Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Murfet.
Hi Hannah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The Supported Mama was born out of a passion to support women during their most vulnerable yet most powerful moments. Ashley and I are sisters (in-law) and came together to create The Supported Mama in 2019. Our goal was simple: support moms through birth and postpartum. Because we know that supported mamas are confident mamas. And confidence is how we take back our power.
Ashley and I both started our careers in social work (working with women and babies, no surprise there) and during this time, we were starting families of our own. Of course, we became aware of the gaps that exist in our culture on a more personal level. We realized that our professional skill sets complimented our shared passion for improving support for women and thus, The Supported Mama was born!
I (Hannah) certified as a birth doula, while Ashley certified as a postpartum doula. Since then, I have sharpened my focus on mental health services and childbirth education. We are so lucky to have expanded our team this year to include three additional doulas who embody our same passion! Together, we create a full continuum of care– from childbirth education, baby basics, birth and postpartum doula services, therapy, postpartum support groups and playdates!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am grateful to say that it has been a pretty smooth road – but I would not say a linear one! The Supported Mama continues to evolve as we grow. This is one of the best parts of owning a small business- we can grow as we find what works well and what clients are wanting most in terms of support. It has been a creative and fun process!
One unexpected challenge we initially had was needing to create the culture around birth and postpartum support. Of course, many have been contributing to this effort – so we joined forces with other birth workers to set the tone in our community. We didn’t expect to have to explain why a doula was important or even what we did! We started with the basics and now women are understanding that even if they don’t feel like they “need help,” everyone can use support during this sensitive time.
Of course, COVID also caused a few issues- most notably, many hospitals excluded doulas from birth teams. I was determined to make sure our clients felt informed and empowered as they entered their birth experience, so I began offering private classes, like a doula 101 class for clients and their partners. I shared all the doula tricks I know so that partners felt like they had some practical tools to support the birthing person on the big day. It turns out lots of people were wanting classes, so now Childbirth Education and Baby Basics classes are a consistent service we offer!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I (Hannah) primarily serve as our therapist and childbirth educator. My therapeutic services specialize in maternal mental health- this includes fertility challenges, depression, anxiety, traumatic births, adjustment to parenthood and grief. It seems like my experience as a doula is something my clients appreciate since I may understand the processes and experience on a deeper level. I also work with couples because let’s be real- adding a person to your family can require an adjustment period!
Ashley primarily serves as our postpartum doula and Baby Basics educator. Postpartum doulas offer in-home support for mothers and families through the postpartum period. Ashley provides practical support like washing dishes and prepping meals so you can stay in bed with baby, or she will stay with baby while you take a nap or shower. But really, the work is deeper than this. It’s more than just an extra set of hands. Ashley’s magic is the calm and confidence that she brings into the home. It is about having encouragement as you learn who your baby is; an unbiased guide that helps you hear your own instincts through the chatter and opinions of others. This is what builds confidence in mothers.
One thing that sets The Supported Mama apart is our unwavering commitment to unbiased support. Our mission is to support our clients so they can feel empowered and confident in their role as mother. There is no room in our work to push our own opinions into your decision-making. We are committed to reducing the noise for you, not adding to it. We have an amazing team of doulas who also provide birth and postpartum support for The Supported Mama: Leidy Groomes, Megan Gatewood and Tess Ferrara. Together, we cover the Atlanta and South Atlanta areas.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think the quality that has been most important to our success is actually our shared introverted nature. Ashley and I tend to seek out one-on-one interactions that lead to deeper connections. Of course, the services we provide thrive in this dynamic and it’s the space we feel most comfortable in but it has also allowed us to build lasting relationships with community partners. While seeking out individual relationships may be a slow process, it has led to many valuable connections with clients, colleagues, mentors, friends, and supporters. We are happy to build a reputation one client and colleague at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thesupportedmama.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_supported_mama/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSupportedMama
Image Credits
Nicole Garris Photography
