Occasionally, the work I do and my personal interests connect in unexpected ways, like when I stumbled across Mountain Mama, a maternity wear company that specializes in outdoor technical clothing, while reading an outdoor adventure mag.
Teresa Delfin, the founder of Mountain Mama, was inspired to start her business after she realized that the outdoor and the maternity clothing worlds needed to collide if women like her were going to comfortably continue being active during their pregnancies. Her experiences as a new mom and as a world-class climber, kayaker, cyclist and skier gave her all the motivation she needed to cause that collision.
While her business and how it started are definitely interesting, the story has been told here and here. What I was intrigued by was how Teresa’s pregnancy seemed to fit seamlessly into her active lifestyle (with the exception of not having maternity long underwear available to her); not the other way around. She was gracious enough to respond to my questions about her views on pregnancy and playing in the great outdoors.
LM: Your company’s tagline is “Expecting Adventure.” How do you define the term Expecting Adventuress?
TD: Expecting adventuress – very cute! Adventures come in many packages. I know mamas-to-be for whom adventure requires climbing shoes and some steep rock, bump or no bump. For others simply experiencing the transformation that pregnancy brings about is plenty adventurous.
For me, being an expecting adventuress meant renewing a decision everyday to be the best role model and mama I could be, and at the heart of that was a commitment to get outside and enjoy nature everyday, stay fit, avoid unnecessary risks, and do everything in my power to make my footprint as small as possible by leaving the car at home, eating local, etc.
LM: How did pregnancy change your approach to the outdoors, if at all?
TD: Some mamas play their belly Beethoven, others try to learn a new language. I was determined that my baby should be born already well-acquainted with what I called “the holy trinity” — rock climbing, kayaking, and mountain biking. I thought of my time playing outdoors as not just good for me, but also formative for my baby.
LM: What was your favorite outdoor activity while you were pregnant?
TD: I have never loved riding my bike so much as I did in pregnancy. I was working as an anthropology professor [LM: Teresa also happens to have a PhD in anthropology] while pregnant and drew quite a lot of stares from students who drove their cars three blocks to school while I rode my bike all the way up to my due date!
I also loved kayaking. My baby was a vigorous kicker — so much so that he dislocated my ribs on several occasions — but getting on the water soothed him instantly every time.
LM: What advice do you have for women how want to continue to be in the outdoors while pregnant?
TD: Make it fun! Most OBs these days encourage expecting mamas to continue their fitness routines as long as they don’t pose a risk to the fetus, though many discourage taking up new sports. Kids know that there’s always an amazing adventure to be had outdoors no matter the season or the conditions, and pregnancy is a great time to begin engaging with the outdoors like a child.
Hiking and snowshoeing are great, but so is leaf-kicking, snow-man making, puddle splashing, etc. For me, it’s all about going out to play!
LM: What is your favorite gear?
TD: I hope I don’t have to choose just one! Here are a few:
- Necky Eliza sea kayak
- Deuter kid carrier pack
- Rack of Black Diamond cams
- Super old school Sierra Designs 4 season tent, Tiros
- Zigo Leader bike
LM: Do you still maintain a foothold in the academic world and/or want to return ever?
TD: Absolutely! I still teach a few anthropology classes each year at Whittier College, though now it’s on my terms and for fun. I love teaching and would love to one day bring Mountain Mama into the classroom by teaching entrepreneurship or social media classes.
Where can you find Mountain Mama?
- Online Store: http://www.mountain-mama.com
- In Babble’s Top 50 Mompreneurs of 2011 – give her your vote.
About Stormy Sweitzer - Maoomba-in-chief