Pregnancy Pains

Nausea, exhaustion, sciatica, oh my!

Pregnancy is not always sweet smiles, glowing skin, and thick beautiful hair, sometimes it is vomiting multiple times a day, exhaustion and shooting pains down the back of your leg when you move. In today’s blog post I want to be real about pregnancy and give a few tips for what you can do for these 3 specific things: nausea, exhaustion, & sciatica. These were my 3 biggest complaints as a pregnant person, and I honestly want people to know that you are not a whiner if you are experiencing these 3 things and don’t know what to do. I want to give you practical tips for taking care of these on your own and how to know when to seek out help.

My first pregnancy complaint was nausea. I hate that we call it “morning sickness” when it honestly can last all day long. Most people experience the greatest nausea in the first trimester, but I got really lucky to be able to experience it until I was 25-ish weeks. I certainly know it could have been worse; hyperemesis gravidarum is no joke! My best tips for getting through nausea are to keep healthy high protein snacks on hand, drink plenty of water, and don’t let your stomach ever be empty. If you are having acid reflux or heartburnissues, I always like to recommend papaya enzymes, which can be found at most health food stores locally in a chewable form and for not much money. If you are having trouble keeping any food down and are experiencing symptoms of dehydration, talk to you provider about other things that might be helpful, which can include medications.

Exhaustion for me personally was a big problem as well. I was in graduate school while pregnant both times. Naps were honestly the very best thing for me, but they aren’t always possible when you are working and/or taking care of other kids. I get that. Sometimes even when you get a full 8 hours of sleep, growing a human takes all the energy you have and you don’t have any extra left to give by the end of the day. I always like to recommend getting up and moving around to give yourself an energy jolt. Stretch your legs. Get some fresh air. Splash cold water on your face. Some people drink a little caffeine, but you’ll want to figure out what works best for your situation.

Finally, I want to talk about sciatica. Have you ever moved just to have a pain shoot from the very top of your leg all the way down the back of your leg to your foot. That is sciatica. I suffered with sciatica during both of my pregnancies, and I personally found stretching and a regular yoga practice to be the most effective ways to keep the sciatica away.

We have some really amazing local options for prenatal yoga that I know and trust! Having spoken with the instructors for these 3 different courses I can tell you that they know what they are doing, are trained, knowledgeable, and compassionate instructors who can help you relieve some of those aches and pains as well as helping reinforce that mind-body connection.

YMCA Prenatal Yoga

Evansville Yoga Center

The Women’s Hospital

If your pain persists or worsens, it is always a great idea to speak to your provider and they may even refer you to a physical therapist who can help you.

The best news I can tell you is that for most of these pregnancy pains, there is a cure: birth. The best way to get rid of pregnancy induced anything, is to not be pregnant anymore, and that happens to everyone eventually. I won’t even tell you that you have to enjoy your pregnancy. Pains like this certainly can make pregnancy really unbearable, but I promise that hating the process of growing a baby inside of your body does NOT make you a bad parent. You can love your baby without loving the pains of pregnancy.

Want more personalized tips for getting through your pregnancy pains and local resources? Contact us today for an interview.

3 Evansville Dates to Go on While You Are Still Pregnant

Fun ways to connect with your partner in the EVV before baby arrives!

The end of pregnancy can be really challenging. You might be uncomfortable with a baby kicking your bladder and sending you to the bathroom 5x an hour. You might be anxious wondering when labor is going to start. Maybe you are counting down the days until your induction and hoping things get going before then. You might be hot and hormonal and ready to not be pregnant anymore, and staring at the full moon wishing the old wives tales were right. (The next full moon will be Friday September 13th, in case you were wondering.) Instead of wishing the end of your pregnancy away, I want to give you three fun dates to go on in Evansville while you are still pregnant.

