Inspired by her own struggles as a first-time mum, combined with her profound sense of love and empathy, Alanah Iacobaccio set out to make a difference in the lives of other new mothers around the world. She wanted to provide women with easy access to reliable perinatal support and information, without the hassle of trawling the internet for answers. At Mindful Mummys, she has created a sanctuary for new mums that offers support all the way from conception to baby’s first year: a wonderful app that will elevate your motherhood journey. Here Alanah talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind her business, how she balances work and family time, and her hopes and dreams for the future of Mindful Mummys.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
My life leading up to becoming a first-time mum was very positive for me. I had qualified in my chosen field and worked in the corporate world. I met an amazing man, married, and we renovated our first home. I was organised, had a positive outlook and was incredibly happy when in 2022 we welcomed our first-born boy, Noah. As a woman who thrives on routine and organisation, I naturally tried to prepare myself for what I believed postpartum would entail. At that point, I had no idea just how challenging my journey would become.
Unfortunately, with Noah came some additional challenges, including illness that really impacted my postpartum experience. Shortly afterward, I was diagnosed with postpartum depression, and my life became completely unrecognisable to me.
As I battled my days, it dawned on me that during the 9 months of my pregnancy, I had hundreds of conversations around topics such as how my pregnancy was progressing or what baby names we had in mind, but never once about the difficulties of the fourth trimester. I had so many unanswered questions: How long would this period last? Why was such an impactful period not talked about? Why did I feel so isolated? And where were the resources to help me navigate through this?
During the sleepless nights, I spent time sifting through the overwhelming and often contrary information on the internet. I wanted to find the answers to the many questions I had. Particularly the hormonal, emotional and physical changes my body was going through. However, searching the internet often left me feeling confused, anxious, and not knowing where to start or finish.
It was during this period that the idea of Mindful Mummys came to me. The challenges of my personal journey as a first-time mum, intertwined with a profound sense of love and empathy, inspired me to want to make a difference in the lives of new mothers around the world.
It is through the inbuilt features of the app that I aspire to provide new mothers with a one-stop platform that provides the support, reassurance, clarity, and connection every mother deserves during a very vulnerable time in their life. Ultimately helping them navigate through motherhood, feeling less anxious and less alone.
My initial idea has since become a mission to empower and uplift mothers through every stage of motherhood.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
Initially, I brainstormed the different options I had to make a meaningful impact on the lives of new mothers without being physically present. After discussing my ideas with close family and friends, I concluded that an app would be the most accessible platform for today’s users. The process of sourcing the right app developer began and from there I interviewed several IT companies who were interested in bringing my idea to life. After selecting a developer whom I connected with the most, we held several meetings over many months and the Mindful Mummys app officially began its journey.
Around this time, I became pregnant with my second child. Initially, the timing of it all scared me, but it really couldn’t have been more perfect, ultimately consolidating my “why” behind the biggest venture of my life.
Innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Mindful Mummys is a short few weeks away from going live, so is yet to have its breakthrough. You can stay in the loop by subscribing to our mummy community.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
I’ve always strived to maintain a balanced lifestyle, ensuring that family comes before work. However, for the first time in my life, I’ve found it challenging to stick to this principle, because my work no longer feels like work but another one of my babies.
It is to the credit of my family and friends, in particular my husband and mum, who have made the juggle of building a business whilst raising a family possible for me. Without their help the balance would not have been possible.
