The International Maternity Institute ™ provides cutting edge, evidenced based educational programs, products and services for the maternity professional. Our educational continuum is designed to help today’s maternity professionals enhance their careers while empowering their clients to make informed decisions.
Launch your career in Maternity
At the International Maternity Institute, you’ll receive maternity education and business training through our online courses that will allow you to start a successful maternity practice as a baby planner, green birth educator, greenproofer, sleep consultant, and maternity stress management coach. We train you step-by-step to develop a practice or to apply your training to further your current career journey.
Learn from anywhere in the world
Since 2009, the International Maternity Institute has been at the forefront of maternity education, offering cutting-edge training and preparation. Our online learning format allows students from all over the world to experience our world-class training programs through our online maternity school and curriculum.
The Institute provides personalized training that enables students to develop a practice or utilize the education they receive to expand their current business offerings. The International Maternity Institute also hosts a variety of continuing education programs that are offered through their maternity affiliates.
As a subdivision of the International Maternity Institute ™, the International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals ™, a professional organization for those in the baby planning industry, leads and represents professional baby planners as well as set the standards for the Institute’s Baby Planner certifications and educational programming.
Our Mission
At the International Maternity Institute our mission is to inspire, support, and educate a global network of maternity professionals. It is the IMI’s desire to provide exceptional service to new and expecting parents through our eco-friendly initiatives, diverse educational programming, professional networking, and a commitment to professionalism.
The Institute is the educational body created by Mary Oscategui with the assistance of a talented advisory board, faculty, and certifying board that trains students in the variety of pre and post natal methods and practices developed over her fifteen years of private consulting and business practice.
The Institute’s online learning format allows students from all over the world to experience the finest and most diverse maternity training program through an online maternity school.
The Maternity Institute also provides consultation services for hospitals, birthing centers, retailers, corporations and individuals who wish to incorporate these methods into business, hospital and childbirth programs. By increasing the level of knowledge among professionals and the general public, the Maternity Institute aims to be a leading authority with an integrative approach to pre-conceiving, pregnancy, and post birth methods.
Our Founder
IMI and IABPP founder, CEO, and president Mary Oscategui, authored the first book on the baby planning industry entitled “The Baby Planner: A Guide to Becoming a Baby Planner and Starting Your Own Business.” In her book, for the first time ever, the role of a baby planner and a baby planner’s scope of practice was definitively defined. The popularity of her book resulted in a second edition entitled “The Baby Planner Profession: What You Need To Know! The Ultimate Guide and Resource For Baby Planner Professionals” that is now available in paperback.
In addition to her avid support of baby planners and childbirth professionals, Ms. Oscategui is committed to eco-friendly parenting and educating expecting and new parents on the importance of green living. Ms. Oscategui introduced the first greenproofing training program through the Baby Planner Institute and provides expecting parents, parents and childbirth professionals with an in-depth look at the world of greenproofing through her latest book, “Green Body Green Birth.”
Founder, CEO, and President
Mary Oscategui, CBP [IABPP], is the Founder, CEO, and President of the International Maternity Institute (IMI) and International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals (IABPP). She is an international business consultant and educator who specializes in maternal health, fitness, and going green. Her career in the baby planning industry began with her company TheBabyPlanner.com. She is also the founder of Physical Awakening.com, a holistic integrative approach offering the services of yoga, meditation, pilates, fitness, and nutrition.
Mary is a leader in education and has been consulting and guiding hundreds of clients for the last 16 years. She is the author of “The Baby Planner Profession: What You Need To Know! The Ultimate Guide and Resource for Baby Planner Professionals,” and her latest book, “Green Body Green Birth”, is due to release soon.
Mary enjoys empowering, educating, and supporting expectant and new parents to know all their options so that they may confidently make the best decisions for themselves and their baby in the most objective, healthy, safe way.