First Fridays at Haynie’s Corner are so much fun and filled with art, music, all kinds of local businesses, food trucks, and sometimes even some shenanigans! I always make sure to stop by Sixth Street Soapery even if only for the amazing smells and to see Mary Allen’s smile! Walk down and grab some lemonade next to the fountain and listen to some live music. Peruse some local art and if you get hungry there are food trucks and all kinds of great spots to sit like Sauced and Walton’s International Comfort Food. If your feet are feeling swollen and you are sick of waddling around, you can even hitch a ride on an Evansville Pedicab to rest and still feel the wind in your hair. The First Friday of every warm month, this is where it is at, so check out the Haynie’s Corner Arts District page if you want to find more cool stuff going on in this little slice of fun in Evansville.
If you’d like to still get out of the house and do something fun with your partner, but maybe not with such a crowd, perhaps you would consider a cooking class at Thyme in the Kitchen. You could sit a while at White Swan Coffee Lab, get a sweet treat at Milk and Sugar Scoop Shoppe, then stroll around window shopping along Franklin St. This date gives you and your partner time to connect doing things together, learning, and talking about whatever comes to mind. Connecting to your partner is such a great thing to do before a baby gets thrown in the mix and things get more complicated.
Maybe events aren’t your thing at all, and you’d prefer a quieter evening out with your partner. If you love movies and being waited on like the Royalty that you are, my husband and I LOVE treating ourselves to a movie at Royal Suite. No, they won’t pause the movie for you, so definitely don’t pick a long one, BUT they will bring you food when you push a button and that is pretty great. Bonus: their seats recline and you can elevate your feet! When we’re feeling really wild, afterwards we pick up some snacks at Aihua International Market and head down for a stroll on the Evansville Riverfront Park. There might even be some kids playing at Mickey’s Kingdom Playground and you can join them in a swing just for fun! Having a bit of fun together before your baby comes is a great way to connect as a couple.

Connection is an important thing in any partnership, and marking the passage of major milestones, or even in anticipation of them, is a great thing to do. You don’t have to spend a ton of money on a giant vacation to connect with your honey before you give birth. After the baby arrives, life shifts, and making sure your relationship foundation is solid before you start rocking it is a great thing! Dates are one of my favorite ways to connect with my partner, and making time for them isn’t always easy, but is always important.

What are your favorite things to do around Evansville at the end of pregnancy? What special plans are you making with your partner for before baby arrives?

Doula? A do what now?

Midwives and doulas have very different jobs!

One of the most common misconceptions that I run into as a doula is that people think that we are the same as midwives. While I have worked with some really great midwives in my time as a doula, and LOVED having midwives catch my own 2 babies, I do not want to be a midwife or be confused for one. Doula care can compliment midwifery care very well, but we certainly do not replace a midwife.

As a doula, I do a whole lot of things that can improve your pregnancy, labor, delivery, and immediate postpartum. I help you ask more (and sometimes better or more specific) questions prenatally and think through all those decisions about what you want for your delivery before it is actually the big day. I help you practice different comfort techniques and even help you know exactly what things you actually need to have for your birth and immediate postpartum period either at the hospital or home. I hold hands and help people move around, sometimes with all kinds of wires attached to them. I push on your lower back, squeeze your hips, and massage your hands during labor. I help you to the bathroom and comfort you through the challenges of labor and deliver with all kinds of affirming words. I will let you squeeze my hand and listen to the changes in your voice and demeanor for clues on how I can better help you. I do not doula the same for any two births, as each one presents its own unique set of circumstances.

Midwives provide care for healthy pregnant people prenatally, during labor and delivery, and postpartum. They approach birth differently than an Obstetrician, but essentially do all the medical things an OB can do other than surgery. Midwives view birth as a normal process and often practice watchful waiting while expecting everything to be perfectly normal and fine instead of trying to prevent things from going wrong through action. It can seem a very subtle difference in philosophy, and not all midwives take this approach, but this is the midwifery approach generally to pregnancy and birth.

A short and completely non-comprehensive list of things a midwife can do that I do not as a doula:
Check your vital signs like blood pressure and temperature
Order labs
See you for in-office prenatal visits (monthly, biweekly, then weekly)
Check your cervix
Catch your baby
Give you stitches
Check your fundal height after delivery
Order and administer medication

If you want to learn more about midwives, this link is a good place to start.

If you would like to learn more about doulas, you can read about us here. I would also LOVE to talk to you about my services! You can contact me through this website, via email, phone, or message me on social media–whatever you are comfortable with is fine with me. You can read reviews from previous clients and check my availability at this link as well if you would like.

