Practice nurse Louise Johnson, co-founder of The Contented Cow Company tells us how she copes with three daughters (one a newborn) a part-time job, and being a co-founder of a business.

Name: Louise Johnson

Age: 31 years

Children: Chloe eight, Juliet seven, and Claudia 14 weeks old.

Job title: Practice nurse (currently on maternity leave), and co-founder of The Contented Cow Company

What was the motivating factor for staring your own business?
My husband Adam is a Dairy Farmer. In 2007, the declining milk price within the industry was forcing us to look at diversifying our business with an aim of adding value to the milk we produce on our farm.

What are the best bits about working again?
Interest, independance, encourages self belief, keeps the brain ‘ticking’.

Running a business can be a mixed bag sometimes. What have been you highs and lows so far?
Highs – sense of achievement, especially as the dairy industry is a very male dominated area. Meeting new people; visiting London! Being given the opportunity to supply a high welfare RSPCA milk in the first eco-friendly ecolean jug/pouch to be launched in the UK into one of the major supermarket chains. Being able to adopt some health promotion/ educational aspects from my nursing background to encourage healthy eating for both adults, but inparticular children, by making the packaging attractive and fun to children therefore, encouraging the consumption of milk.

Lows – Hard work! Very difficult juggling child care (and having a baby in the middle of our launch period!). Coping with the thought of not spending quality time with my children, being a bad mother? due to constant work commitments.

How have you managed to stay on top of your career with the demands of motherhood?
Yes I have, I am currently on maternity leave from my practice nurse job. I am lucky to have the support of my family who live close by, enabling me to pursue my career.

I?ve also been able to help my husband run our family business and our first product, Precious Milk, has launched into 35 Sainsburys stores in the North West, South East England and Cardiff on 22nd May 2008, if at the end of the 12 week trial period sales targets are met, precious milk will be rolled out.

What has been the high point along the way?
The sense of achievement. The idea for Precious Milk came along whilst doing a weekly supermarket shop and eventually became reality following a successful meeting with the senior dairy buyer from Sainsbury’s (and a LOT of hard work).

What is your worst experience along the way?
Being apart from my husband and girlies.

Any tips for expectant mums, or mothers who feel that you can’t have a successful career and a happy family life at the same time?
There is a happy balance between work and family, and once you?ve found that balance everything becomes a bit easier. It’s

important as an individual as well as a mother to fulfill yourself in both your interests and your work, as being happy and

content in your life has a knock on effect on your children – a happy mummy has happy children!