When Jenn Cochrane was pregnant with her first son, she wanted to spend some time on her own self-care, before the arrival of her beautiful baby boy, as well as preparing for her recovery post birth. She struggled to know what to buy, where to buy it from, or even what she actually needed. It was from here that the idea for Vida for Mamas came about: a place for new mums and mums-to-be to purchase all those necessities in one little bundle. Launching in early 2023, their bundles will include all the essentials for pregnant and new mamas to encourage them to take care of themselves and to aid with postpartum recovery. Here Jenn talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about what inspired her to start her business, the challenges she has faced, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
Hi, I’m Jenn, the founder of Vida for Mamas. It will sound clichè but my inspiration came from the birth of my first son. Self-care is a challenge for most of us, but when there’s a baby imminently on the horizon, any self-care, time or attention once given is now solely focused on your impending bundle of joy.
Personally, I found it difficult to know what to buy to look after myself during pregnancy, but especially postpartum to help aid with recovery – I honestly had no idea. Where do I look? Where do I buy everything I need from? What do I even need? I would have given anything to have the necessities all in one little bundle, and so the idea for VIDA was born.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
The launch… I feel has been a very long time coming. We are ever so close to officially opening our website which I am incredibly excited about and also nerved to the bone. I am sure there will be so much to learn as I take the deep dive plunge into being a small business owner. This little idea of mine has been in the making for some time and has really been a labour of love. I’ve poured hours, shed more than my postpartum hair and acquired a couple of new grey eyebrows over this. But I am so elated to be here, to offer my service and be of support to mamas in their most crucial time of need.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
I’m sure I’m set for many and as I’ve not officially launched yet, the biggest breakthrough so far has been surrounding myself with the right people – those who are just as passionate about Vida as I am and who have gone the extra mile to help me to get to where I am today.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
It’s no secret. It’s definitely a juggling act. I still work part-time in quite a challenging and high pressured environment – throw in two little boys, a dog and husband along with trying to bring my passion project to fruition is demanding to say the least. Sometimes some things fall by the wayside to make room for others and I’m okay with that. I think this is a normal way of finding balance between work and family – an organic ebb and flow between the two. Family life can sometimes be unpredictable and I think being flexible around this helps with a natural balance. Perhaps as my business develops, my outlook will change and I might need to structure my time a little more.
