Today, we are thrilled to introduce you to Julie De Graeve, one of our pre and postnatal partner. Discover this amazing woman and her passion to help women and families from pregnancy to postpartum.

Can you please introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?

I am a mother of 2 boys, aged 4 and 6, both born in Abu Dhabu, United Arab Emirates. I was born and raised in Belgium and I have been living and working in the UAE since 2009. Apart from holding a degree in Social Work, I am as well a Hypnobirthing Instructor, Lactation Counsellor and Doula. I was trained by Tamara Cianfini, founder of the Wise Hippo Birthing Programme. I completed the breastfeeding counsellor programme with BFF Sharjah UAE and became a Doula through Dona International.

What inspired you to start your own company, especially one focused on supporting families during this very special time of their life?

Having had a Hypnobirth myself I knew that I had to share this knowledge with other families around me so that they as well could have a positive birth experience. On top of that I see a great lack of support surrounding birth and breastfeeding and I want to make up for that. This inspired me to become a breastfeeding counselor and Doula. As an expat we are often not surrounded with family or the village that it takes to raise and support a family. I want to help create that village. I have young children and chose to stay home for them, but I still want to be professionally active.

How did the idea for your company come about, and what motivated you to bring it to life?

I believe in the strength that all women carry within themselves. Sometimes all they need is the right education and support to be able to guide themselves into the direction that they want and need. I created Strength Within By Julie to offer exactly that support.

How do you envision your company making a positive impact on the lives of new parents?

I want people to be able to look back onto their birth and breastfeeding experience and be happy with all that they went through. I want couples to feel that they are in control of their experiences and their decision making.

Share a significant milestone or achievement in your entrepreneurial journey so far.

Each mother (and their partner) that I help means such a great deal to me. They become part of my life story and push me to keep going.

Reflecting on your own experiences, can you tell us about a specific moment or phase during your postpartum period that had a profound impact on you?

I lost a daughter at 28weeks of pregnancy in 2016. The period after that was incredibly lonely and sad. The stigma and taboo were incredibly crippling as a mother. Now, 8 years later, I am offering support to couples that have gone through loss and need support. This feels like an ode to my daughter.

How did your personal experiences as a mother influence the services or support your company provides?

Having had little to no support as an expat, after having my children, I strive to create a connection with each person that I meet. I want to offer them the listening ear, the guidance needed for them to feel good within themselves.

What advice would you give to new parents who may be facing challenges during the postpartum period?

Try to educate yourself as much as possible months before the baby arrives. Create a village of supporters around you and create clear communication with these people about your wants and needs. Believe in your values as a family and trust your maternal/paternal instinct.

How do you see your company contributing to the sense of community among new parents?

I want parents to be able to trust me and accept the help that I offer. This will help them in return to feel more confident and connected with one another as a family.

Can you share any heartwarming stories or feedback from families that your company has helped?

'Julie made me feel comfortable and has coached me through difficult days. Her follow up was great and she provided some useful information and multiple resources to help with our breastfeeding goals. She is encouraging and supportive. I would recommend her to help any struggling mamas during their breastfeeding journey." Gabriel "Julie has helped us get a lot of clarity when it comes to our journey to become parents. She’s made us see the whole pregnancy/birthing experience in a whole different light and let us go of some of the unjustified fears and beliefs we previously had. Overall, having Julie’s input and personal experience was extremely valuable, I never felt like my questions were left unanswered, but most of all there was never any judgement from Julie’s side whether it was about my personal choices for the birth or in regards to the many questions I had to ask as a first time mom." Alex

Where do you see your company in the next few years, and how do you hope it will continue to evolve in supporting families during the postpartum period?

I hope that parents will be aware of 'Strength Within By Julie' and that it will become a staple within the community. I aim to focus on creating more access to education and a place where parents feel free to express what they want and need.

Meet Julie. Hypnobirthing Instructor, Lactation Counsellor, Doula and Mum.

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