Amanda Jezek
Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Amanda and I am a Mumma of 2 gorgeous girls Evie 6yrs and Sienna 3yrs old. I own and operate The Mumma Hub here in Canberra guiding Mumma's-to-be and new Mums through yoga, movement, connection, education and of course coffee!
What were you doing before babies?
Before babies I was a travel agent, part time yoga teacher & travelling the world any chance I could get. After finishing mat leave at the end of 2019 with my second bub, I decided not to go back to travel work as preschool hours for Evie were hard to juggle (who seriously thought a 5 day fortnight was easy?) and I made the move to be a full time Pre/Post-natal yoga teacher in my business. Even though Covid was hard to navigate in my first full time year of business, being a travel agent at this time would have been even harder.
How did you come to be a mum?
I was living in Sydney with my partner, we got married in 2013 and went on a 9mth honeymoon through Mexico, Central America and USA and once I returned I knew I wanted to be back in Canberra to start a family with my family and friends close by.
What has your feeding journey been like?
Arghh.... feeding my girls was hard! I thought it would be an easy & natural experience but was I so wrong. It was filled with doubt, anxiety, pumping, lactation consultants, medication, QE2, formula top ups and plenty of mumma meltdowns. At around 4-5mths it got easier, food was introduced and I felt like there was a balance and I enjoyed feeding until 13mths. Feeding my second was easier as I just let it all go and was more relaxed. It's like the body knew i was chilled, milk flowed but i still had my struggles.
What has sleep been like in your house?
This is one of the things that you can never really prepare for... how extremely tired 1 person can be and still function (well kinda). My girls were ok sleepers, the 4th trimester was full of cuddles, naps on mumma while watching Netflix, afternoon baby carriers and swings but after the transition to their cot, I tried to start a regular routine, patting and shhhhing and in/out of the room. I understood more the second time round and every little cry in the night wasn't for more milk, it was just in and out of a sleep cycle, perhaps cold or needed a dummy. Losing the dummy has been so different between kids, I went cold turkey with Evie at 13mths and Sienna held on til 2.5yrs old when she gave them to the Easter bunny and never looked back.
The hardest bits…
The juggle, Mum guilt, finding time for yourself
The best bits…
The intense love for these little humans, proud that they picked me to be their Mumma.
How do you make time for yourself?
I love yoga but after teaching so much, I love training @Galvanized Fitness in Watson 3 times a week for HIIT training and bootcamps. I also love cycling, massages and solo breakfasts.
What’s next for you and your family?
Sienna starts preschool next year so that's a big step, another overseas holiday too as we just got back from Fiji last week and just making The Mumma Hub bigger and better.
If you could talk to your pre baby/kid self, what advice would you give?
Get breastfeeding advice when you are pregnant, be prepared for your heart to explode with love for another human, love yourself and find your way back to YOU and get ready for the biggest rollercoaster ride of your life!
Check out The Mumma Hub!