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Nursing Through the Holidays

Bamboobies Blog — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:46:21 GMT

The holiday season is a wonderful time for many families to gather. While spending time with family is a gift for many of us, breastfeeding around extended family is not always the easiest thing to do. Here are a couple of tips that may make nursing through the holidays a little easier and a lot more comfortable:

Tips for Nursing Through the Holidays

1. Set yourself up to feel comfortable nursing, even around family members who don't "get it." Great nursing pads can prevent embarrassing leaks. A cute nursing cover can help you feel attractive and still provide privacy for you and your baby.
2. Educate those around you. Family members may have no idea that the rights of breastfeeding mothers are protected by the law (state laws here - www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14389). They may remember a time when nursing pads were homemade circles of flannel or cotton. They may never have seen a nursing cover more sophisticated than a blanket. Show them how things have changed - help them understand how nursing fits into modern culture!
3. Inspire Future Breastfeeders. Provide younger family members with an opportunity to see breastfeeding as a normal part of caring for a baby. This doesn't have to make anyone uncomfortable - but it doesn't hurt younger family members to know that breastfeeding is good for moms and babies. Seeing fun products like bright colored, heart-shaped nursing pads and cute, drapey nursing covers can help them envision themselves as future breastfeeding parents, too.

Holiday Gifts With Heart

Bamboobies Blog — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:30:06 GMT

Breastfeeding is the ultimate expression of love. Watch any mother and baby breastfeeding, and it is immediately obvious that there is so much more passing between them than simple nutrition. Through breastfeeding, moms and babies both gain emotional and physical health benefits that last a lifetime.

You can offer real support to the breastfeeding moms in your life this holiday season with gifts from the heart. Bamboobies nursing pads, overnight nursing pads, therapy pillows, and nursing covers are all unparalleled in quality. Our ultra-soft fabrics feel amazing for new and experienced moms alike. And our eco-fabrics, fair labor policies, and Colorado-based production facilities mean that your gifts are good for our greater community as well.

A not-so-secret gift-giving tip: our Cute Little Nursing Cover makes a great gift for any woman on your list, whether she is breastfeeding or not! Any woman who appreciates sumptuous fabric and a flattering drape will love the Cute Little Nursing Cover.

Check our website for a listing of retailers near you, or make your online purchases at www.buybamboobies.com.

Bamboobies Win National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Bamboobies Blog — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:13:49 GMT

The National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval program identifies the finest products and services being marketed to the parent/child audience.

Bamboobies nursing pads were awarded the Seal of Approval in the 2011 Holiday Report (http://www.tnpc.com/search/Hol11soaframes.asp). The product review included these words of praise:

"Described to us as genius, comfortable and functional they could not lavish enough praise on these unique nursing pads. Incredibly soft so that they can be worn all day and especially at night when leaking is most likely to occur. "

Beyond the softness of our nursing pads, reviewers were also excited about our design and our sustainable fabrics. You can read the full review here (http://www.tnpc.com/search/tnpcarticle2.asp?rec=7325).

The National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval is one more vote of confidence in the quality of our nursing pads. Look for their logo on our nursing pad packaging the next time you buy.

Bamboobies Cute Little Nursing Cover

Bamboobies Blog — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:59:37 GMT

We are thrilled to announce that our beloved Butterfly Wrap has a new name: the Bamboobies Cute Little Nursing Cover.

What remains awesome about the Cute Little Nursing Cover?

It is still made to help active, engaged moms who want to "Go out. Look good. Keep nursing." After all, breastfeeding is a totally normal part of many women's lives. Having clothes that allow easy breastfeeding makes feeding a baby even more normal and more comfortable.
It is still made of sumptuously soft eco-soy fabric.
It is still wonderfully versatile as a forgiving and flattering maternity shawl, a stylish nursing cover, or just a pretty piece to where whenever the mood strikes.
It is still more discreet and cuter than an apron-style nursing cover.

What is even better about the Cute Little Nursing Cover now that it has a new name? Well, the Butterfly Wrap was never really a wrap, so the name was confusing. So now the name makes sense. And our new packaging fits right in with our other products, so the whole family of Bamboobies products now looks like a family.

