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Waltham Forest Echo, Business Article - Mother of all businesses

3/7/2020

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In the first of a new series looking at local entrepreneurs, Jo Sealy from Waltham Forest Business Network meets a birth coach from Walthamstow

A single encounter on a train assisting an expectant mother changed Tracey Louis-Fernand’s life forever.
The incident led Tracey to move from being a senior manager in social housing, where she worked for over 17 years, to setting up her own birth coach business, Mothering the Mother, in 2018 – as a professional doula.

A doula provides emotional, physical and educational support to a mother who is expecting, is experiencing labour, or has recently given birth. The aim is to help women have a safe and empowering birth.

Tracey explains: “I assisted an expectant mother on a regular journey to work – little did I know that our conversation about motherhood and birth would spark the journey to me becoming a fully trained doula.
“I began working voluntarily to gain experience. I continued my paid employment four days a week and supported new and expectant mothers during my spare time. I went on to train with [pregnancy support charity] NCT, working on a wonderful project providing support for women’s perinatal mental health. I have also worked on NHS wards, as a breastfeeding peer support worker.

“During that time, I could see how dedicated and committed the mothers were, but something was missing. No-one can pour from an empty cup and it is when we are well that we can fully take care of our loved ones. This became a ‘light bulb’ moment for many of the mothers I supported and really was the seed from which Mothering the Mother was born.”

Tracey provides complete pregnancy, birth and postnatal packages. Her business was set up with the help of start-up enterprise training from local organisations Allia and Outset.
“Depending on where you are with your business there is support available,” Tracey explains. “This year I am also joining Enterprise Nation. As much as anything else, it is really useful to keep networking with other business owners and I have made some truly wonderful contacts over the last year.”

Tracey sees her business journey so far as one with many highlights.

“I never knew that within my first year of business I would feature in a Facebook live interview and on a business podcast or that I would be a contributing guest blogger; this is quite an achievement for someone that had no social media experience prior to starting a business.

“And to top it off here I am in Waltham Forest Echo!”

Tracey is planning the year ahead with a focus on rolling out a series of affordable perinatal related workshops, collaborating with other businesses and continuing to expand on providing regular, affordable antenatal support.

For more information about Mothering The Mother:
Visit motheringthemother.co.uk
Do you know a great small business in Waltham Forest with a story to tell?
Email [email protected]
Visit walthamforestbusiness.co.uk
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    Waltham Forest Business Network writing about great Waltham Forest Businesses in https://walthamforestecho.co.uk/

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  • Welcome!
    • What Our Members Say
  • About
  • What We Do
    • Women In Business >
      • Great Little Places to meet in E17
    • Business Directory
    • Creative Exchange >
      • Expression of Interest
    • Small Business 100
    • WF Small Business Competition >
      • 2014 Food Business Category Winner - Star of India Restaurant
      • 2014 Social Enterprise Category Winner - Significant Seams
      • Winner - 2013 Business Competition
      • 2014 Start Up Business Category Winner - Bestowed Kitchen
      • Winner - 2012 Small Business Competition
      • 2014 Retail Business Category Winner - It Does The Job
      • 2014 Creative Business Category Winner - Build
      • 2014 Professional Service Category Winner - Leyton Sports Massage
    • Networking, Events, Workshops >
      • Christmas Networking 2017
      • Christmas Networking 2015 >
        • Past Events >
          • 2014 Christmas Event
      • 'Network & Grow' summer 2014
      • 2012 Christmas Networking Event
      • 2012 Tea at the Town Hall
      • Workshops 2011
      • 2011 Summer Networking, House of Commons
      • Christmas Dinner at Eat17
      • Celebrating International Women's Day
      • 2011 E17 Art Trail
      • NEL Expo 2011
      • December 2010 Waterstones Christmas Networking
      • July 2010 Pimms O'Clock Summer Networking
      • April 2010 - Spring Speed Networking
      • February 2010 - Secrets to Success with NLCC
      • January 2010 - Facebook & Twitter -What's The Fuss?
      • Christmas 2009 - Christmas Networking at Waterstones
      • Summer 2009 - Networking, Health & Beauty
  • WFBN Blog
  • Waltham Forest Echo - Business Articles
  • Enterprise Nation
  • Privacy Policy
  • Enterprise Programme Support
    • Growth Vouchers - Cavendish Consortium
    • Fit For Legacy - East London Business Place
    • Waltham Forest Council - Small Business Saturday