On the eve of Mother's Day, 2019 Romy Klotnick was at her wit's end and questioning everything she thought about becoming a mum.
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She had endured weeks of "trouble and tears" trying to breastfeed her newborn son Patrick and the baby blues had set in.
"I hated myself and felt like a failure," the 36-year-old Wodonga mum said.
Thankfully a guardian angel in the shape of Border lactation consultant Wendy Pratt was on hand to assist Romy in her hour of need.
Now mum and bub are beaming, Patrick is feeding well (on a bottle) and has "thrived ever since".
Wendy, an internationally trained midwife and neonatal nurse, has more than 30 years of wisdom up her sleeve with infant feeding.
For nearly a decade, countless Border mums have had the benefit of her expertise at Wodonga Hospital's breastfeeding clinic.
She then set up her own business, Baby Assist, so that she had the flexibility to be more available to new and expecting parents.
From help with sleep, settling and swaddling to feeding and feelings, Wendy's care for clients has seen her named as a finalist in the 2019 AusMumpreneur Wellness & Wellbeing Business Award.
Wendy said while she was honoured to be recognised in awards that highlight business success, her focus was "walking the journey with mums".
"I want to be available to respond to mums who need support after hospital; in private practice I can do home visits, take phone calls and texts, and provide total care," she said.
"I want to be a part of the community and give mothers a place where they can feel validated - that's my whole philosophy."
Romy said Wendy's help went far beyond the fourth trimester course she originally signed up for at Baby Assist.
"She came to my house on a Saturday to help me express, she supported me through my decision to bottle feed and put me in touch with all the right services," she said.
"I am still finding out who I am as a mother but I"m on track ... Wendy's like a mum.
"If it wasn't for her care in those first weeks, I don't know what would have happened."
