With her background as a women’s health nurse, Marie is passionate about helping women on their journey to parenthood. She believes that mums-to-be should have all the support their bodies need as they go through the greatest transformation of their lives – growing a baby. At Bump Plus, they have created a preconception, pregnancy and breastfeeding multivitamin that not only meets your increased nutritional needs whilst pregnant, but also supports your baby’s crucial development by providing you with all of the essentials to create a healthy little person. Designed by a fertility specialist, it contains only the highest quality ingredients set at the optimal doses for your pregnant and breastfeeding body – and your growing bub! Here Marie talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about what inspired her to start her business, how she started out in the beginning, and the challenges she has overcome.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
My background is a women’s health nurse, so I’ve always felt passionately about supporting and advocating for women. My dream has always been to become a mother and create a family of my own. Falling pregnant with my second was a challenge, and I knew I needed expert assistance. I met with a leading fertility specialist and a fantastic fertility naturopath for help. When discussing the nutrients, vitamins and minerals needed during this time, it was clear they were both unsatisfied with the prenatal multivitamin options on the market. I was surprised to hear that none of the available options had been designed by a fertility specialist, or even a women’s health doctor.
The best option they had for me was to take a prenatal multivitamin and additional supplementation of some of the ingredients that were already in the vitamin to make up the correct dose. It seemed crazy. I knew there had to be a better way.
I began working with them and some other industry experts to formulate a product that included all the ingredients required in a prenatal, in their highest quality, most active forms and in their optimal doses. In addition to the ingredients put into the product, a lot of time was spent investigating what not to include. We did not want to waste time on filler ingredients that are found easily in a normal diet, and that Aussie women are rarely deficient in. It was also a must to exclude anything artificial, including all common allergens, animal products and GMOs. We’ve gone to great lengths to keep our brand as clean and simple as possible – that’s something we are so proud of.
Bump Plus is Australia’s one and only prenatal vitamin designed by a fertility specialist. My dream is to provide women with a prenatal product they can trust. One with all the ingredients they need from a multivitamin in the best forms and optimal doses, at an accessible price.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
It was a long, hard slog getting from idea to launch, 9 months ago. From the first meetings perfecting the formula, to finding the right manufacturer, creating the branding and passing through the stringent TGA regulations, it was an 18-month process. I was finally pregnant with my second (yay!) during the initial stages and still working close to full time as a nurse. Lots of late nights! Once my eldest was in bed, the laptop would open and the next job would begin.
The word spread as we approached launch day. It was heartwarming to receive so many enquiries about the product before it was even available. Launch day was very exciting: the online store was open, the warehouse was ready with the stock and we were flooded with orders once we went live. It made all the hard work instantly worthwhile.
By the time we were up and running, my newest little baby was in my arms. I would be in bed, breastfeeding her with my laptop open replying to emails and getting back to customer queries. It was a very surreal time, and something that leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy – I had my own healthy baby safe in my arms and I was now playing a small role in helping others get there too!
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
We are very fortunate to have several fertility experts and practitioners who believe in and recommend Bump Plus to their patients. This has allowed word of the product to spread not just to their patients, but to many others. Their support has been worth more than any advertising we could do.
On a personal note, being in my third trimester and then breastfeeding, I of course was taking the vitamin as soon as the samples arrived on our door step. I suffered postnatal depletion with my first and my pathology results reflected how terrible I felt – always exhausted, brain fog, forgetfulness, irritability…the works. I was excited to compare my second postpartum experience with Bump Plus to my first. My 6-week and 12-week pathology results showed nothing but green, my nutrient levels were all up where they needed to be and I was feeling more myself! This was incredibly exciting for me, to see the results of a quality multivitamin reflected in blood test results!
