When the birth of her first daughter didn’t go as she had planned, Philippa Scott was left feeling disappointed and like she had failed in some way. Although grateful for her healthy baby, she felt there needed to be more support for women in her situation. The experience inspired her to want to help other women and their families, and she became a doula and a birth trauma specialist. Birth trauma is experienced by upwards of 80% of birthing mothers, affecting not just the mother, but her baby, her partner, and her whole family unit. Fantastic Futures offers a range of services designed to make the preparation and parenting journey happier, healthier and more nurtured. Here, Philippa talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind Fantastic Futures, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
When my first daughter was born 19 years ago, the birth went pear shaped. I was uneducated, naive and ultimately gutted. I felt I had failed. Everyone kept telling me that I should be grateful I had a healthy baby. This thing is that I was grateful, but I had other feelings too. Were they not important? Did I not matter in the equation? I set out to educate myself and came to be a doula before the birth of my second daughter. I learnt more and more with every birth I attended, every birth support group I facilitated and every baby I had. By the time my fourth daughter was born, I had led a team of consumers to establish a birth centre in Townsville that still operates today. Birth is such a big event in a family’s journey. It creates so much opportunity for growth, but also for pain.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
Fantastic futures is a focused extension of my work supporting families. Whilst I still provide some limited doula services, my focus is on my work as a birth trauma specialist and preparing women and men for pregnancy, birth and parenting by helping them deal with their emotional baggage. Very often this baggage comes from our own childhood. Beginning with those suffering from anxiety and depression, to specialising in the maternity space.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Training as a TRTP practitioner gave me the tools required to break free of the pain of the past and create a fabulous future. It is very satisfying work, as clients experience life-changing outcomes. Knowing that whether someone comes to you for birth trauma or pregnancy struggles, or perhaps issues in the post-partum period or because they had a childhood that is scaring them out of parenting, that you can help.
