As a midwife, educator and founder of Summer Love, Sara Rist has dedicated her career to providing compassionate, holistic care that empowers families through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. Inspired by her own experiences and a desire to offer support beyond the limitations of traditional healthcare settings, she created Summer Love as a nurturing space where parents feel seen, heard and cared for. In this interview, Sara shares the journey behind her business, the challenges and rewards she has faced along the way, and her vision for helping more families experience the warmth, confidence and connection that every parent deserves.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
Cute babies, of course! Along with the dream of providing holistic care to parents as a midwife that isn’t limited by the constraints of time, money and red tape.
Honestly, I have always been the person who spent way too much time (or appropriate time?) with parents in antenatal classes, on the postnatal ward or in the nursery. I often wondered how my colleagues worked so quickly. The reality was that corners were cut purely due to time constraints.
And so began Summer Love.
I loved my parents and baby group; they were my people, my support network, and they still are 25 years later. I wanted Summer Love to be a place where parents could be nurtured and cared for – not rushed, coerced or guilted. I wanted to provide care that felt like a warm embrace from the summer sun: individualised support guided by each family’s unique needs.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
Well, after consoling my other children for naming the business after my #3 baby ‘Summer’ (hahaha), I had to find some focus because my mind was overflowing with ideas.
It was 2021, when the world had closed down due to the “spicy cough”, and having a baby looked very different. There was no face-to-face support, along with isolation and worry. So when things were a little “safer”, I offered free antenatal classes and then a free parents and baby group as a bit of a trial.
I loved it, parents loved it, and from there, Summer Love took off!
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
I think it’s still to come!
Of all the courses and studies I have completed, this one comes with a very useful certificate: Endorsement as a Midwife. This means I can prescribe, refer and have a provider number that qualifies my clients for a Medicare subsidy.
Being accessible financially is super important to me.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family
I won’t lie – it’s tricky, and I don’t always succeed!
My family all chip in and help, so that’s a bonus. Willow, my #2 child, is my admin, tech and creative guru. My mum is my cheer squad and ensures I get to where I need to be on time (she also loves the babies). My hubby keeps me on financial track. And the other kids are the muscles for loading the car for events.
Since stepping away from shift work, I have rediscovered my love and appreciation for the weekends. Sundays are the best: sleep in, brunch, coffee and a quick transition to a nice wine or gin, with some family board games. Scrabble is our latest favourite – or as we call it, “Squabble”!