Mary’s work in the health, fitness, and maternity industry is backed up by a multitude of prestigious certifications. She is a writer, speaker, educator, coach, certified yoga and pilates instructor, certified personal trainer, holistic nutrition consultant, going green consultant, greenproofer, and birthing options advocate. She introduced a new approach to the baby planning industry by focusing on the needs of her clients through parental education and emotional support and established the first and only certification program in the baby planning industry .
Mary advises and coaches maternity professionals offering a wealth of knowledge and support. Her enthusiasm, inspiration, creativity, and knowledge has helped launch many maternity start-up businesses in 20 countries around the world. She enjoys helping business owners meet their challenges with clear and direct solutions.
Additionally Mary continues to coach and train her clients through the modalities of baby planning, stress management, yoga, pilates, personal training, mom and baby health, holistic nutrition, and weight management. Mary’s past experience includes managing a Group Exercise and Fitness Department for an upscale health club, and her own fitness and yoga company, Physical Awakening. She has also coordinated and arranged a variety of operations, including developing a highly successful special programming and events department, where she doubled her revenue within six months of starting. To learn more about Mary and her personal services visit: http://www.thebabyplanner.com and http://www.physicalawakening.com .
Co-President
Emily Schaffer brings 18 years of professional work in the maternity industry and holds the following certifications: PostPartum Doula, Lactation Educator, Baby Planner, Greenproofer, Infant Sleep Specialist, and Newborn Care Instructor. She received her B.A. in Holistic Health at Prescott College in Arizona and is committed to helping with the transition into parenthood with physical and emotional support for the entire family. She emphasizes education so that new parents are better equipped to make informed decisions and have the skills to be successful.
Emily offers private consultations on baby planning, newborn care, breastfeeding & lactation advice, newborn sleep solutions, nursery preparation, greening your home and nanny hiring. In addition she also teaches many workshops in her local and on-line community. She has been published in many on-line resources:Marinmommies, SBParent and Barefoot & Pregnant. She speaks at at national conferences on Postpartum Care. Emily currently lives in her native hometown of Mill Valley, California with her husband and new baby girl.
Nicole Hatchet is the Executive Assistant to Mary Oscategui, and an intern at the International Maternity Institute. She is a certified baby planner and founder of Hatch It Baby Planning. She has an incredible passion to empower, educate, and support new and expectant parents; that they may be confident in making the best decisions for themselves and their baby in an objective, healthy and safe way.
Hatch It Baby Planning is a baby planning consulting service based in St. Louis, MO. As a baby planner, Nicole strives to help expecting parents feel prepared and comfortable so that they are able to enjoy their transition into parenthood.
Nicole received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Truman State University in Kirksville, MO with minors in Early Childhood Education and English. Nicole has been working in the Early Childhood field for the past 6 years with backgrounds in nannying and teaching pre-kindergarten. In her spare time, she loves to travel, cook, and spend time with family and friends.
http://www.hatchitbabyplanning.com
Forum Director
Meghan Brown is a wife and proud mother of one living in Calgary, AB, Canada. She is a passionate advocate for parental support in her community and strives to empower mothers and fathers through education and positive influence. Meghan runs a baby planning business, Newborns & Nurseries Inc., and is continually learning and working to expand her resources and network of maternity professionals.
http://www.newbornsandnurseries.com
Nina Bassett is a certified baby planner from the International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals (IABPP) and is a Hypnobabies Certified Hypno-Doula. Nina studied at the University of Texas at Austin and has a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies as well as a business foundations certification from the McCombs School of Business. She has received training and is currently waiting to receive certifications as a birth and postpartum doula from DONA International and has taken the GreenBirth Educator course from the International Maternity Institute (IMI). This summer and fall, Nina is also going to massage therapy school where she will become licensed in prenatal, postnatal and infant massage. She loves helping families throughout their pregnancy, birth and postpartum periods and she wants to be able to help all expecting and new families with each transition into parenthood.