I love helping my clients navigate pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, and have more than five years of experience as a doula at both hospital and home births. I have worked with some amazing midwives and OBs too. I have been to 8 different hospitals as a doula and learned all about their policies and who has which equipment. I know which cabinets have the towels and where to find the emesis basins. More than that though, I support my clients however they want to be supported, because each one is different and each situation demands different techniques and approaches.

Someone once asked me what the #1 most important quality is for a good doula. That was easy for me to answer: EMPATHY! What I may lack in midwifery clinical skills, I make up for in compassion and listening skills. Midwives and doulas can work really well together and there is definitely room for both in your chosen birthing space!

Meeting You Where You Are: Beacon Breastfeeding Support, LLC

Individualized feeding support now available in your tri-state home.

Today is the last day of World Breastfeeding Week 2019, and I could not let this week finish without highlighting one of the most amazing new resources we have here in the tri-state area. Holly Phillips has worked as a birth professional for the past 8 years, as a DONA certified birth doula, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, and La Leche League leader. Holly has a true passion for helping growing families, and is now branching out in a new business as this area’s only independent international board certified lactation consultant! I have known Holly for close to 6 years, and can tell you that she is fantastically warm and bubbly with an enormous heart for service, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how very INTELLIGENT and savvy she is too. Are you as curious about her new business as I was? Then read on to find out her answers to my top 5 questions:

1. Why are you passionate about helping new families
with breastfeeding?

My passion for helping families with breastfeeding began with my own
difficulties nursing my first baby. We worked with numerous feeding
specialists in the hospital and once we were discharged. However, my
daughter was never able to breastfeed. I became an exclusive pumper and decided to educate myself so that my next attempts at breastfeeding
might be more successful. As a doula, and later as a La Leche League
leader I had the honor of assisting families with breastfeeding education, but I still wanted to do more. In January 2019, I became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant because it allowed me to address
more complex breastfeeding situations, be more hands-on in assessing
and assisting dyads and offer comprehensive support.

2. How are your services different than a hospital-based IBCLC?

First of all, I want to clarify that I am extremely grateful for hospital-
based IBCLCs, they are often the first line of support in getting babies to
breastfeed successfully at the start. They work to improve hospital
protocols that impact feeding at their facilities. However, it can be
difficult for them to offer services that extend beyond the newborn
period. Because I have the ability to come to families where they are and where they breastfeed most often, I am able to create a truly
individualized plan of care utilizing the support network they have in
place. I try to look at all pieces of the puzzle when there are breastfeeding difficulties and because I set my own schedule, I can spend as much time as needed to help families work through the often multi-layered issues
that lead to problems with feeding.

3. Are your services covered by insurance?

I currently do not accept any insurance. I can provide a superbill for visits which families may utilize to seek reimbursement from their insurance
companies. I cannot guarantee reimbursement.

4. What is your favorite part about being an independent IBCLC?

Working with families in their own home environment allows me to form a solid professional relationship that accounts for all the variables that
impact the breastfeeding relationship. I create plans based on these
variables and have more flexibility because I get to craft my own protocols for addressing concerns using evidence-based information.
I get to know families on a more personal level, and there is frequent
follow up so that continuity of care is maintained.

5. What is the biggest misconception about IBCLCs?

I think the biggest misconception about IBCLCs is that we do not support mothers who bottlefeed or use formula to supplement babies. While my
goal is to help families provide breastmilk to their babies, I value any
amount of breastmilk babies receive and often work with families on
introducing a bottle safely. Every family deserves respect and compassion around their feeding goals.

Holly is magnificent, and I sincerely hope that she is a HUGE success, as I know that more support for breastfeeding is a GREAT thing! You can find Holly at:

Beacon Breastfeeding Support
c 270-896-9284
info@beaconbreastfeedingsupport.com
Beaconbreastfeedingsupport.com

Bridges

May is International Doula Month, and I am all about building bridges right now in multiple different directions!

Doulas are ALL OVER the news lately for lots of reasons, but definite thanks goes to Amy Schumer & Meghan Markle for bringing doulas to the forefront! Go Doulas go! I am sooo happy to see this profession grow!!!