The Bamboobies Cute Little Nursing Cover makes a great holiday gift - for yourself or someone you love. Wear the nursing cover to parties so you can look and feel great, and still nurse your baby discreetly.

Bamboobies® expands its brood of breastfeeding accessories

Bamboobies Blog — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:38:49 GMT

Colorado Mom-preneur Gives Birth to 3^rd Product and 3^rd Child

The Bamboob-ease® Therapy Pillows debuted at the International Lactation Consultants Association Conference in July and were widely met with enthusiasm. They will be available online in time for World Breastfeeding Week and in stores in the US and Canada in September.

Bamboobies® Nursing Pads have long been nursing mothers’ favorite and now they have added a hot and cold therapy pillow to their product line. Made of Bamboobies’ super-soft bamboo fleece with flax seeds inside, Bamboob-ease® Therapy Pillows can be microwaved or frozen to ease the pains of newborn nursing.

In late 2009, Kerry Gilmartin was a breastfeeding mother with two young children who found that mainstream nursing pads, used to absorb excess milk, just didn’t work. The washable pads looked silly both because they created visible circles under her shirt and, worse, when they leaked through. Disposable pads showed wrinkles through her shirts, weren’t comfortable, and generated too much trash.

When Kerry discovered the unique properties of bamboo fabrics she knew she’d found a solution. Why not cotton? Bamboo is much softer, doesn’t feel cold when wet, is up to 4 times as absorbent, and is more eco-friendly. Kerry created Bamboobies® from ultra-soft bamboo fabric to soothe the tender nipples of new mothers without leaking or being visible through clothing.

“Breastfeeding is Beautiful. Leaks and Lines are Not” is one of the company’s taglines! And lest anyone think they’re not much softer than cotton, mommy bloggers have likened them to everything from clouds and puppy dog ears to ‘cashmere sweaters for my boobies!’ Sexy and cute, they’ve been called ‘the maserati of nursing pads.’

After having her third child this year, Kerry discovered the healing powers of hot and cold therapy for the early days of nursing and engorgement, as well as for pumping and weaning. “Nursing is tough on new mothers’ bodies – even if it’s your third baby! Warm and cold therapy pads helped me survive mastitis, helped with letdown when used with my breast pump, and soothed my chafed nipples during the first weeks with my new baby,” says Kerry.

The new Bamboob-ease® Therapy Pillow was born when Kerry married the amazing softness of bamboo with the temperature-stable powers of flax seeds to ‘ease’ the pains of breastfeeding. When heated in the microwave or cooled in the freezer, the pillow offers soft and soothing relief. “I wanted to help other mothers by spreading the love of Bamboobies and the healing powers of warm and cold therapy so I designed an all-natural product.“

Bamboobies® make a cute and thoughtful gift for baby showers and holidays. Eco-minded mothers, women committed to using products hand-made in the US, and almost any newly nursing mother with sore nipples find Bamboobies™ a ‘new mama must-have.’ Bamboobies® are sold in over 150 boutique retailers internationally and online.

Bamboobies Wins Naturally Boulder Pitch Slam

Bamboobies Blog — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:38:42 GMT

The Naturally Boulder Pitch Slam is a competition among entrepreneurs with natural products companies in Boulder, Colorado. Kerry Gilmartin, founder of SOFT Style, Inc, and maker of Bamboobies reusable fabric nursing pads, won this year's Best Young Business competition in September. The prize: cash and services to support the growing business.

Speaking of Kerry Gilmartin and her Bamboobies nursing pads, competition judge and Evol Foods founder Phil Anson said, "She has a huge market to go after, and she's right on trend from a sustainability standpoint. She is filling a need where, even if she is struck by lightning, this can continue to exist and be of value to people."

