Meet The Owner of Bean Family Wellness 

Ilissa Mistry, B.H.Ecol. (FSS), CBS™

Hello. My name is Ilissa. I am the owner of Bean Family Wellness! For as long as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about working with families around the time of birth! As a young child, I dreamed of one day becoming a mother and experiencing the journey of parenthood. In University, I focused on my passion and learned how to assist families as they transition through the various stages of life.

While attending university, I worked privately as a nanny in Winnipeg, specifically with infants and children under 5. While pregnant with my first daughter, I became even more passionate about helping other families through this very special time in their lives. After the birth of my daughter, I knew that every family deserves the experience of a beautiful pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. 
 

Beliefs about Pregnancy, Birth, & Beyond

I believe that the human body is amazing and that it is made to create life and give birth (a process that leaves me in awe)! During this time, it is so important for families to have good support and education. I hope that by having me join you on this journey, that you will feel empowered to make the choices that are right for you and your family to create your own unique experience! 

I am a Perinatal Family Educator, Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, and a Perinatal Doula. I support all families regardless of their choices and preferences for their pregnancies, births, and postpartum experiences. I have worked with low risk families, high risk families, families who choose to have low intervention or high intervention births, and families who have chosen a variety of care providers or places of birth - including an obstetrician, family doctor, or midwife, who choose to give birth in hospital, at the birth centre, or at home.

University, Cont. Education, & Professional Experience

In 2011, I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Faculty of Human Ecology, Focus: Family Social Sciences, from the University of Manitoba. This focus of this program was family health and well-being. I gained knowledge and skills specific to working with families through life changes to ease transitions, mediate and decrease conflict, and encourage more positive experiences. Specific knowledge gained included human growth and development, family relationships, parenting, community health, as well as multi-cultural and intergenerational dynamics. This program also provided skills and hands-on experience with program development and evaluation to prepare me to help families in the community through prevention, education and health promotion

Before completing my degree, I took 2 years of university courses in the Faculty of Nursing before deciding to fulfill my dream of working one-on-one with families in the community.

Over the past 12 years, I have worked on a variety of research studies focused on health care at the University of Alberta, as well as the University of Manitoba. I am currently working with the Children’s Hospital Institute of Manitoba. In 2019, I was appointed as a Professional Affiliate with the Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research (MCNHR). I have a strong interest applying research findings to best practices to improve the care for families.

After giving birth to my oldest daughter, I completed my CAPPA (Childbirth & Postpartum Professional Association) labour doula training in 2012, and birth doula training through the Manitoba Association of Childbirth and Family Education in 2013.  I took LGBTQ Positive Childbirth Educator Training (2016) through the Queer Birthproject, and and the Spinning Babies Training in 2017.  In 2016, I attended the Birth and Beyond Conference in London, Ontario. I learnt from ionic leaders in the birth community, including the opportunity to meet and learn from legendary midwife - Ina May Gaskin.  

In 2018, I became an accredited Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider Instructor with the Heart & Stroke Foundation, certifying me to teach CPR & AED Classes.

In 2019, I took specialized training in Family Mediation to increase my ability to help families work through conflict, transition, and life changes. Parenting is a lifestyle change that many couples are not fully prepared for. My hope is that this education will help improve communication between parents as they prepare to welcome a baby and parent both young and older children. I am currently a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Manitoba (ADRIM), Family Mediation Division.

Over the years, I’ve helped families get breastfeeding off to a good start, overcome challenges, and meet their breastfeeding goals. I’ve taken specialized training in breastfeeding. I received a Certificate of Completion for the Breastfeeding Training Course with the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario. In 2020, I earned my Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS) designation. My goal is to help families achieve their goals by offering education and support throughout the breastfeeding journey.
 

Specialized Knowledge / Experience / Interest

NICU, 2LGBTQIA*, High Risk Birth, PPROM, Premature Birth, Loss, Breastfeeding after breast surgery (reduction) (BFAR), low milk supply, exclusive pumping.

Media Appearances

I was a guest speaker on CJOB and CTV Morning Live, talking about my work as a doula, childbirth educator, and premature babies. I have written articles for Midwifery Today, Holistic Parenting Magazine and Natural Pregnancy Magazine, and have had my maternity, birth, baby photography featured in the following magazines: Pathways to Family Wellness, Midwifery Today, Holistic Parenting Magazine, Natural Pregnancy Magazine, in the Winnipeg Free Press Newspaper, and in the Winnipeg Children’s Hospital Research Foundation’s Annual General Report.

My Birth Photography work was included in the Gallery Exhibit called BORN along-side seven other talented Birth Photographers in Manitoba. This gallery exhibit was hosted at the Pembina Hills Arts Council in Morden Manitoba from February 20 - March 31, 2018.

Related Volunteer Experience

In the past, I volunteered as a social media administrator for The Birthing Site, as well as acted as a MACFE board member and volunteered as their social media administrator. From 2015-2018 I was a Tiny Footprints Project volunteer. This program matched professional photographers with parents who have had a premature baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). I am the founder of The Art of Breastmilk Project - a photographic and storytelling journey of parents feeding their babies breastmilk.