Meet the Mom: Eliza Larson, Founder of Oat Mama

Welcome to Meet the Mom interview series. Each interview shines a light on inspiring women who are navigating motherhood on their own terms. From founders and creatives to postpartum pros and everyday magic-makers, these moms are building businesses, raising babies, and rewriting the story of what it means to thrive in every season of motherhood.

This interview is with our Oat Mama founder and mom of three, Eliza Larson. 

Was there a specific “aha!” moment that sparked the idea for your business?

There actually was an "aha!" moment! I saw someone locally selling lactation cookies and it sparked my interest. I had always struggled with not making enough milk, and at the same time, always had a granola bar or some kind of bar in my diaper bag. That’s when it clicked: “Why not make a lactation granola bar?” Something functional and easy for moms on the go, it just made sense. I took a deep dive into learning all about galactagogue foods and then we tested over 60 different recipe iterations to land on our main lactation bar formula before launching Oat Mama into the world just four months later.  

How do you balance motherhood and entrepreneurship - or do you?
Honestly, it’s hard! I try to be intentional, but some days, everything blends together, especially in the summer when the kids are home. Work and motherhood tend to co-exist in a messy, beautiful way. The upside is that, as my own boss, I get to be flexible. I might be working late at night or during playdates, but I can usually make it work for my family and I’m really grateful for that.

What advice would you give a new mom in her fourth trimester?

Give yourself so much grace. This season is raw and real. It’s incredibly hard, but also full of so much beauty. You don’t have to do it perfectly. You just have to love your baby and care for yourself as best you can.

How do you hope your company supports women through their motherhood journey?
Everything I create comes from a place of “I wish I had this when I was a new mom.” Take our Postpartum Healing Tea, for example - I made it to feel like a hug in a mug. I wanted something comforting and restorative, especially in those early days when you feel like a stranger in your own body. Every product starts with one question: What would have helped me then, as a new mom, and even now, in this ongoing post-postpartum season of life? I hope that intention comes through in every product we make. That moms feel seen, supported, and reminded that we’re here, cheering them on every step of the way.

How did you care for your mental and emotional wellbeing as a new mom?
 I really struggled that first year. Everything felt overwhelming - my new identity, the challenges with breastfeeding, postpartum depression, and the physical part of postpartum healing. One of the things that helped the most was having my college best friend, who had a baby just six weeks apart. Even though she lived in a different state, we became each other’s lifelines. We leaned on one another with daily calls and texts, and honestly, there’s nothing quite like having someone in the thick of it with you during postpartum. I also started therapy for the first time as a new mom and it was really supportive and life-changing for me. 

What kind of mother do you hope your children see you as?
I hope they feel how deeply loved they are, no matter what. My grandma raised me and my sister and was the biggest example of unconditional love, and it was the purest form of love I'll cherish forever. 

What’s your go-to ritual or self-care move as a mom?
Waking up before everyone else and doing a quick meditation (I love the Happier app!). Then I make a quiet cup of coffee and take a moment to just sit with my thoughts before the chaos starts. 

What are 3 things you’re loving right now?

1. Summer in the Pacific Northwest - it's pure magic.

2. Walking nature trails with my kids.

3. Iced mint matcha lattes, my current obsession!