If we have a choice, we'll keep Kerry and skip the lightning strike! But Anson's point is a good one - breastfeeding moms everywhere are demanding nursing pads that are comfortable, effective, and sustainable. Bamboobies nursing pads meet those requirements and raise the bar: they are also cute, nearly invisible under clothes, and less expensive than disposable nursing pads over the long run. When it comes to sustainability, Bamboobies are made from organic bamboo and hemp fabrics. In addition, they are washable and reusable, eliminating the packaging and solid waste concerns that come with disposable nursing pads.

In short, Bamboobies nursing pads are a stand-out solution to many of the personal and environmental concerns that come with breastfeeding. And, with the support from the Naturally Boulder Pitch Slam, Bamboobies is positioned to continue its responsible and sustainable growth, bringing nursing pad solutions to breastfeeding moms everywhere.

Full article text available here: http://www.bcbr.com/article.asp?id=59801
More information about Naturally Boulder available here: http://www.naturallyboulderproducts.com/

Working Mother Magazine Features Bamboobies

Bamboobies Blog — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:38:27 GMT

Kerry Gilmartin Built a Better Breastfeeding Pad! So says Working Mother Magazine, where Bamboobies founder Kerry Gilmartin was featured as September's Mom Entrepreneur.

That better breastfeeding pad, of course, is the Bamboobies nursing pad. What makes it better than the average nursing pad? Super soft organic bamboo velour soothes breastfeeding mamas' skin. Natural hemp fabric absorbs up to four times as much breast milk as cotton. Milk-proof backing prevents embarrassing wet spots. Heart shape pads are cute and cup the breast, creating less show-through than round nursing pads. Washable fabric means less waste than disposable nursing pads.

As a breastfeeding mother of three young children and a successful entrepreneur, Kerry shares four top lessons that apply to many working women, whether their businesses produce nursing pads or circuit boards:
1. Don't quit your day job
2. Stagger your investment
3. Seek wise-mommy advice
4. Set goals

Full text of the Working Mother article and a picture of Kerry with her little cuites are available here:
http://www.workingmother.com/entrepreneur-mom/kerry-gilmartin-built-better-breastfeeding-pad

Healthy Boobies - Healthy Mamas

Bamboobies Blog — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:38:19 GMT

Bamboobies® Donates to Best for Babes Foundation In Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Bamboobies®, the Boulder-based designer of bamboo nursing pads, believes “Breastfeeding is Beautiful. Leaks and Lines are not!” Among the many beautiful things about breastfeeding, current research shows that breastfeeding dramatically reduces the risk of breast cancer for both moms and babies. Bamboobies® founder Kerry Gilmartin is proud to announce a partnership aimed at raising awareness of breast cancer prevention.

In support of healthy boobies everywhere, Bamboobies® is asking mothers to post a mom/baby photo on their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Bamboobies. Babies of any age count, including those who are still in the womb and those who are old enough to have babies of their own. For every photo posted, Bamboobies™ will donate $1 to the Best for Babes Foundation.

The link between breastfeeding and reduced risk of breast cancer is strong. For women with a family history of breast cancer, breastfeeding reduces a woman’s risk of breast cancer by 59%. Women with no family history of the disease have at least a 28% reduction in their risk when they choose to breastfeed. Just as important as the protection gained by mothers, being breastfed also reduces a breastfed baby girl’s lifetime risk of getting breast cancer by 25%!

The issues surrounding breastfeeding and breast cancer are personal for Gilmartin. As the mother of 3 young, breastfed children, breastfeeding is an everyday fact of life in her household, and family members who are affected by breast cancer have taught Gilmartin about the harsh realities of the disease. Gilmartin’s commitment to work with Best for Babes to spread the good news about research linking lower breast cancer rates with breastfeeding highlights her conviction that prevention is just as important as a searching for a cure.

Bamboobies® products are designed to help address some of the unique challenges that breastfeeding women face. Bamboobies® super-soft, bamboo fabric nursing pads increase a nursing mother’s comfort, allowing her to enjoy breastfeeding without worrying about soreness, embarrassing leaks, or absorbent pads that show through her clothing. Increased comfort means that women are more likely to continue breastfeeding, even after returning to the workplace. Continued breastfeeding means continued protection against breast cancer, a benefit that is easy to appreciate.

