Mother& was born from my own experience of becoming a mother, a journey that revealed just how much our system medicalizes what is a natural process.
At 35, I was classified as having a “geriatric pregnancy.” It’s a clinical term, but it shaped how I was seen: higher risk, less trust in my body, and more oversight than support. Yet I was healthy, informed, and doing my best to prepare. I focused on the right movement, nourishment, and mindfulness with a doula by my side.
So when my baby turned to a breech position late in pregnancy, I tried every evidence-based option to support a vaginal birth. Chiropractic care, spinning techniques, an external version. I even changed providers in my final weeks. I wanted to labor naturally, with choice and dignity.
Instead, I encountered hospital protocols, stalled labor, and ultimately a cesarean after laboring in a hotel bathtub when I discharged myself. My body was strong. My voice was clear. But I still wasn’t fully supported.
That’s why I’m building Mother&.
This is a space for women to labor in peace, with comfort and autonomy, just minutes from a hospital, but far from the pressure to perform on someone else’s timeline.
Because birth isn’t just medical. It’s sacred. It shapes how we see ourselves as mothers. When we honor the full experience, outcomes improve. Confidence grows. Mothers rise.
At Mother&, you are trusted and you get to decide how your story unfolds.
Your body was made for this.
We’re just here to hold the space.
With love and unwavering belief in your power,
Stephanie
Mother& is a premium birth and postnatal retreat space dedicated to supporting mothers through rest, recovery, and meaningful care. Opening soon in Richmond, Virginia.
Copyright © 2025
