The Mère Inspo - Jie Hui
MÈRE INSPO - miss goob
Jie Hui, Founder of Goobycakes, says - "Being able to express my emotions and share my thoughts and feelings openly with my support group made me survive the past 7 months".
First time mummy and an Entrepreneur
Jie Hui is a beautiful mummy, and a proud plus size representative. Her confidence shines through. She is charming and friendly, yet so raw and real. She often share snippets of her life on her instagram @missgoob. And her baked goodies taste as good as they look!
We had a lovely chat about her adorable dog Gooby, her beautiful mummy, and her sisters. And, of course, her bakery business Goobycakes.
Here’s our home conversation where Jie Hui shares with us about her inspiring story of founding a business and discovering she was pregnant when she was least expecting it!
Today, she has given birth to an adorable baby boy.
Jiehui wearing Lovemère Seamless Nursing Bra at week 32.
1. So tell me, how did you discover you are pregnant?
It was during the circuit breaker period and I was alone as my Ahlao (‘husband’) had to stay in camp for a week! I felt tenderness and soreness in my breasts for more than a week, but my period didn’t come, which was unusual. So I took the test and found out I was pregnant!
2. Did you experience any difficulty being pregnant during Covid?
I don’t think there is any major difficulty, except that wearing a mask for long hours makes me feel breathless! I work in the kitchen a lot (since I’m a baker) so I always felt breathless especially from my second trimester onwards. And it is even worse when I walk outdoors!
3. Any cravings?
I craved a lot of pasta, noodles and basically anything carby during my first trimester! I also started enjoying sour and spicy food, whereas I previously didn’t like such things!
4. Do you have a birth plan?
I really wanted to do water birth but due to Covid, this option is out. I am hoping for a natural vaginal delivery for now.
Jiehui wearing Love, Juliette Nursing Bralette at week 32.
5. As the founder of a business yourself, will you take maternity leave?
Being self-employed, I don’t get to enjoy the full benefits like other working mums. Haha! Therefore, I’ve hired a full-time helper to help out during this period and I also hope to get back to work asap after giving birth! No choice! During confinement, I will also have to work from home, probably handling orders and enquiries online :)
6. Why and how did you launch Goobycakes?
I kind of stumbled into baking. I was almost graduating from university and didn’t want to look for a corporate job at all. All my life as a student, I’ve enjoyed working in hands-on jobs. I was a florist for a couple of years. Then I worked in a candy store. I also worked in a pet food company. After graduation, I wanted to learn a skill so I went to work part-time in a bakery. After a month there, I craved for more creative work so I left and started baking from home, reading books from the library and watching lots of videos.
Initially, I was baking mostly for family and friends. Then I started getting more business via positive word of mouth and at some point, the house just wasn’t big enough anymore and I had to rent my first space at Bukit Timah Shopping Centre!
Jiehui wearing Lovemère Seamless Nursing Bra at week 32.
7. Most surprising thing about pregnancy?
The most surprising thing, at least for me, is that it comes when you least expect it!
My Ahlao and I have been trying for really long and even with tracking ovulation and everything, we failed and each time it was such a disappointment. It took a toll on my stress levels and emotional wellbeing.
When we decided to just let nature take its course and stop all the tracking (I deleted all the period and ovulation apps on my phone), I got pregnant! I feel like it’s such a blessing and also very thankful that we managed to conceive naturally without forcing it!
Jiehui wearing Love, Juliette Nursing Bralette at week 32.
8. Do you have any advice to our mummies?
Find a support group. My sisters are my biggest pillars of strength during this time. We text daily and meet very often just to hang out, talk and laugh. They’ve made me a much more cheerful and happier person during my pregnancy.
Also, communicate a lot with your partner. Even though the baby is in our body, pregnancy is a journey for both parents! Grateful that my Ahlao has been very present the whole time, tending to my needs and being really sensitive towards my feelings.
Being able to express my emotions and share my thoughts and feelings openly with my support group made me survive the past 7 months rather comfortably!