HOULTON, Maine — Erica Rockwell never really dreamed of owning her own business. But now that she has taken the plunge, she can’t imagine doing anything else.
Rockwell opened Mother 2 Mother, a business aimed at helping mothers with breastfeeding, in April at 5 Bangor St. in Houlton. And slowly, but surely, Rockwell has built in solid customer base.
Prior to opening her business, Rockwell was a registered nurse at Houlton Regional Hospital for 13 years. As a registered nurse and board-certified lactation consultant, Rockwell is qualified to be a private practice.
“I do prenatal education to give mothers-to-be information on what to expect,” Rockwell said. “I then see moms postpartum to help with feeding issues.”
She is also a trained birth doula, which is a woman who provides continued labor support, both physically and emotionally, during delivery. Her ultimate goal is to become a certified midwife.
Getting the word out about her business has been the biggest challenge, especially since her line of work is not something that has achieved mainstream visibility in Aroostook County.
“So many people ask me, ‘What is a doula exactly?’” she said. “They just haven’t heard about it much here in The County.”
A midwife differs from a doula in that the midwife can actually perform deliveries. In order for her to become a midwife, Rockwell said she would need to do additional training and education.
While working in the hospital setting, Rockwell’s specialty was in the intensive care unit. It was during her time in ICU that she met a mother who was having difficulty breastfeeding. At the time, she was breastfeeding her own child and was able to assist the woman with her feeding issue.
“It seemed to just come naturally for me and there was a great need here in the area,” she said. “So the last three years of my time at the hospital I worked in the OB-GYN office.”
Rockwell also offers birth and bereavement services to families who lose a baby. She is able to relate to those going through a difficult time as she too has experienced a stillborn birth.
“Once you go through that yourself, life grows you,” she said. “If I can help someone get through that time, I am here.”
Her office is equipped with a sitting area, complete with rocking chairs and instructional videos. She has also started selling merchandise such as maternal/infant products, breast pumps, and some natural/holistic products including eco-friendly wooden toys from her location.
Rockwell lives in Houlton with her husband Jaime Rockwell and their four children Jonathan, Landon, Carter and Lillie.
Mother 2 Mother is open Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon; and Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m. or by appointment. For more information, call 538-7129.