That picture above is one I snapped while driving to a client’s house and I really just loved the view because I had never been there and I could not see the other side of the bridge as I approached. I am a bridge builder by nature. I want to connect people with each other and with the information and resources they might need. That is most definitely part of my job as a doula!

As I mentioned here before, I like to pick a word for the year to help guide me, and this year’s word is: CONNECTION! Locally, I am trying not only to create greater connection among businesses that also help serve growing families, but also between new doulas and potential clients. I worked with other local doulas to hold a Meet the Doulas night, and we are already working on the next one!

I am cultivating connections between professionals who focus on pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum. I have been trying to expand my network of not just providers of medical services, but also with other businesses that I have featured here on this website. I have a few more connections coming up on the blog, so keep your eyes peeled for those! I keep reaching out to new businesses that might be interested in collaborating on different projects, so if you are interested, please feel free to reach out to me!

I am working to try to figure out how to bring a barrier-free doula training here to Evansville! I have held two DONA approved birth doula trainings here, but I know there are more people who would like to be doulas but may have just had trouble figuring out how to make it happen for whatever reason. This would mean that people who wanted to become a birth doula, but have barriers in their way (finances, childcare, etc), could have access to this training. This is probably the biggest project I am working on at the moment, fueled especially by the messages and advocacy work of the March for Moms and 4Kira4Moms. I’m not afraid of big projects, and I really believe that the more doulas we have locally, the more people will want to use doulas. Hooray for the abundance mindset!

Another local project that I would really like to help move forward is to facilitate greater continuity of care between people who are seeking home births and their parallel care providers who hopefully can be waiting to help just in case and in the open. The lack of continuity of care currently is a true disservice to people who choose to birth at home, and I know that the lack of transparency is not good for ANYONE!

I’m also trying to help the newly formed Southwest Indiana Breastfeeding Coalition develop and grow, and we have a really cool new project that we are excited about where we are collecting survey data to hopefully recognize businesses that really support breastfeeding parents with their policies! If that sounds like your employer, you can answer the survey here.

On a much grander scale, I am in the middle of developing a bigger project for childbirth professionals, and you should check it out if you are interested! It’s called The Birth Geeks! There’s a podcast and more coming!

Bridges connect people. Bridges bring two places together. Bridges are helpful. Bridges are carefully engineered and crafted. Bridges are not easy, but are VERY needed, and for the record I’m not allowing any trolls under mine!

Fox Tot Trends

March is Women’s Small Business Month, and what better way to continue the celebration than by promoting another amazing woman owned small business? I don’t even want to get in the way of Ashley the fabulous owner, so here she is in her own words:

My name is Ashley Scheller and I’m the owner of Fox Tot Trends. I have two adorable kids under the age of 3 and a loving husband that is my biggest supporter. Between attempting to leave on time and getting two kids in and out of the car, I decided to stop wrestling with coats and make car seat ponchos. I dusted off my sewing machine and soon discovered an underlying passion – making trendy, yet practical apparel for little ones. I opened shop in November of 2018 and have now sold all across the country. It has become a refreshing creative outlet in the midst of crazy mom life.

There are so many things I love about my job! I had never thought of myself as the business type, but it is so much fun being creative and thinking like an entrepreneur. I love coming up with new designs and bringing them to fruition. The best part of my job, though, is when I hear that the kids love their new clothes as much as their parents do. It seriously makes my day!

I wish people knew that I sincerely strive to deliver products that are high quality. A lot of thought goes into each item before it’s even made. It’s important to me to study, know, and follow all the rules and regulations concerning making products for children. Many people are unaware, but everything I make from clothes to toys to even burp cloths has to be tested for things like lead, flammability, phthalates, and other hazards. Before anything leaves my shop, I make sure it is top-notch so that customers are fully satisfied.

Managing a family is always tough, but now that I have added a business to the mix I find time management to be even more of a challenge. It can be difficult when I get a big rush of orders, but then it is also rewarding when I accomplish more than I thought I could! I do my best to prioritize the things that are most important without neglecting my responsibilities. Thankfully, I have a great support-network.

My favorite thing about living in the tri-state area is all the delicious food that is available to us! My husband and I enjoy trying new restaurants and supporting local eateries. We like to pretend we are foodies.