Best for Babes believes that most women understand the benefits of breastfeeding - including lower breast cancer risk. Their mission statement says it all: ALL moms deserve to make a truly informed feeding decision and to be cheered on, coached and celebrated without pressure, judgment or guilt. The ‘Babes’ embraced by ‘Best for Babes’ are both mothers and babies, since both benefit from breastfeeding.

With great cultural support from groups like Best for Babes and great product support from Bamboobies®, the decision to breastfeed is getting easier and more comfortable, not to mention cuter and more fun. With more moms empowered to feel great about breastfeeding, we can look to a future with lower rates of breast cancer.

The Leaky Boob Bamboobies Giveaway

Bamboobies Blog — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:38:54 GMT

No lines, no leaks and bamboo that feels like

a cloud wrapped in silk in my bra. Nice.

"The fabric is my favorite fabric in the world so it’s not a surprise that I love that. Puppy ears aren’t as soft as these things and they don’t have the annoying fuzz angora or cashmere has meaning your boobies will love these. The perfect way to pamper yourself and be practical. Smooth and trim, the fit is the best I’ve ever had in breast pads and I have tried a lot of breast pads. Backed with a soft waterproof fabric, Bamboobies aren’t only soft and trim, they’re up for the task of absorbing leaking milk and keeping it contained."

This is what The Leaky Boob had to say about Bamboobies in her review a couple of months back. Check out the rest of the review here.

Or even better, go to the "Wrap your Leaky Boobs in a Cloud - Bamboobies Giveaway" to win your own Bamboobies from The Leaky Boob. Good luck!

Bamboobies Washable Breast Pads Review - "Ingenious Design" and "Amazing Softness"

Bamboobies Blog — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:35:53 GMT

Laura, labor and delivery nurse turned SAHM and creator of The Mommy Goods, LOVES bamboobies!!!

"Right from the package, I was amazed at the ingenious design and the amazing softness of these nursing pads. They feel very “high class” and very well made. It seems almost a shame to put something so nice under your clothes where no one will see. The pads are made of three different layers; a bamboo and cotton velour layer (which is OH SO SOFT), a hemp layer to absorb, and a milk proof outer layer of Polyester with polyurethane to prevent leaking."

"Also, you notice immediately that these nursing pads are a different shape than the normal round pads; these are an adorable heart shape. While this does make the pads very cute, they are designed in this shape for a very important function. By not being the traditional round shape, these pads are able to sit in your bra without bunching, sliding, and most importantly, without showing. I always hated walking through the grocery store and some little old woman would point out that I needed to adjust my nursing pads that were bunching, rolling, etc. Gone are those days (and so are my disposable pads)."

"Overall, I am extremely impressed and in LOVE with my Bamboobies! I think it is time for baby number two, so I can start this journey all over again…and I will definitely be buying more Bamboobies!!!"

Check out the rest of Laura's post to see how you can enter to win some Bamboobies of your own!

The Mommy Goods

Bamboobies Washable Nursing Pads Review: "Kitten-soft" and "Well worth the price"

Bamboobies Blog — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:43:22 GMT

Amber - Canadian mommy blogger of the eco-friendly Mommy Stuff Blog - LOVES Bamboobies!

"In addition to kitten softness, Bamboobies are extremely thin, leakproof and have a unique heart shape. I admit I was skeptical, but Bamboobies ROCK! These super thin pads kept my breasts comfortable and my shirt dry; the heart shape allowed the pad to easily conform to my breast without any telltale lines showing through my t-shirt. And because sometimes leakage just refuses to be contained, Bamboobies also makes large overnight breast pads made of organic bamboo fleece (also ridiculously soft) in the traditional round shape."

"All Bamboobies breast pads are eco-friendly and use organic bamboo fabrics and an ultra-absorbent (and thin) hemp and organic cotton core to disperse and lock in milk leakage. Bamboobies are available online and start at a price of $16.99 for two pairs. When I think of what I've paid for cheap, leaky, lumpy, cotton breast pads in the past, Bamboobies are well-worth the price."

