World Breastfeeding Week:: Product Roundup

August 1 – 7 is World Breastfeeding Week. It is celebrated each and every year in more than 120 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. I am a breastfeeding mom myself and proud to say I was able to nurse both of my children from birth to around 15 months of age. Neither ever had formula.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need. WHO also recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of life and then with the addition of foods and other nutrients for up to two years.

Although breastfeeding is crucial to the health of babies, it’s not always easy. It can be painful and uncomfortable. This week, we are featuring mom business owners and the products they offer to help other moms become more successful breastfeeders. Check back later this week for more business and products related to breastfeeding. Kudos to these ladies and all of the other dedicated breastfeeding moms!

Nicole Zoellner is the owner of the patented Nizo Wear nursing bras. “Our goal at Nizo Wear is to help educate new moms on the realities of breastfeeding,” said Zoellner. “Breastfeeding can be painful but there are solutions to help you get through the discomfort and onto a blissful breastfeeding experience.” Nizo Wear nursing bras are designed to be both functional and pretty. They were inspired by Zoellner’s own experience with painful breastfeeding. She found that warm compresses before and cold compresses afterwards drastically improved her experience. She designed this bra that features a discreet pocket in which to place a heating and cooling pack.  “This is a practical, comfortable way to get relief from the soreness breastfeeding mothers often experience,” she said.  

Cara Laird established Stones of Healing in 2007. She said she offers breastfeeding products because she feels that breastfeeding is one of the most important things that we as mothers can do for our children. “I like to be able to offer products that celebrate this special relationship and also make the process as positive and enjoyable as possible for breastfeeding moms,” she said. She also acknowledged that breastfeeding isn’t always easy. She hand makes and sells nursing necklaces. “My product can help moms with their distractible babies, and also provide them with a beautiful item to wear that can withstand the wear and tear of being a mom.” A breastfeeding mom herself, Laird said that by offering this product, she is helping to spread the word about the benefits of breastfeeding and helping to make it more accepted in our culture.

Kerry Gilmartin is the mom business owner behind Bamboobies, nursing pads that are ultra-soft, ultra-thin and ultra-eco. They were born after Gilmartin discovered the amazing softness of bamboo and its anti-microbial properties. “I suffered from multiple bouts of mastitis and hope that an antimicrobial pad may save other mothers this problem,” she said. According to their website, Bamboobies are unique because they are softer and waterproof. Their design prevents them from showing through clothes. They are handmade from organic and sustainable fabrics that make them super-absorbent and unbelievably soft.