FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is Momma Mosaic?
A: In 2014, spurred by her struggles with postpartum depression after the birth of her two children, Maria Carola drew upon her experience in publicity and marketing to create Momma Mosaic, an empowerment platform originally designed to raise awareness, debunk stifling stereotypes and reduce cultural stigma associated with postpartum depression (PPD) and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), the #1 complications of pregnancy and motherhood. What began as an awareness campaign for postpartum depression, has grown into a blog, podcast, and growing online community of over 6K that discusses all facets of motherhood.
Momma Mosaic celebrates and amplifies the complexities of motherhood and encourages women to share their stories and use their voices to help other moms feel less alone. We are part of a larger movement and call to action demanding better care for our moms and their families. We are turning up the volume on the realities of motherhood and helping to shift the needle (and conversation) towards better maternity and family care for moms and their families in America.
Q: What is your mission?
A: Everything we do connects back to our mission of breaking stigmas, stereotypes, and judgement around motherhood. Motherhood is not meant to be experienced alone. Yet, the absence of the so-called village and the realities of modern motherhood can leave moms feeling unsupported, misunderstood and alone. Combined with harmful stigmas, judgements, myths and stereotypes of the “perfect mother” and a healthcare system that is not designed to support mothers, too many moms are struggling.
We are natural storytellers, meant to connect, share and exchange personal stories and experiences. No one should have to feel alone or ashamed to talk about the "taboo," raw, messy parts of motherhood. We strive to create conversations and campaigns that empower moms in all stages of motherhood who may be struggling silently — with feeling alone, less than, not enough, guilty — to find their voice and tell their story, while celebrating the complexities of mom life with all of it’s wonky, wobbly bits.
Q: Who started Momma Mosaic?
A: Maria Carola is the face and the founder of Momma Mosaic.
In 2014, after recovering from traumatic childbirth and severe postpartum depression, Maria pivoted her twenty year career as a publicist and photographer to communicate and advocate for better maternal health in America. She began sharing her personal story of overcoming trauma, postpartum depression and post-traumatic stress disorder on social media. Her first published piece for She Knows went viral overnight. She has since appeared on numerous media outlets including Refinery 29, Romper, and The Girlfriend (and even Sesame Street!) speaking about issues ranging from motherhood, body image and mental health to divorce, reinvention and aging. Her authentic, down-to-earth style has resonated with audiences as being “relatable” and "normalizing the experience of motherhood with grace and humor." Her writing has been called "important", "inspiring" and "beautiful.” Maria was named “Ambassador of the Year” (2017) by national nonprofit 2020 Mom, for her work raising awareness for maternal mental health.
Q: how can I help or get involved?
A: We are always looking for like-minded brands, collaborators, partners, and individuals to join the Mosaic. Whether it’s an initiative, a book, a conversation or an event, we love hearing from you. Please feel free to drop us a line at maria@mommamosaic.com to learn about how we might be able to work together.