By Amanda Wegner | Photography by Hillary Schave
Nicole Budeau’s vision for Every Mom Matters (EMM) began 22 years ago, “long before I could put words to it.” Today, Budeau is on a mission to improve maternal health and birth outcomes by transforming access to therapeutic care, education and support with EMM’s programming.
The organization is grounded in Budeau’s own high-risk pregnancy and near-fatal birth experience. Her twins, now 23, were born at 25 weeks and spent five months in the neonatal intensive care unit.
“During that time, the only thing I could do was hold them skin to skin. It was then that I saw the miracle of touch,” she says.
The experience inspired Budeau to become a licensed massage therapist and open her practice, A Healer’s Hand + The Nest. After years of successfully helping perinatal massage clients navigate their pregnancies, she started EMM in 2025 to extend the experience to more practitioners and expectant mothers. In 2026, one of Budeau’s goals is to launch EMM nationwide.
“We have not had a single emergency preterm birth,” says Budeau of her clients. “I have seen firsthand how therapeutic touch changes outcomes and fills critical care gaps.”
The cornerstone of EMM is Transformative Touch, a program rolling out this year. This advanced continuing education program provides specialized training and evidence-informed support for massage therapists who support perinatal patients.
Transformative Touch is one piece of a broader, multi-phase platform that incorporates technology, public outreach and complementary health care practices. Budeau recently achieved a major milestone by securing funding from a Madison venture capital firm to advance EMM.
All of this groundwork lays the foundation for Budeau’s long-term objective of expanding access to maternal health support for underserved communities and lowering maternal mortality and morbidity, improving birth outcomes and the standard of perinatal care nationwide.
“EMM is not just a program or initiative,” says Budeau. “It’s a movement to change the trajectory of maternal health in this country. I truly believe that this work can save lives.”
What’s one piece of advice you wish every woman could hear?
“Sometimes it’s hard to be a human being, not to mention a woman. Please be gentle with yourself and speak to yourself as you would to your best friend. Your best is good enough.”