Fox Tot Trends can be found on Facebook and Instagram (@foxtottrends). We have our own business page where you can reach me directly as well as get sneak peeks of new merchandise and exclusive offers. You can also visit our shop directly at https://foxtottrends.etsy.com

What you could win:

Hedgehog Baby Gift Set – Who can resist these adorable hedgehogs? This set makes a perfect gender-neutral gift for a mother to be or a new baby! The set comes with a soft, high quality cotton layette gown (0-3m), a crinkle toy, and two absorbent burp cloths. The layette gown has an elastic band at the bottom making those late-night diaper changes quick and easy. The crinkle toy keeps baby engaged through the senses and is great for development. The burp cloths feature a flannel print on the top and a terry cloth backing, absorbing messes easily and keeping baby and mom clean. This set is valued at $46.

Rules for entry:

You must like both Doula Group of Evansville and Fox Tot Trends on Facebook or Instagram to be eligible to win.
You will receive one entry for a comment on each post about the giveaway with a maximum of 5 entries per participant. One comment per post per participant will qualify you for one entry. (Gosh I hope that makes sense.)
The prize must be picked up in person by the winner, so you should probably be fairly local to the Evansville area or at least willing to drive here to pick it up. If you aren’t local, you can still shop at Fox Trot Trends online store!
Must be 18 to enter & a Facebook/Instagram user, as winner will be notified via social media.
This giveaway is in no way sponsored by, associated with, or run by Facebook or Instagram or any other entity other than Fox Tot Trends & Doula Group of Evansville.

The deadline to enter this giveaway is NOON Saturday March 30^th.

We will do a live drawing for the giveaway on the Doula Group of Evansville Instagram page at 4pm Saturday March 30^th, so get to entering!

Newborn Photographer: Melissa Adams

Tri-State Talent

The newborn period is so very short and sweet, and many people choose to document the adorable-ness with photography. I’m sure you’ve seen cute posed pictures of newborns, but did you know there are some serious safety concerns when it comes to making those shots happen? Photographers need to be specially trained in newborn photography, and especially good ones will make sure they connect with you to find out what you want in your session before you even get there.

I met Melissa Adams at the very beginning of my doula career in 2014 when I reached out to her for a very special newborn session in her Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep work. She has a very special heart for families who are experiencing and have experienced loss, even donating one special rainbow baby session each month. She is a consummate professional and I always enjoy getting to spend time with her. She has an absolutely beautiful studio space in Jasper, IN, and her brilliant work is totally worth the drive!

From Melissa Adams herself:

1. What is your favorite thing about your job?

My favorite thing about my job is all the possibilities that are bundled into a new life, and meeting these tiny souls, to be captured professionally at my studio for the first time in their lives. I think a lot of people take for granted how huge that is. This is the very first time your child will be captured professionally. This will be a representation of the beginning of their lives. This session captures your spouse’s awe of your strength; the way everyone is first settling into new life. I think of all the amazing things that people have done in their lifetimes and I wonder what this little bean will grow up to do with their life. I love seeing the new parents fawning over their newborn as well. Let’s be honest, sometimes having toddlers can be a bit emotionally overwhelming, so I always love the simplicity of just embracing and getting to bond with your newborn. When you have a newborn, life may seem exhausting, but our days really slow down quite a bit. Even a second or third time parent will tell me “Yeah, she’s really great at her head control!” or “I’ve never seen a baby with such hairy ears!” or “She has my toe thumbs!” I absolutely love that we get a chance to really appreciate all the amazing tiny things that our bodies created out of love.

A newborn parent can tell you exactly how much their child ate, and when they went to the bathroom last. They can tell you what side they nursed on last, and when they think they caught a glimpse of a first smile. It’s such a wonderful and magical time. I can’t dream up a better profession and I am so honored to capture these beautiful, raw moments for families. Another thing that I truly cherish about my profession, is connecting with families of loss. I am an affiliate photographer for the non-profit, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, and while it’s difficult to see families of loss at their most vulnerable moments, I feel so honored to be allowed into their trusted circle to capture those moments for them. This is why I offer a rainbow program, as well. Once a month, I donate a full newborn session to a family of loss. I love being able to see these families cherish everything life can give to us, and I hope every family of loss gets closure in some way or another.

