The Hermosa Co.

A Torquay perinatal massage clinic and skincare brand made its mission known this Mother’s Day; it is a business by mums, for mums.

Between Good Friday and Mother’s Day this year, The Hermosa Co. a pregnancy, postpartum and women’s massage clinic in Torquay with its own body care brand for mums and bubs, donated 20 per cent of all website profits to the Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia National Helpline, PANDA.

To Lydia Latta, founder of Hermosa, massage therapist and single mum of three (with twins), supporting PANDA in honour of Mother’s Day was an easy decision.

“At the massage clinic we see about 15 women. We hear their background, we hear about how they’re going with their pregnancy,” she explained.

Lydia said she sees first-hand the need for PANDA and the tireless work they do to support women in all stages of motherhood.

“Sometimes women don’t understand that there are other women going through similar situations because we don’t tend to talk about it that often.

“I did COVID with my three kids, and I’m a single mum so I understand the importance of having a community.

“I had a twin pregnancy and I have a little girl, and that has unique challenges.

“It’s all about mums and women knowing there are groups and community support out there and PANDA plays such a big role. Women can start to reach out, and they don’t.”

To raise awareness for the Mother’s Day donations to PANDA, The Hermosa Co. also organised a photo shoot near Geelong last month, with 30 women in various stages of pregnancy photographed to celebrate community, and the beauty of pregnancy.

“That also came from the clinic because I work so closely with all these pregnant women and I just think it’s beautiful what they’re going through and how their bodies are changing and just the motherhood journey.

“And I felt like sometimes they don’t realise how incredibly magical and beautiful they are and I thought if I could somehow capture these women all together and showcase their differences and how beautiful they all are in their differences.

“There’s a beautiful community of mums in the Bellarine and Surf Coast and Geelong, and I love to recommend places mums can go.

“The women would come into the clinic and some women haven’t been able to share their beautiful bumps with their family, especially if it’s your first baby and it’s all so new and all the changes, it’s so nice to be able to share that with friends and family and they’ve missed out on so much of that.”

Lydia said the business was able to donate a substantial amount, particularly as Mother’s Day is their busiest time of year.

“For me too, it’s about mums and women knowing there are businesses and groups out there to support us because some people don’t have friends and family, they don’t have the village, and sometimes we’re not aware of how much there is support actually available for us.

“And I think that’s why PANDA played such a big role.

“It shows they don’t have to do it alone.”