Maryland Women-Owned Business series - May

As a small business, I love supporting, recognizing, and connecting with other female entrepreneurs out there in the community. And as a mompreneur myself, I know how hard they work for themselves, their families, and their clients. They are each vital influencers of people all around you. I’d like to give some recognition to a few ladies who work hard every day, in the hopes of making a connection to someone that needs their services. We appreciate you more than you know, and we’re so proud to feature your business. We will be highlighting one business per month for the entire year of 2019!

The Maternity Planner offers so many amazing services to help Mothers access the resources, support, or information they need! From informative Events to personalized Prenatal and PostPartum Coaching, and Birth Doula Services, Julie offers a space to bring women together to support each other through one of life’s biggest projects. She says the goal of her work is to help each new mama feel knowledgeable about her options and confident in her choices. She has a serious passion for bumps and babies and especially helping others navigate the journey of motherhood.

Julie has generously offered blog readers a discount to her upcoming event on May 7th! Use the promo code Danielle for a savings off the ticket price.
Purchase HERE.

Introducing the fifth interview in our Maryland women-owned businesses series……  

Julie Lundy | The Maternity Planner
Since January 2018
TheMaternityplanner.com
@The_Maternity_Planner and @Julieelundy

1. What made you choose this type of business, and/or how did you get your idea or concept for the business?

The Maternity Planner was founded on the premise that women deserve to feel heard, capable, and confident in their ability to mother and define what that motherhood looks like to them.

The Maternity Planner is an in-person events series bringing together experts, practitioners, and mothers to talk about all the important issues facing women and mothers today; arming women with information to make the choices that are right for them and giving women them the platform to share their stories.  

I always knew I wanted to do something in the pregnancy, birth, new mom space and the more women I spoke to the more I heard, “how come no one told me…”. I wanted to create a space where women could and would tell you the inside scoop, but also a place where we could celebrate our wins and one another.

2. In a nutshell, what is your core mission and what are your values?

My core mission is to help women define who they are in this new role of motherhood and help them access whatever resources, support, or information they need to make it into a reality.  

I’m trained as a birth doula (by the fabulous Nicole Heidbreder) and still assist women with their births on occasion, my training helped me solidify that when supporting women, we have a few key sayings: “not my body, not my birth, not my baby” and the idea of “holding space”. The idea is that as doulas we provide unwavering emotional, informational, and physical support so that a woman can feel heard and taken care of. My goal is to bring this teaching into my work as facilitator and connect with women on a larger scale.

3. What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? 

It’s typically my son saying, “mommy, I want breakfast, can I have breakfast, I want breakfast?” (pause) “can we have pancakes, I want pancakes, can we make pancakes?” (pause) “do we have cottage cheese, or cereal and milk? I want that too”

But really, what motivates me to keep doing this everyday is the fact that what my husband said was true… Prior to the launch of The Maternity Planner, I was filled with fears and doubts, and my husband Ezra would say ‘Women need you to do this, don’t hesitate even if you’re afraid, instead, push through because you want to make a difference’. And he was so right! The feedback I get is that these events make a difference in women’s lives, that they have a story to tell, and they want more, more, more!

4. What is your favorite quote?

“Whenever and however you give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body, and your spirit for the rest of your life.” - Ina May Gaskin 

I’ve always been a huge admirer of Ina May Gaskin but what resonates most with me about this quote is that even a midwife, who champions natural labor, is open to all possibilities of birth, conveying that what really matters is how women in feel and how they are treated during this life transition.

5. Do you have a special offer for blog readers that you’d like to share?

I want to share their stories. So if they have had an experience or part of their journey that they wish they had been more prepared for, they should reach out. We will find a way to share their story and celebrate where they are today. 

AND they should come to our next event! Check out what’s scheduled: https://www.thematernityplanner.com/upcoming-events and use the promo code Danielle for discounted ticket!