Creators and Magic Makers • Jenna Nelkovski, Mumma Mila

Please tell us a bit about yourself and the work that you do.

My name is Jenna, I’m a mum of two boys and the Founder of Mumma Milla. The workings for my brand began almost 6 years ago during my breastfeeding journey with my first son.

I was so frustrated with the lack of modern maternity options for mums, as well as frumpy and environmentally damaging disposable nursing pads, so it became my mission to create something I would love as a breastfeeding mum, so other mums could enjoy them too.

Through your work/business what is the impact that you hope to make and why?

Giving birth to my first son was something I will never forget. It was magical – but recovery post-birth was not the nicest experience. I was in the hospital for quite a few days with blood transfusions, iron transfusions, an infection and low milk supply. In hindsight, I wish I had more postpartum support and guidance. 

So, it’s my mission for the brand to not only provide products that are going to help a mum feel confident, comfortable and empowered, but also to educate, inform and encourage mothers particularly during their 'fourth trimester'  

Postpartum is hard, you’re not meant to do it alone --and it’s OK to ask for help, so we love providing information for mums!

How would you say you arrived into finding your purpose?

By becoming a mother. The privilege of raising two human beings alongside my husband is a role I feel so grateful to experience.

What we do is for them -  and I feel lucky Mumma Milla is within the mother, baby and parenting space, because we get to witness other parents feel that same ‘feeling’.

How do you balance your social life, work life, health, family?

Not perfectly, but have learned to accept that every day is different and there is no winning formula! Some days may feel ‘out-of-balance’ when workloads are heavier, but we always carve time out for family and doing fun things with the kids, so this brings things back to a nice level.

What do you do in order for you to carve out some time for yourself?

A pilates class, or even if it’s sitting outside on the grass in the sun. My spare time is pretty limited these days, but I am so-OK that 'me-time' is rare these days with my little family and the brand - I feel very lucky to have them. I've also become a very good Soccer Mom with two boys who are sport mad!! lol

What do you do to get yourself into a state of creativity?

Mood boards. I’m obsessed with putting the noise in my head onto paper and see ideas visually come together in front of me. I loved putting many scrap books together as a kid, so I guess it's stuck.

If you were to share something about your business/work to a stranger what would it be?

We’re a maternity brand with a difference. Society sometimes gets stuck on the certain way we ‘do’ things, especially when it comes to maternity-wear which seems like it’s stuck in a time warp. We’ve pushed our maternity products to be a little ‘different’ and push the status quo of maternity wear.

Maternity can be chic, stylish, comfortable and convenient as well as celebrate bodies who have just birthed, and more importantly don't need to be ditched after you're finished breastfeeding. Our pieces are designed to be worn from pregnancy, to postpartum - and beyond.

See Instagram post here.