2. What do you wish people knew about your business?

I strive to educate families on the safety concerns of hiring a newborn photographer. There are many poses that can be tricky and risky – even with simple poses. Positional asphyxiation is a real risk, and some of the poses that are more mainstream can be even riskier. I try to educate and empower the families while I pose so they always feel comfortable speaking up if they have any questions. This is their baby, not my living prop, and I want all my clients to feel relaxed and safe in my care.

3. What is the most stressful thing about your job?

I struggle with anxiety, so I’m a very safety driven person. On top of hosting The Jasper Maternity/Baby Expo, which brings a lot of local/small businesses and non-profits together to help those trying to conceive, newborn families, and families with children of all ages, I also decided to become certified as a child passenger safety technician. I saw an opportunity for us to educate people with a new approach by just informing. I know many mothers feel attacked by other’s opinions so I always just tell new mothers to reach out to me if they need anything. If I ever see anything in public or online, I introduce myself privately and tell them my certification and then say that I’ve noticed a way it may be safer for them to use their car seat, etc. I feel like coming at it from a perspective of “Hey, I know you love your child, and I would love to help you keep them safer, so let me know if this information would interest you” instead of “Hey – this is the correct way to do this”. A lot of our job can be affected by the way the care givers choose to install their seats, so it can be a bit gray. I’m always here to just help, not judge. I probably get most stressed out about that because I always worry that a mother could be going through PPD and I would never want to trigger them to think they were doing less than amazing with their baby.

4. What is your favorite thing about living in the tri-state area?

I was born and raised in Evansville, so moving to Jasper was a bit of a challenge for me. I hear a lot of people saying they want to move away but that was never a goal for me. Thanks to my sweet talking, (sexiest man alive) husband, I ended up moving to Jasper about 12 years ago. My favorite part about living in Jasper has been the other small business owners, and connecting with those driven entrepreneurs. I’ve made so many friends and they’ve all changed me for the better in many ways. I have a few local staples that I visit almost daily, but I truly value connecting with the other leaders in our community and learning along side and from them.

5. Where can people find you if they want to learn more about your services?

I work best through email: melissa@melissaadamsllc.com and my website is the best way to view my work. www.melissaadamsllc.com

I have a VIP group for clients and potential clients, due to Facebook Algorithms.

My Instagram is @melissaadamsllc

My hashtags are #melissaadamsllc #thejaspermaternitybabyexpo #jaspermaternitybabyexpo

I really enjoy connecting with my clients personally, so I do require all of my new clients to do an in person or phone consultation with me. This way I can guarantee the best results for your session.

What was your favorite part of the newborn period? What is your favorite newborn picture of your baby?

Little Ants & a Giveaway!!

As a doula, I get asked all the time about places to shop while preparing for the arrival of a new baby, and the first place I always like to send clients is Little Ants! Not only is the owner Katie Field an amazingly knowledgeable person about breastfeeding and baby wearing, but she also has some really awesome products that you can’t find anywhere else in the tri-state. I love to support local businesses whenever possible, and Katie makes it easy with all kinds of great products and excellent customer service professionals who know what they are talking about because they have actually used the products.

Are you thinking about baby wearing but worried about which carrier might work best for you?

Go to Little Ants and they will help you try on different carrier to find which one works for you, your baby, and your budget. You can even rent them for a trip, and if you decide to purchase it later, they will apply your rental payment toward your purchase. How cool is that??

Curious about cloth diapering, but don’t know where to start?

Little Ants has you and your baby’s butt covered! Can we mention that Katie also owns and operates the Happy Heiny cloth diaper company?? She might be magic you guys!

From the Owner:

I was born and raised in Chicago and moved to Evansville via Urbana, IL in 2008. I began Little Ants in 2000 six months after my oldest was born. As I began raising my first child, I gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of mother baby togetherness. The store grew out of that love. I longed to create a work environment that allowed moms to work alongside their children all while emphasizing items that were made with just wages and dignity of the worker in mind.

Katie & 2 of her adorable kids!

What is your favorite thing about your job?

I really love being able to help families in their journey through parenthood. From the early days of helping finding the perfect baby carrier to later days of finding the perfect toy that inspires the child to learn and grow while preserving their creativity and maintaining interest through the childs growth. I also love seeing how much my children have learned by being a part of this business from day 1.

