Carla Oates | Delivering Hope Ambassador
What was your first experience with The Royal Hospital for Women?
I was born at the old Royal Hospital for Women in Paddington and my children were born at The Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick, so I have a very deep connection to the hospital. I have beautiful memories of all of my visits there with the midwives when I was pregnant and the midwives who helped to deliver my babies. I had a few small complications after both babies, so I stayed in the hospital for one week after the births of both my children and the nurses and doctors were always incredibly kind and helpful. The Royal Hospital for Women is such a wonderful resource for women and their families, and I am very grateful for their continued support and excellence in the services they provide.
How does your knowledge in gut health help shape your outlook and approach to motherhood?
My journey to starting The Beauty Chef began with my family. When my daughter began to experience similar skin issues to the allergies and eczema I had experienced as a child, I put my husband and kids on a gut-healing protocol that included probiotic-rich, lacto-fermented wholefoods. Very quickly I noticed a profound difference in my daughter’s skin as well as the improved wellbeing and overall health of the whole family.
After this, I soon realised the power of the gut-skin connection. I began experimenting with skin-loving superfoods in my Bondi kitchen and that’s how GLOW®—The Beauty Chef’s first inner beauty powder—was created in 2009.
Cooking is one of my favourite things to do. I love combining the joy of cooking with the science of nutrition. Even though my children are adults now, bringing the family together for a healthy meal is still a weekly occurrence in our household.
What advice would you give to busy (often overwhelmed) mothers on juggling the load and prioritising their health? Top 3 key tips?
For any woman, be they a new or experienced mother, balance is by far the most challenging aspect of motherhood and is something that is still taken for granted in modern society. As a mother, wife, CEO, founder and creative director, I juggle a lot of things. Balancing these facets of my life is something I am constantly having to work on. While success in your career is rewarding, at the end of the day love, family and friendships sustain.
1. Always carve out time for yourself and let your family know that this is a priority. Whether it’s a walk in the park, to the beach, a swim, a morning meditation or a long bath filled with bath salts and calming music. Do something for you every day, even if it’s only for ten minutes. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and it’s so important to replenish daily. This is an investment that will help you maintain your energy and ability to juggle, so prioritise this time, this is especially important when you are at your busiest. We are human ‘beings’ after all, so find time just to be. This gives us important thinking and reflection time. It is actually being productive but in a much more holistic way.
2. Don’t compare yourself to others and be kind to yourself. I have only more recently learned to do this, and I can see friends and family and work colleagues find it challenging. Every woman I know finds balancing work and family tricky, even if they don’t look like it on the surface. We are all different and manage things differently and have different tolerances to workload–this is OK, in fact, it’s great! Our differences should be celebrated. Focus on your strengths. It is also important to ask for help when you need it.
3. Look after your gut! Eating well is one of the most important foundational steps to feeling your best and recharging your energy levels. A diet rich in wholefoods and fibre helps to feed your gut microbiome which in turn helps support your skin, metabolic, brain and immune health. Focusing on your gut health helps you glow from the inside out, in every way.
What does being an ambassador for The Royal’s Delivering Hope giving day mean to you?
It’s very rewarding for me to help raise both awareness and resources around something that is absolutely foundational–the health and wellbeing of women and their babies and families. To ensure that their health needs are met and that they have the confidence and hope that they will be supported and nurtured for the best possible outcome is essential.
Delivering Hope shines a light on the extraordinary care The Royal provides to women, newborns, and families.
2021 has been the busiest in the more than 150-year history of The Royal - helping deliver more than 4,200 babies and responding to the urgent health needs of more than 10,000 women across gynaecology, maternity, fertility, genetics, maternal fetal medicine, and oncology.
Thanks to generous donors, all donations made to The Royal's Giving Day, Delivering Hope, will be DOUBLED. A donation on or before 24 November will help The Royal Hospital for Women deliver hope to women and newborns when they need it most.
