Introducing Our Family
Yvette O’Dowd qualified as a breastfeeding counsellor in 1992. A mother of three, her volunteer and paid work supporting parents and families over the next three decades influenced her own children’s values around caring for children.
In 2013, Yvette’s daughter Kaitlyn had her first baby. With the support of her mother’s network of parents and practitioners in all aspects of breastfeeding and infancy, it was natural for their shared values to influence the mothers they met together and these connections formed the foundation of both Southern Natural Parenting Network and South Eastern Babywearing Group which Yvette established in 2014.
Yvette has been a contributor for Belly Belly and Peninsula Kids Magazine. Her volunteer work has included public relations and publications, advocacy and support for breastfeeding at a local and national level. Yvette established a successful breastfeeding drop-in centre in Melbourne, which she ran for five years. She has extensive experience in the sale and hire of breast pumps, breastfeeding and babywearing education and a background in retail in the maternity and baby sector. She is an avid photographer and memory keeper. Yvette has lived with multiple sclerosis since 1995.
Kaitlyn has since gifted Yvette with two more grandchildren. She is particularly passionate about child restraints, modern cloth nappies and babywearing.