What do you wish people knew about your business?

The importance of play in childhood is a major emphasis of our store. I wish more people appreciated how developmentally important play is, how important open ended toys are to creativity, and how much further money stretches when you buy quality toys made to be played with for years. That being a small local boutique doesn’t mean you pay premium prices, it means you get premium service at the same price as elsewhere. We are here to serve our customers.

What is the most stressful thing about your job?

The struggle to stay afloat. In the day and age of tablets for two year olds and internet purchases for moms, it can be tough to keep paying the bills.

What is your favorite thing about living in the tri-state area?

I love how welcome children are in Evansville. It was the first thing that struck me when I moved here and I still appreciate it today. This is becoming less true throughout many areas of country. I love how many places my kids are treated with respect.

Where can people find you if they want to learn more about Little Ants?

Our address is 2820 Lincoln Ave Evansville, IN 47714 or online at www.littleants.com

Check out: #antfamilybusiness

I don’t do twitter but have both instagram (@LittleAntsInc) and facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LittleAntsInc/)

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!

Want to win a super cool basket of stuff from Little Ants??

Here’s what you could win:

Sweet Baby Callum (only 7 days old) & his boppy are not included in the giveaway, but everything else in this picture is!!!

Here’s what you can win: S’well bottle, the cuddliest pig ever from The Manhattan Toy Company, a hand-dyed swaddling blanket made from bamboo by the Austin tie-dye company, Earth Mama Angel Baby Pregnancy Pampering Kit, Sweet tooth baby teether shaped like an ice cream cone, and a beautiful chewable necklace…

And the BIG thing that will probably get most of you excited is a:

TULA FREE TO GROW!!!!

Thank you so much Ellen for allowing me to come take pictures of you only 1 week postpartum!!! You are so beautiful & such a wonderful advocate for birth, babywearing, and breastfeeding in our community!
You can read more about the TULA Free to Grow here at this link.

The Tula Free to Grow is an amazing carrier that is fully adjustable, ergonomic, and has variable width and height settings to customize its fit to your growing baby. This innovative, no fuss design does not require an infant insert and can be used beginning at 7lbs, and it is soo very cool that I almost wish I was going to have another baby!!

This carrier is so versatile that she could have used it for her newborn OR her 2 year old OR her 4 year old!! The 6 year old might be a little big for it though.
(BTW: Ellen IS actually magical in case you were wondering!)

3 Steps to enter to win:

1. Like Doula Group of Evansville and Little Ants, Inc on Facebook
2. Like Little Ants, Inc and Doula Group of Evansville on Instagram. 3. Comment on this post with which item in the basket you are most excited to win!

I’ll put all the names in a bowl and have a live drawing on Sunday March 3^rd on the Doula Group of Evansville Instagram page, so be on the lookout for the announcement. Don’t worry though, I will contact you via messenger if you win too. I promise I don’t need this stuff and am really excited to give it away!!

Rules:

-Basket full of stuff must be picked up in person by the winner, so you should probably be fairly local to the Evansville area or at least willing to drive here to Little Ants to pick it up from me. If you aren’t local, you can still shop at their online store!

-Must be 18 to enter & a Facebook user, as winner will be notified via Facebook.

-This giveaway is in no way sponsored by, associated with, or run by Facebook or Instagram or any other entity other than Little Ants & Doula Group of Evansville

-DEADLINE to enter is Saturday March 2nd by noon!

Can we also mention that starting tomorrow there is a SALE at Little Ants????

Seriously, go check out these deals!!

I am SOOO excited to give away this basket of hand-picked stuff! Special thanks also goes out to Chrystal Mehringer who helped me pick out all these lovely things that we both agreed we would want if we were expecting. She’s just one of the super knowledgeable staff members are Little Ants, and a friend of mine too.

Bella Terra Organic Spa & Shoppe

I absolutely LOVE to make connections with other like-minded business owners here in the tri-state area, and Japhia just happens to also have previously worked as a doula and labor and delivery nurse in addition to her current role as the program chair for the healthcare specialist and therapeutic massage program at Ivy Tech here in Evansville. Did I mention that she is also a single mom to a gaggle of good looking kids? Japhia lights up the room with her vivacious personality and gentle spirit, and I always feel renewed every time we get to spend time together.

