Mums and Bubs stands as more than just a retail establishment — it’s a sanctuary of support and empowerment for mothers navigating the often challenging journey of childbirth and early motherhood. Located on Carmichael Street in Georgetown, within the Sach Store, Mums and Bubs owes its existence to the personal experience of its founder, whose encounter with the reality of postpartum care sparked a mission to redefine maternal support in Guyana.
Cynthia Jagnandan, owner of Mums and Bubs said, “I’ve just had a baby a little over a year ago and the inspiration came after and I was about to leave the hospital after two days and I as saying bye, the maternity nurse said, ‘your pads are so nice I have never seen that big size before’.
“I was dumbfounded because these were maternity pads. This is a middle-aged woman, she was in this field for years in Guyana and she hadn’t seen maternity pads on a new mom before. At first I was surprised but it kept nagging at me and then I realised how tough it must be for other women to not have something as basic and essential as a maternity pad. Because after giving birth you bleed a lot. I couldn’t imagine women using the small uncomfortable and inconvenient pads, when you’ve just given birth and [as] I started looking into it more and I realised there was a need for this product.”
That insight has blossomed into a comprehensive effort to enhance maternal well-being. Mums and Bubs is not merely a provider of products; it’s a beacon of advocacy, aiming to alleviate the physical and emotional burdens that often accompany childbirth. Every item at Mums and Bubs is meticulously selected to serve a singular purpose: to make a mother’s life easier.
In a culture where the demands on new mothers can feel overwhelming and the support systems are often inadequate, Mums and Bubs emerges as a lifeline.
“Giving birth is hard,” Jagnandan emphasised, “and the culture where we live, women generally don’t have a lot of help from their partners, at least in my experience. I sell things for the mom, her body – maternity pads, peri bottle, witch hazel, ice pads, c-section scar removal strips, abdominal support for women who had c-sections. I sell a lot of things, and for the babies, I have snot suckers, saline sprays for their nose, thermometers, and a few other items.”
Located strategically opposite Woodlands Hospital, Moms and Bubs not only caters to the physical needs of mothers but also addresses the critical gaps in education and awareness. “Education is key,” she asserted, “the need exists. You don’t know what you don’t know until somebody introduces something to you that could make your life easier. Women have gone about caring for themselves a certain way due to lack of access to these things so they don’t know how much better these things can make their lives.”
Overcoming challenges has been a hallmark of the journey of Mums and Bubs. From navigating the complexities of import logistics to breaking through societal taboos surrounding postpartum care, every step forward has been taken with resilience and determination.
“A lot of feedback,” she reflected, “the most rewarding aspect is creating a community of women and through social media I’ve developed a lot of friendships with women and moms who felt unheard. [We have] talks about social issues and things concerning mothers and giving birth and how to raise babies and we have formed a community. The most rewarding part is talking to another mom… being a support for these women, trading tips and talking about our babies, and I love to see the community and develop community relationships.”
Beyond commerce, Mums and Bubs stands as a testament to advocacy. It amplifies the voices of mothers, advocating for systemic changes in maternal care and parental support.
“When I gave birth there were seven other women in the maternity ward. I was the only woman whose partner stayed in the hospital. The other women just had their mothers, the dads came a bit. But we need to talk about more support being offered to pregnant women. I couldn’t do this on my own, I couldn’t do this without my partner by my side. I just wanted to make lives for mums easier,” she said.
Her determination extended into the corridors of power. “I reached out to the First Lady’s office to describe my project, telling her about my idea and how this will help women,” she said “…In other countries, women, when they go into a hospital, they go home with the items from the hospital like peri bottles, maternity pads… from the government. In Guyana, they go home with only what they come with. I got an acknowledgement email but nothing else. I am hoping for some sort of follow-up as I do believe that this is necessary for the women around Guyana.”
Mums and Bubs fills a void often overlooked. “A few of the local NGOs are designed around the children, nobody thinks about the moms,” she said. “People come to see the baby, to kiss the baby. No one stops to think about the mom who just gave birth. I had help. I had much support from my family. Even with all of that, I was still traumatised. Imagine the women who don’t have any of this. Where I live, women are expected to have the baby, cook and clean and take care of the baby immediately. This entire business is grounded on the importance of women becoming the priority. Mothers cannot pour from an empty cup. They need to be rested. They need to be supported. A happy mother means a happy baby.”
As Mums and Bubs looks toward the future, expansion and outreach are key objectives. “I want to first and foremost reach more women and educate them,” Jagnandan said. “I want to have more locations across Guyana and have these products accessible to women everywhere and I am looking forward to collaborating with government offices or organisations.”
Educational outreach remains pivotal. “I do informative videos,” she shared. My social media handles are Mums and Bubs and I created this one video talking about my experience breastfeeding. I had a repulsion to breastfeeding and I opted to not do it because I think a happy mom is best for my baby, a mentally-sound mom. I had a lot of mental struggles with it. I had a very bad reaction to it.
“One of my customers messaged me on WhatsApp: ‘I just saw your breastfeeding video and I was feeling like I was failing my baby, and like something was wrong with me’. Starting a business in Guyana when you have to educate everyone on everything I wanted to shut it down but after the customer’s message I felt like I was making a difference because if the mother feels good then the baby can have a better experience.”
The journey of Mums and Bubs has been one of surprises and revelations. “I have been so surprised to see how many men follow my content, men with families, I feel like the want for change is there,” she said.
Reflecting on her experience abroad, she said, “I spent seven months being pregnant in the United Kingdom. In the hospital I attended there, one midwife was dedicated to four pregnant women. They take care of you during your pregnancy and after. The midwife is on demand, there is an app. Because I have been exposed to this level of support, that’s the only reason I was able to see the gap.”
Challenging societal norms and expectations, she said: “Mom shaming is not okay! If you see a mom is trying her best, please do not point out everything that’s going wrong. Stop shaming women for doing everything; if the mothers have their hair not good, just stop shaming [them]. When mothers are going through postpartum depression, stop shaming [them].”
The story of Mums and Bubs is not just about business; it’s about compassion, advocacy, and community. It’s about recognizing the unmet needs of mothers and stepping forward to fill those gaps.