Amber says they're well worth the price - see below for an illustration of Bamboobies vs disposables!

Our Bodies and Our Babies are Built for Breastfeeding

Bamboobies Blog — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:48:19 GMT

I loved reading Dawn Kersula's article about "laid back breastfeeding" and Dr. Suzanne Colson's research into humans' instincts when it comes to nursing.

I know we should be thankful that there is so much information and so many wonderful resources out there to help nursing mothers along their way but perhaps we are over thinking the whole thing too much. Maybe it's better to have less information and follow our instincts when it comes to breastfeeding.

I subscribe to this idea of "laid back breastfeeding" both in its literal and figurative form.

"Mothers have been breastfeeding since the beginning of time. We know that for a fact! But the art of breastfeeding was lost for many years of the past century - and we are learning more and more about how much we lost when we put our own cultural overlays on this most basic of human behaviors.

Why do other baby mammals take to eating so easily, when we humans seem to struggle so much? Over the past 55 years - since the founding of La Leche League back in 1956 - a lot of time and energy has been spent finding the answers to these questions. There have been lots of detours and stops along the way.

Bertrand Russell wrote of "the true spirit of delight" to be found when a mathematical proof seemed just right and the PBS program Nova speaks of "The Elegant Universe."

The latest in breastfeeding research is also proving to be downright elegant and delightful as it seems so right - and it makes breastfeeding downright laid back..."

Check out the rest of the article here.

Which Breast Pads Cost More? Washable vs. Disposable

Bamboobies Blog — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:20:00 GMT

Whether you are embarking on a new adventure as a breastfeeding mom or you are a seasoned nursing professional, you may be asking yourself whether you should be investing in washable nursing pads like Bamboobies or just using disposable breast pads. You probably know already that Bamboobies are way softer and soothing to your sore breasts and nipples. And of course, reusable anything is better for the environment than its throw-away counterpart.

But Bamboobies are expensive, is the investment worth it?

We think so. If you consider that on average, most nursing mothers go through about 2 pair of disposable nursing pads per day and another 2 pads per night, they add up fast. Check out our graph below showing just how much you would spend for 9 months of nursing, not to mention just how many disposables would end up in the landfill!

If you really want to save money, you could purchase 2 multipacks of Bamboobies reusable nursing pads, only have to do wash every 2-3 days, and still save over $300 on the cost of breast pads!

You will feel better about how you are treating the earth and your breasts will feel better too!

Happy Earth Day!Bamboobies does

Bamboobies Blog — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:36:00 GMT

We strive to be as eco-conscious as possible every day of the year...

**From our eco-fabrics like bamboo, hemp and organic cotton, to our biodegradable mailing packages!

**Our Butterfly Wraps are made of soy waste fiber and organic cotton.

**By sewing our products and pacaking them here in Colorado, we save fossil fuels and contribute to our local Colorado economy.

If you feel inspired today to make a difference, check out some organizations that we support:

Kerry used to work for The Nature Conservancy, and we believe in their market-based approach to buying valuable land and preserving ecosystems forever. And who doesn't love the panda? World Wildlife Federation is another great group to investigate.

Bamboobies' First Year - From Denver to Dubai

Bamboobies Blog — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:12:00 GMT

As we celebrate our first anniversary, it has been fun to think back and reminisce about how far we've come...

It was just about a year ago when we sold Bamboobies in our first retail store, Becoming Mothers, here in Boulder, Colorado. We only made the regular pads at first and later developed the wonderful overnights with the help of some of our nursing tester friends. We now sell both varieties in 6 different sized packages in over 100 stores - from Denver to Dubai!

We've grown from just one Mama to 4 women working on everything from sales and marketing to washing and packaging the products. There are also 3 women that sew pads for us and one token man that die cuts the perfect heart-shapes. Great partnerships with other mom-preneurs with breastfeeding-related products have also sprung up and helped us grow. We're grateful for the help of all these people as well as the women that use and love our pads. And, of course my wonderful husband who supports me as I follow my dreams...

Welcome

Bamboobies Blog — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:40:52 GMT

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.