“Everybody's experience of conception, labour, birth, postpartum and parenting is different. And it’s supposed to be,” shared Lia-Belle King, co-founder of Worn Store, an ethical and sustainable furniture and clothing brand. Lia-Belle is also mother to five-year-old daughter Ophelia and lives in the Northern Rivers with her wife, business partner and Vedic Meditation teacher Lotte James Barnes-King.
At the beginning of their relationship, Lia-Belle, who suffered from endometriosis, was advised by her healthcare provider to fall pregnant within the year, if she wanted to have the best chance of becoming a mother. The couple quickly embarked on the process of conceiving with a sperm donor, a friend based in Bali. After three cycles of home insemination, Lia-Belle was pregnant.
This year the couple toast their six-year wedding anniversary, and now, as borders have reopened, plan to expand their family with the same sperm donor, but this time, with Lotte carrying their child. Here, Lia-Belle talks about their family dynamic, parenting style, matresence and the special connection all three have with Ophelia’s dad.
What was your journey to being mothers like?
“Prior to starting our family, we anticipated a difficult journey as I have endometriosis. In 2015 I had a laparoscopy and the doctors gave me twelve months to fall pregnant, telling me that if I didn’t, my chances of conceiving would drop to about 1%. At the time, Lotte and I had only been together for six months so parenthood wasn’t on our radar, but we did both know we wanted to start a family in the future. We prepared my body and mind thoroughly with Chinese herbs, acupuncture, dietary change and yoga as well as a lot of healing and self-work in the months leading up to conception. The universe was extremely kind to us and after a series of crazy cosmic events, less than a year later (and three cycles of trying) I was pregnant with Ophelia. Conception was a calm, casual affair taking place in Bali, where we lived at the time. Ophelia’s father is a friend and the two of them have a loving, established relationship.”
Did you and Lotte always envision yourself as mothers?
“Lotte always knew she wanted to be a mother. That maternal role comes so naturally to her playful and caring personality. I knew intuitively that I would be a mother one day however, there was a long time throughout my twenties when I felt that I didn’t need to have children to complete my life. Meeting Lotte completely changed my connection to motherhood. Creating a family with her was, and is, my ultimate life achievement.”