Jessica Wilson, ACA, is an insurance consultant, adjuster and educator who specializes in homeowners’ insurance claims. Jessica holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of South Florida and an Associate’s degree in Psychology from St. Petersburg College. She is a licensed Public Adjuster in the state of Florida. Jessica has been working in the insurance industry for the past ten (10) years and is an avid speaker and educator on insurance practices and claims adjusting. Jessica is the founder of Blue Sail Consulting, Inc., a lead Public Adjuster at Southeast Sinkhole & Storm Adjusters, Inc. which she co-founded with her husband and the Vice President at Rick J. Wilson & Associates, Inc. She has represented hundreds of homeowners and business owners in their insurance claims. Jessica currently resides in beautiful Tarpon Springs, Florida with her husband, Rickey, her six year old son, Ethan, her four year old step-son, Landon and her two month old daughter, Rhys. In her spare time, she enjoys fishing, kayaking and traveling with her family.
Jessica’s desire to become a Certified Baby Planner was born during her frantic preparation for the arrival of her daughter, Rhys. While attempting to juggle her career, tend to her blended family, take care of her household and maintain a healthy pregnancy, along with the multitude of preparations necessary to welcome her daughter’s arrival, she found herself wasting precious time and energy re-familiarizing herself with the best baby products and services in her area. This emotional, fretful time was the inspiration behind her baby planning business, [MOD] momma, Inc. Through [MOD] momma, Inc., Jessica offers guidance, support and education in preparing for the transition into parenthood to make it the most seamless and memorable as possible.
Marketing Assistant
Grace Godinez is the Owner, Creative Director, Principle Consultant, & Baby Planner at Sophie Grace Couture, Boutique & Concierge for chic mommies, babies, and mommas-to-be. She uses her expertise to tackle all the unique challenges that come along with parenthood.
Grace a native Texan, busy wife and mother of five has taken her experience and translated it all into a brand that can help any parent succeed and create a dream setting for their child. From baby planning to events and design her goal is to help create a signature lifestyle for you & your baby.
Grace is proud to be an associate member of the International Academy of Baby Planning Professionals.
Blog Contributor
Amanda Hammond
I was a business major until I began my IABPP Baby Planner curriculum. I have learned more than I could have hoped and feel very privileged to blog for IABPP. As a result of learning the baby planning trade, I’ve been inspired to learn more… and more… about childbirth, green living and pregnancy. I’ve made changes in my own home by switching to nontoxic cleaning and baby products as much as I am able. I was already into cloth diapering and attachment parenting, so that hasn’t changed. But now I can tell you WHY I believe in this lifestyle using facts rather than just pure emotion. I can’t wait to pass all that I have learned and will continue to learn on to my clients! Part of that is through blogging, so here I am!
Retail & Product Educator
Annie Mullens
Annie is a Certified Baby Planner, Greenproofer, and Car Seat Technician. She owned her own retail store, worked in finance, and eventually settled into a career as the manager of a very successful retail baby boutique. In this role, Annie had encountered thousands of expectant parents. She heard their fears and shared their joy, but more than anything she saw the stress they were enduring regarding all the decisions they needed to make. As time went on she heard more and more parents asking for someone who could help them make educated choices about their pregnancy and beyond. Many didn’t have the time (or energy) to research all of the baby preparation options out there and when they did attempt to research their options, more often than not ended up feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and even more confused. Her passion was born! This passion led her to start WeePlan Baby Planners and begin her role as a Maternity Product Specialist for IMI.
With her hands-on experience and thousands of parents’ feedback, she is able to tailor an individualized plan for each unique parenthood experience. Most importantly she saves her clients time and money as she supports and empowers them in their decisions, with a focus on the health and well-being of the whole family.
http://weeplanbabyplanners.com/
European Baby Planner Liaison and Alliance Representative at EABPP
Nadia loves supporting couples in the incredible journey to become parents. She thinks that having a baby is the most beautiful experience in life, that is why she is so passionate to help, educate and assist families.