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Business Highlight | Q&A with Purple Laurel + A Giveaway!

Navigating pregnancy, postpartum and baby gear can be overwhelming. There are so many products out there and what works for one person may not work for another.

With that said, I’m chatting with Stephanie the brilliant mom of two behind Purple Laurel, an online shop that sells postpartum shapewear and nursing bras. YAY! 

ME: Why did you start Purple Laurel? What made you focus mostly on postpartum items?

Stephanie: My sons are just two years apart, so I’ve been in this phase of my life—pregnant, recovering from birth, and breastfeeding—for pretty much the last 3+ years straight. What I’ve discovered is that it’s really tough to find products for new moms that are both durable and stylish. Most cute nursing bras start losing their shape after they’ve been washed a dozen times, and a lot of the big name belly wraps have a reputation for not holding up very well. So I just started researching to see what else was out there.

I wanted cute, comfortable, really high-quality nursing bras that I could throw in the washer and dryer without worrying about the fabric shrinking or the seams unraveling. When Purple Laurel first started, that’s all we had. But then I started hearing from friends who weren’t finding really high-quality postpartum shapewear online, so I decided to go on the hunt again to find medical-grade compression wraps that would hold up well and wouldn’t be super noticeable underneath clothes.

ME: I love that you can dry your nursing bras! As a first time mom there were definitely times I was on the struggle nursing train. Do you have any great nursing tips? What about favorite nursing bra?

Stephanie: When my oldest son was an infant, he had a posterior tongue-tie and trouble latching, which meant I was pumping ALL.THE.TIME for months. I went from knowing nothing about breast pumping, to being someone who could talk your ear off about the merits of different flange sizes or milk storage bags.

One of the first things I discovered was that I needed a hands-free solution, because my son was colicky and he wasn’t just going to play on the floor by himself while I pumped six times a day. I tried making my own pumping bras, and I bought a handful of different pumping-bustiers, but the hands-free bras we have at Purple Laurel are so much better than any of those other solutions.

Nursing bras that are made for pumping hold the breast shield in place really securely, which increases suction and ultimately means you’re able to get more milk during each pumping session. So I would definitely say that my favorite nursing bra is our Classic Pump Bra, and I would also say that buying a hands-free pumping bra was one of the best things I did as far as making breast pumping easier on me.
ME: I completely agree — a hands free pumping bra is a must have item! Speaking of pumping, what do you think is the biggest issue?

Stephanie: The biggest issue is a lack of knowledge about what products are out there to make pumping easier. When I first started pumping, I was sitting next to an electrical outlet, holding the breast shields in place with my hands, and wondering how I’d be able to keep this up for the next 15 minutes with a fussy newborn beside me. I had no idea all the gadgets and garments available to make pumping easier — and this is coming from someone who considers herself pretty savvy when it comes to planning ahead and doing all the research.

The first thing I realized was that I needed to have my hands free while I pumped. I made my own pumping bra, and when I realized the poor fit was causing my milk supply to drop, I made the switch to a hands-free pumping bra. When you’re pumping at home, the hands-free bras allow you to nurse on one side while you pump on the other.

ME: When I was pregnant I really relied on friends. What advice would you give expecting moms?

Stephanie: Do your shopping early! Most of our customers at Purple Laurel are one or two weeks postpartum, and they’re usually up in the middle of the night researching belly wrapping on their phones, either because they’re in a lot of pain or because they’re looking for ways to get rid of that tummy pooch after pregnancy.

I’m happy to answer those frantic emails, but I still think it’s better to do your research and make your purchases ahead of time. That gives you the time to really look at all the different options—for example, some women prefer soft belly wraps and some women prefer structured girdles—and figure out how to use whichever wraps or nursing bras you’ve selected before you’re sleep deprived and juggling a fussy infant.

ME: Any new items we should keep an eye out for?

Stephanie: I’m really excited about our new seamless nursing bras by Nizo, called the Kismet Bras. These bras have a hidden pocket in the pull-down flap where you can place nursing pads to hide any leakage that happens during the day. What makes them really amazing is that you can take out the pads if you don’t need them and put in a warm or cool pack to decrease breast discomfort on days when you’re sore or achy.

ME: As a mom, how do you maintain work/life balance?

Stephanie: It’s not easy, and I don’t have it all figured out. I’m fortunate that I’m able to work from home. Although I’m answering emails and IMs all day, I get the bulk of my work done early in the morning, before my boys wake up. Starting my day before everyone else is nice because it allows me to clear out my inbox before new messages start pouring in.

I know a lot of moms work after their kids go to bed at night, but I’m really not a night owl, and I’d prefer to use the time after my boys are in bed to catch up on blogs and watch my favorite reality shows.

Thank you, Stephanie! I’m not ready for baby number two, but I know where I’m buying nursing bras!


Prize: (1) $75 Purple Laurel Gift Certificate 

To Enter: Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter (it might take a second to load, but it should eventually pop up below this paragraph). This giveaway is available for USA & Canada residents. Please note, only entries via Rafflecopter will be eligible to win. Thank you and good luck!

P.S. All emails will be provided to Purple Laurel. Once the giveaway has concluded you will receive a 25% promo code. 

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