Nataliia Miranchuk's talk delves into the profound journey of motherhood, highlighting how societal norms can diminish mothers' agency and joy. Drawing parallels to the artistic process, she advocates for guidance and empowerment, encouraging mothers to reclaim their creative journey and embrace their unique experiences. Ultimately, Nataliia champions the idea of motherhood as a transformative and fulfilling endeavor, urging mothers to assert their autonomy and define their own paths free from societal pressures. Nataliia Miranchuk is a passionate advocate for maternal health and support, boasting over 15 years of dedicated experience in this field. Her journey began with the introduction of newborn photography to former Soviet countries, where she swiftly recognized the profound need for emotional guidance and assistance among new parents and families embarking on their parenting journey. Drawing upon her extensive interactions with over 3500 newborns and their families, Nataliia spearheaded various educational initiatives across Belarus, Lithuania, Milan, and Miami, collaborating closely with esteemed organizations like UNFPA and USAID.

Amidst the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Nataliia embraced online education as a means to ensure uninterrupted support for pregnant individuals, particularly when access to traditional healthcare facilities became limited. Leveraging technological advancements, she and her team swiftly developed an innovative educational platform tailored to address the diverse needs of expectant mothers, birthing individuals, and new parents. Within a mere two years, this platform garnered a staggering user base of over 250,000 women, underscoring Nataliia's unwavering commitment to providing accessible and reliable support during pivotal life transitions.

Nataliia's personal journey as a mother deeply informs her professional endeavors. Confronting infertility during her teenage years, she turned to mindfulness practices and yoga to overcome this obstacle and eventually fulfill her dream of motherhood. Despite encountering postpartum depression following the departure of her partner, Nataliia's resilience, fortified by a robust support network and her unwavering determination, enabled her to navigate through this tumultuous period and emerge stronger than ever before.

In 2022, Nataliia embarked on a new chapter in her career, relocating to Cyprus and harnessing her wealth of experience to launch Soula, a groundbreaking mobile application heralded as the first Safe and Compassionate AI for Pregnancy and Maternity. Soula is meticulously crafted to provide expectant mothers and new parents with invaluable support, empowering them to navigate the intricacies of pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood with confidence and reassurance. Unlike conventional pregnancy trackers, Soula places a paramount emphasis on the well-being of the mother, offering a multifaceted array of resources ranging from emotional support to evidence-based information and decision-making assistance. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx