This month, we meet the bubbly Faustine, mother of two little girls and recent co-founder of the children's pyjama brand Laustine. After moving to Switzerland a few years ago, she decided to become a stay-at-home mom. Find out why and how she organizes her daily life. 

Faustine, can you introduce yourself in a few words?
I'm 33 and the mother of two daughters, Victoria (3 and a half) and Cassandre (1). Before the children, I was a civil engineer, an asset management relationship manager and a Londoner (smile). Now I'm co-founder of Laustine, a brand of pyjamas for children and babies aged 1 month to 6 years.

Stay-at-home mother: a choice or a necessity?
I had to quit my job when we moved to Geneva 7 years ago. I thought I'd be back in work in no time, but that didn't turn out to be the case. When Victoria was born, I couldn't see myself going back into finance when I finally had something to do at home! I'd never imagined myself as a stay-at-home mother, but I'm glad I did. The first few years are when the children need to be with us the most, before school starts and they start to have activities and friends, so I might as well make the most of it. In the end, it's not that long - well, sometimes it is (laughs).

Is the Laustine project, your 3rd baby, a way of retraining yourself professionally?
Even though I'm happy to look after the girls, I was lacking a stimulus to activate my brain and challenge myself. Once you know how to change a diaper, make a bottle, purée a meal and play with playmobils, well, you're just going round in circles... With Laustine, I once again had problems to solve, adults to talk to and, above all, a wonderful colleague to share things with. It's reassuring to have something to think about other than the daily chores of looking after the children and the house. What's more, when it's your project, motivation increases tenfold. We shape it in our own image and follow its progress, with its share of surprises, both good and bad.

What kind of mother are you? What's your parenting style?
My mother would say I'm VERY strict, but I'd describe myself more as a traditionalist who likes organization. My children's routines are important to me because they set a framework for the whole family. I also believe that children should adapt to our lives (within reason) and not the other way round. During the day, they come everywhere with me. I explain everything to them and try to listen to them as much as possible (especially Victoria, who is a real chatterbox). Later on, I'd like them to be able to come and talk to me freely about anything and everything, without taboos or embarrassment.

I hadto be induced both times. As someone who loves organization, I was actually quite happy to have an "appointment" at the maternity hospital (laughs).

Victoria's delivery was rapid (so much so that the midwives didn't believe me and ended up giving me the epidural at 8 cm!) The placenta didn't come out completely, which led to a uterine revision and a lot of blood loss. I was so weak the first few days that I had to stay in bed.

For Cassandre, the birth itself was even easier than for Victoria, but the rest was much less so... I suffered a delivery hemorrhage, one of the complications most dreaded by gynecologists, along with pre-eclampsia. The uterus doesn't contract back to its original size, so the bleeding doesn't stop. In less than an hour, I lost more than half my blood (around 3.5/4 liters). Some fifteen people were busy giving me injections, massages, a curettage and placing electrodes in the event of resuscitation... A second gynecologist came to help mine, and the anesthesiologist followed her protocol to the end. The midwife massaged my belly to simulate contractions and finally, after 45 minutes, the bleeding stopped. Once stabilized, an ambulance took me to the HUG to be monitored in the best place in case of further complications. I spent the longest night of my life, my daughter having stayed at Les Grangettes. I was able to go home the next afternoon, very, very swollen from the many blood transfusions I'd had the day before. Physical recovery was more difficult, but with two children you don't have much choice!

Despite the trauma, it's important to talk and confide in someone about what's happened so that you can move forward. The team at Les Grangettes was wonderful, and my gynecologist undoubtedly saved my life.

How do you organize your days? Do you have childcare?
I looked after Victoria full-time for her first 16 months and Cassandre for 13 months. This year, we've chosen to send Victoria to a French school that accepts children aged 3 and over. My husband drops her off at 8am and I pick her up at 3pm. I'm lucky enough to have a kindergarten in my commune that accepts children from 12 months. Cassandre goes there 4 afternoons a week. Her older sister had also been there for the previous two years, which was a great help during her second pregnancy. So my days are punctuated by drop-offs and pick-ups, but between all that and thanks to naps (thank God for naps), I can work on Laustine for about 3 hours during the day and then all evening.

Since you've become a stay-at-home mom, what have been your most difficult moments?
Victoria's first year was complicated. I felt a bit overwhelmed, so the best time was when my husband came home in the evening and took over (laughs). Today, with experience, I feel confident. Still with Victoria, lunchtime was a real ordeal because she didn't eat anything, and it always ended with both of us screaming and crying. I clearly think I was doing it wrong, but after a lot of work and a good book on the subject, we got out of it. Today, the hardest times are when the girls haven't had their nap and are either overexcited or whining over nothing.

How do you find a balance with your husband?
We're lucky that the girls sleep very well and early (luck and help from my highly recommended bible "the Sensational baby sleeping plan" by Alison McWright). The girls are in bed between 7.15 and 7.45pm every night, without exception, which gives us a lot of time to enjoy our evenings alone. When we only had Victoria, we often went away for the weekend with or just the two of us, but with two children it's logistically more complicated. But this weekend we're going to try it for the first time (smile).

What fundamental values would you like to pass on to your daughters?
I'd like them to learn to be happy and appreciate what they have, while knowing how to persevere. I'd also like them to be kind-hearted. I try to teach them empathy and respect, whether for people, cultures or rules.

A woman you admire?
At the moment, I really like Arielle Charnas from Something Navy. You might even say I have a woman crush. After just a few years, she's just landed a deal worth over $10 million with Silas Chou to set up her own brand.

Faustine, what's the best thing we can wish you today for tomorrow?
Success for Laustine!