With a background as a women’s health nurse, Marie is passionate about helping women on their journey to parenthood. She believes moms-to-be should have all the support their bodies need as they go through the biggest transformation of their lives – growing a baby. In the Bump Plus, have created a pregnancy and nursing multivitamin that not only meets your increased nutritional needs during pregnancy, but also supports your baby’s critical development by providing you with everything you need to create a healthy little person. Formulated by a fertility expert, it contains only the highest quality ingredients adjusted to optimal doses for your body in pregnancy and breastfeeding – and your developing bulb! Here Marie talks to The Natural Parent magazine about what inspired her to start her business, how she got started in the first place and the challenges she has overcome.
The passion: What inspired you to create your business?
My background is as a women’s health nurse, so I have always felt passionate about supporting and advocating for women. My dream has always been to become a mother and start a family of my own. Getting pregnant with my second was a challenge and I knew I needed expert help. I met with a top fertility specialist and a fantastic fertility physiotherapist for help. When discussing the nutrients, vitamins and minerals needed during this time, it was clear that both were not satisfied with the prenatal multivitamin options on the market. I was surprised to hear that none of the available options were 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 supplement with some of the ingredients already in the vitamin to make the right dose. It seemed crazy. I knew there had to be a better way.
I began working with them and a few other industry experts to formulate a product that included all the ingredients needed in a prenatal, in the highest quality, most active forms and in their optimal doses. In addition to the ingredients that were put into the product, a lot of time was spent researching what not to include. We didn’t want to waste time on filling ingredients that are easily found in a normal diet and that Australians are rarely short of. It was also necessary 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’re 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 needed from a multivitamin in the best forms and optimal doses, at an affordable price.
The launch: How did you get started in the first place?
It was a long, hard slog from concept to launch, 9 months ago. From the first meetings perfecting the formula, to finding the right manufacturer, creating the brand and going through the strict TGA regulations, it was an 18 month process. I was finally pregnant with my second (yay!) in the early stages and was still working almost full time as a nurse. Lots of late nights! As soon as my eldest was in bed, the laptop would open and the next job would begin.
Word spread as we neared launch day. It was heartwarming to receive so many questions about the product before it was even available. Launch day was very exciting: the online store was open, the warehouse was ready with stock and we were inundated with orders as soon as we went live. It’s immediately worth all the hard work.
By the time we started, my youngest little baby was in my arms. I was in bed, nursing her with my laptop open, answering emails and returning to customer questions. It was a very surreal time and one that leaves me feeling all warm and fuzzy – I had my own healthy baby safely in my arms and now I was playing a small part in helping others get there too!
Innovation: What has been the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
We are very fortunate to have several fertility experts and professionals who believe and recommend Bump Plus to their patients. This allowed the word of the product to spread not only to their patients, but to many others. Their support was worth more than any advertising we could do.
Personally, in my third trimester and after breastfeeding, I naturally took the vitamin as soon as the samples arrived on our doorstep. I had postpartum exhaustion 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 Bump Plus on my first. My 6 week and 12 week pathology results showed nothing but green, my nutrient levels were all up where they should be and I was feeling more like myself! This was incredibly exciting for me, seeing the results of a quality multivitamin reflected in my blood test results!
