Hi girls! I’m so excited to start a new feature here on OKDani! Quick Q&A profiles of inspiring Entrepremoms are coming your way!
Our very first is Lori Caden, one third of the sister trio behind every new mom’s best friend, the Belly Bandit. (It is my one regret in life that I did not use a Belly Bandit after having Rohan…I wouldn’t be in the situation I am in now. ::sigh::)
How’d the belly bandit come about?
After the birth of my first child I was horrified of what I saw in the mirror, no one tells you what you are about to encounter after you deliver. I was never told by my friends that you’ll still look pregnant weeks and possibly months afterwards. To add insult to injury I was asked while grabbing cat food at a local pet store if I needed help because “a pregnant woman should not be lifting such a heavy package”. Well, after I finally got back down to my fighting weight close to three years…..I got pregnant with my second.
That’s when my mind started really churning (I knew what I was in store for this time around), what could I do differently and what happens now? There had to be a better way. After working closely with my sisters for numerous years we put our minds together and with the help of my ob/gyn we came up with the Belly Bandit, many days and nights of research went into this idea as well as hundreds of prototypes. I was the first Belly Bandit user actually, and by the time I left the hospital and walked into my house there was a huge difference in how I looked and felt from my first. It was incredible. I knew it was going to be a huge success because it really worked.
Best tip for using belly bandit?
Wear it as tight as you can without discomfort and wear it round the clock if you can, you will see a big difference in just a few days.
3 best tips for post partum moms?
#1. Don’t stress about all the new changes with your body (I know it’s easier said than done). Slow and steady always wins the race! #2. Get sleep whenever you can and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it, sleep is SOOOOO important. #3. Make sure to wear your Belly Bandit, you get one shot for a limited time after delivery, do it right.
Any new products on the horizon?
Yes we are actually scheduled to launch 5 new products by the end of this year – they are all amazingly creative and women we’ve tested them on seem to be ecstatic about them!
Fave non belly bandit body-post-baby product?
My jeans that I fit into prior to being pregnant! How’s that?!
How do you balance motherhood and business/entrepreneurship?
It’s a fine balancing act, I’m a self-proclaimed workaholic, it’s in my blood and there is nothing I can do about so I’ve learned to create time every day to relax with my family. Obviously nothing comes before my kids and husband but I do admit it’s hard. My week nights are jam packed with homework and Charlee/Chase time while the weekends seem to be all about the kids latest hobbies and constant birthday parties.
3 best tips for moms looking to start their own biz
- Make time during the day, which means have a set schedule. Those work better than just trying to find the time.
- Know you don’t know everything!
- Figure your out what you are best at doing and then hire people in all other areas.
What’s it like mixing family (3 sisters) and business?
Most days it’s awesome, we work as a trifecta. We all have our own unique talents and we can rely on each other’s strengths so we flow really well together. We know how to maneuver together as a unit but that also means nights and phone conversations are work time too! But don’t forget we are 3 sisters so let’s just say sometimes its hair pulling, yelling and telling mom on each other!
Any time management tips for “entrepremoms”?
Yes, make sure you have the drive to put everything you have into your endeavor, because sometimes you’ll want to give up and walk away. That’s when you need to stop, breathe and let go of whatever it is you’re doing until you get your wind back. There are not enough hours in the day so make sure you use them wisely if you are stuck or frustrated – it’s ok. Just walk it off and know that Rome wasn’t built in a day.
How do you get your “me time”?
I get weekly massages, it’s my escape and my time to think and regroup. It’s my meditation!
what a great series. good luck and I look forward to hearing about all these moms.
I did use the Belly Bandit after my daughter was born and really liked it! It was amazing support for my c-section incision. It made it much easier to get up and take care of my new baby.
I wish I had used the Belly Bandit after my kids were born. I didn’t have trouble losing weight after my first child, but never got rid of the baby belly after the second C-section.
Gosh, I loved the belly bandit. I used it after having my 2nd boy and let me tell you. 2 weeks after delivery, I actually loved what my belly looked like. Best post baby product ever. I wrote about it here http://pvtfamily.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/post-partum-recovery-and-belly-bandit.html