Elisabeth Leitner, a midwife in the quaint Austrian town of Kleinzell im Mühlkreis, near the German and Czech borders, was searching for sustainable children's toys to recommend to families when she stumbled upon QUADRO. This was the beginning of a delightful journey. As she scrolled through QUADRO's Instagram feed, she was immediately drawn into our lively Facebook community, discovering an array of ingenious constructions shared by enthusiastic users. Before long, Elisabeth was hooked!
Keen to bring QUADRO's unique adventure kit to her midwifery practice, Elisabeth reached out to us. We were thrilled to accommodate her request, and equally excited to learn about the many facets of her profession - a midwife's role extends beyond just delivering babies.
So, what does a midwife do exactly?
At the heart of Elisabeth's practice is providing preconception and pregnancy guidance. She offers professional advice on essential topics such as nutrition, understanding the menstrual cycle, and optimal timing for intercourse for conception.
Once a pregnancy is confirmed, women return for prenatal consultations during their 18th to 22nd week of pregnancy. These consultations, which are covered by Austrian health insurance, center on maintaining optimal health throughout pregnancy. Discussions also cover childbirth options, whether in a hospital, a birth center, or at home.
For those who hadn't previously consulted Elisabeth for fertility advice, this prenatal visit becomes a chance to get acquainted. It's crucial for the chemistry to be right because the two women will later share an intimate moment: the birth of a new family member. Elisabeth guides new parents in building a relationship with their newborn and adjusting to their new life. From the 4th to the 8th week after the birth, Elisabeth visits the family at home to assist with breastfeeding and integration into daily routines.
In addition, Elisabeth runs childbirth and breastfeeding preparation classes, and advises families on complementary feeding and breastfeeding issues.
"But what about the actual birth?" we asked.
Yes, Elisabeth is also involved during birth, but typically not with the same women from her practice. Elisabeth has a dual role, also serving as a hospital midwife. There, she cares for those who happen to be in labor during her shift hours.
This combination of freelancing and a fixed role works perfectly for her. The hospital setting provides a sense of security, and the fixed working hours allow for manageable planning. Some of her colleagues, on the other hand, specialize in home births, an option that is quite popular.
As for QUADRO, what's her professional opinion?
She loves it!
"Not only are the products sustainable, but they also add value to children's lives," Elisabeth enthused.
Families can repeatedly use the same materials to construct different items like a bed, a learning tower, a climbing frame, or anything else that strikes their fancy.
She further explains, "Instead of buying a learning tower and later disposing of it when the child outgrows it and needs a play tower, you can just reconfigure the QUADRO."
Indeed, QUADRO grows with the child. This adaptability is not just environmentally friendly, but it's also cost-effective. (To learn why climbing is so essential for kids, check out our article Jungle Gyms: The Perfect Way to Give Your Children’s Development a Boost).
Elisabeth and her husband found constructing the Adventure kit for the first time to be an exciting challenge. They spent a fun afternoon figuring out which piece goes where and how to align the holes. Once they grasped the principle, the assembly was a breeze.
Now, the Adventure Kit stands proudly in the play corner of Elisabeth's practice, thrilling the little ones who accompany their pregnant mothers.
"All the kids who've played with it so far absolutely love it," Elisabeth chuckles.
We're over the moon to receive such wonderful feedback from the family and children's sector. It's heartwarming to know that we've hit the mark with our Adventure Kit.
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