Jillian, Erica, and Emi
We recently were informed of an English-speaking directory showcasing health services for pregnancy and postpartum in the Geneva area. We caught up with Erica, Jillian, and Emi.
Jillian Aragon explained, “When I first arrived in Geneva, I faced the challenges of navigating a new environment with no knowledge of the language or the local maternity healthcare system. As a doula, I envisioned being able to connect my clients to like-minded professionals who shared my passion for supporting physiological birth and holistic health practices. Over time, I met incredible providers and realized there was a genuine need for a comprehensive free resource guide to connect women with compassionate, holistic care.”
Have you been working on this idea forever, or was it something that came to you recently?
She goes on to say, “The concept of offering a free resource didn’t fully form until I crossed paths with Erica and Emi. At first, I envisioned creating a guide for my private business, and then I considered partnering with one of the international organizations here in Geneva to refresh their resource page for English-speaking families. But as the idea grew, I realized that to bring it to life in a meaningful and sustainable way, I needed a strong, connected, and creative team of women to help weave this vision into a resource that could truly serve the community.”
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?
Emi Lehane admitted, “The most difficult part of putting this directory together has been reaching out to contacts that are referred to us and making the time to meet each person and get to know them a little before they are included in The Directory. We have criteria that we expect each of our contacts to fulfil in order to make the list, so in addition to this and contacting/meeting each person, it takes time and dedication! But it's wonderful to have the opportunity to meet so many of these professionals who are themselves working hard to serve the needs of these women, so it's totally worth it. It feels wonderful to build this community serving the needs of expat mothers here in Geneva. Behind the scenes, Erica is a whizz at all graphics and content related matters, which is definitely a skill, so together working to our strengths, we make a great team.”
What are your plans for the future?
Erica Sluys voiced the following, “We are commited to keeping this resource free, up-to-date and to a high standard. We will update the ebook every 6 months and the print once a year. We hope to keep green and only print a limited number of booklets which is why we direct anyone who wants a copy to go to our website, andyoueducation.com/thedirectory and tell us where to send it! We hope to expand ths list of providers that we have this year so that we can support all women and families in need.”
What is your favorite service offered and why?
Emi said,“I wouldn't say that there is a favourite as such, because all of these services together is what makes for a happy and peaceful pregnancy and parenting experience, however I'm happy that we have found a wide gamut of services ranging from home food delivery service to mental health support and photographers to capture those intimate moments as a family.
“On The Directory you will find a large number of physiotherapists, because we recognise that physiotherapy for pelvic floor health after giving birth should be accessed by every mother who has given birth, and as such we worked hard to ensure we had as many physios as possible to cover as many areas of Geneva as possible.”
This resource is available for free. Simply visit https://andyoueducation.com/thedirectory to ask for a copy by email.
Jillian Aragon - birth doula, ayurvedic postpartum care specialist
Erica Sluys - founder of And You Education, holistic postpartum wellness program
Emi Lehane - personal trainer, pre/postnatal performance training specialist
