 2 daughters!

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

While in a career as a registered nurse and midwife I was also interested in alternative, natural treatment options for patients as well as my family. My introduction to aromatherapy was the surprising catalyst that changed my career path. This led to years of study and practice in aromatherapy and massage. Essential oils were a valuable tool during my own two pregnancies and births – and for getting through just about every day since! I wanted to develop a service where women could be assured they were receiving expert advice and care. Based on my qualifications, experience and passion I set up my company Mother Nurture (https://mothernurture.net.au/) to focus on personalised, natural care of parents, parents to be and their families. This included massage treatments, specialising in pregnancy, postnatal and women’s health. Becoming a Certified Infant Massage Instructor complemented my role and I’ve recently completed training in Gentle Scar Therapy.

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

I am passionate about the natural healing properties of essential oils and the ability to tailor my massage treatments to the individual. I love the continuity of care in this role; supporting women through their pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond…into the next pregnancy…and for many years after!

What are your favourite things about your role?

I have been practising at MAMA for over 11 years now. I love being a part if this special, supportive, nurturing space for parents, parents- to-be and families.

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

In the few hours I’m not working in or on my business, you’ll find me doing yoga, dancing or trying out new healthy recipes. I love spending quality time with family and friends, and catching precious moments with my teenage daughters (yes, they’re still happy to hang out with their ol’ mum :)ription goes here