First, here is a bit about Japhia’s business: Bella Terra is a boutique organic spa located in Evansville, IN. They offer massage therapy, facial treatments, pedicures/manicures, body scrubs/wraps, and more. Their massage therapists are trained and skilled in techniques ranging from relaxing spa treatments, to prenatal massage, to deep tissue for persistent back, neck, and hip pain. They choose to use only all natural and organic products for their spa services and strive to maintain a practice that is health-conscious, green, and environmentally friendly.

I wanted to know more, so here are the questions I asked Japhia (in bold) and her answers underneath:

1. What is your favorite thing about your job?

I love that I get to work with people who have become such good friends. Also, coming from being a Registered Nurse for 10 years to working as a massage therapist, it’s an entirely different vibe. I love being able to help people feel better while working in a beautiful, relaxing environment. I also really enjoy when I see my repeat clients month after month. We get to form a relationship and it makes being at work feel like I’m not working at all. It’s especially fun with my prenatal clients, because I get to see their bellies grow and then I love seeing pictures after the baby is here! In general, being a massage therapist is very rewarding. I feel like I get to make a difference in people’s lives, without the stresses I had in my previous career. Although it’s very true that being a business owner has plenty of stresses of its own.

2. What do you wish people knew about your business?

I wish people knew that we are the only spa in town that is committed to using only natural and organic products. Also, that our nail polish is seriously the best I have ever used! We get asked sometimes if we do gel nails, but we avoid anything like that. We don’t even use regular nail polish. Studies have shown that metabolites of harmful chemicals such as triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), which is used in many nail polishes, have been found in women’s bodies within hours of painting their nails. We use a nail polish brand that is free of chemicals like TPHP, toluene, formaldehyde, and DBP. Plus, it’s actually awesome polish. It’s extremely durable, hardly has any smell at all, and comes in a ton of colors.

Other than that, I wish people knew that massage therapy is not a one-and-done type thing. People come in for a massage when they’re hurting the most, and then they don’t come back for another year. Massage is like starting an exercise regimen or taking a vitamin; you wouldn’t do it just once and expect big results. Although getting a massage once or twice a year is better than not at all, the benefits really start to show when you receive it regularly. We recommend every 4-6 weeks for maintenance. If you have a chronic issue that’s causing dysfunction or discomfort, it may take a few sessions before you see a lasting change. Conditions caused by repetitive movement or poor posture didn’t occur overnight and they can’t be cured overnight. Your body has to heal and relearn better movement and posture patterns. Massage can definitely help with that, and regular sessions will help keep you feeling your best. That’s why we offer a discount for clients that book monthly.

3. What is the most stressful thing about your job?

Honestly, managing other people. If I worked for someone else I wouldn’t have that problem, but I’ve always wanted to own my own business. Taking care of the scheduling, making sure everyone is happy, running the payroll, and really, just delegating anything can be stressful for me. I’m working on that though. Doing all of the administrative stuff, marketing, finances, etc. takes up a lot of time and is really my least favorite part.

4. What is your favorite thing about living in the tri-state area?

I like how close we are to everything. We are only a 2.5-3 hour drive from about 4 or 5 major cities. I love going to see live music, and even though a lot of my favorite bands don’t necessarily come through Evansville, I can make a day trip pretty much anywhere they stop in the Midwest. I’m from Chicago, and I’ve lived in smaller towns, but I feel like here we have the best of both worlds. We have a small town vibe, with some city amenities.

5. Where can people find you if they want to learn more about your services?

People can go to our website, www.thebellaterraspa.com, email us at info@thebellaterraspa.com, or call us at 812-598-2835. We’re also on Instagram, @bellaterraspa and Facebook, @thebellaterraspa. Thanks!

All birth doula clients of Doula Group of Evansville will receive a free 30-minute prenatal massage, while these coupons last!

Not everyone loves massage or even likes being touched, but there are so very many benefits to massage for those of us who it helps relax and be more in tune with our bodies. Being in tune with your body and its needs is extremely beneficial especially when preparing for birth!

When was the last time you got a massage?