Mamascarf

Win Baby Show tickets for Excel!

2012-02-03T06:03:00.000-08:00

We are very excited for the Baby Show at Excel this month as we can't wait to show you all our fantastic new product, Babasac, the only 2-in-1 multi tog baby sleeping bag! We are on stand C32 so do come and say hello if you are going to be there. We have 3 pairs of tickets to giveaway to one of our Facebook followers. All you have to do is drop an email to info@mamascarf.co.uk with the title "Baby Show tickets" and your details on and 3 winners will be picked at random on Thursday 9th Feb at 12 noon. Good luck!

COMING VERY SOON! Babasac, 2-in-1 multi tog baby sleeping bag

2012-01-19T12:48:00.001-08:00

I am delighted that after months of hard work, Babasac has passed all of its extremely rigorous safety tests (BS8510 2009)! For those of you who don't know, Babasac is a 2-in-1 multi tog baby sleeping bag. It has removable inner panels that easily zip out, meaning that it can be used all year round and on holiday. With the panels in, it is 2.5 tog and without 1.0 tog. It is 100% cotton and comes in two designs, hearts and stars.

I came up with the idea for Babasac when I realised that I was going to have to buy Lily yet another baby sleeping bag to take on holiday as her normal one was too high a tog. Feedback from parents so far has been fantastic and we can't wait to launch at the Excel Baby Show next month (stand C32).

We will have a very special launch price at the show. We hope to see you there! We'd love to hear what you think?

Local Business Accelerators Winner

2012-01-19T12:47:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! (if it's not too late to say that). Well it has been a great start to the year so far. We found out this week that we won the Birmingham Local Business Accelerators competition, which means we will have access to a panel of business mentors and an advertising campaign in the local press. Here is the link.
The regional winners will now compete to win mentoring from Dragons Deborah Meaden. Scary stuff! Watch out for news of our exciting new products for 2012 soon.

The winners of the Christmas competition are...

2011-12-19T05:26:00.000-08:00

I am delighted to announce that the winners of the Christmas Swag competition are...*drum roll* Jennifer Muir and Val Pownall! Congratulations to both of you. Thank you for all of your entries and have a fantastic Christmas! x

Christmas Competition time!

2011-12-01T01:23:00.000-08:00

Two lucky winners will win one of each of all the following fantastic baby products...

Mamascarf is an award winning discreet and supportive breastfeeding scarf.

ewanthe dream sheep™ is a very soft cuddly toy with light and sound features (including actual womb and heartbeat recordings) that calms babies and toddlers and lulls them into a peaceful slumber.

The multi award winning soft, safe and portable bed guard for children to snuggle up in for a good night's sleep.

Cheeky Wipes have produced an all-in-one washable baby wipe kit for DISPOSABLE or WASHABLE nappies. Better for baby, the planet and your pocket – and hassle free!

Mummy Mitts Mittensthat Stay Attached and Your Hands Stay Warm

Award winning buggy wrist strap BuggyTugensures your buggy stays close at all times.

The Safe Dreams
Cot Wrap is a soft, breathable surround for your baby's cot or crib, providing a padded barrier between them and the hard wooden bars.

Bundle Bean5-in-1 waterproof fleece cosy cover: Don’t go out without it!

The cuddly SleepytotBaby Comforter is guaranteed to help your little one sleep soundly through the night.

Hamster BagsKeeping buggies steady and giving plenty of storage space.

SnoozeShadeInfant Car Seat helps babies sleep on-the-go and makes any time nap time.

To enter, simply email your name, address and phone number to info@mamascarf.co.uk Title your email “Christmas Swag competition”. 2 winners will be chosen at random on Monday 19th December. Feel free to pop over to our Facebook pages to “like” us and keep up to date with our news and any offers.

(T&C's)
1. This competition is open to residents of the UK, 18 years or over, except anyone professionally associated with the competition. 2. Details regarding how to enter as published form part of the terms and conditions. It is a condition of entry that all rules are accepted as final and that the competitor agrees to abide by these rules. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 3. Only one entry per person. Late, illegible, incomplete, defaced or corrupt entries will not be accepted. No responsibility can be accepted for lost entries and proof of transmission will not be accepted as proof of receipt. The winner will be drawn at random from all entries received by the closing date. The winners will be drawn at random from all entries received. 4. All entries must be received by the published closing date –Monday 19th December, 12:00hrs. The winners will be announced and notified by Tuesday 20thDecember. 5. The winners will be notified by email, telephone or letter and their name and the name of the county where they live may be published. The winners will be notified within seven days of the published closing date of the prize draw. The prizes will be delivered to the winner's home address within 28 days of notification, unless the winner is notified otherwise. Prizes will not be awarded as a result of improper actions by or on behalf of competition entrants, illegal or otherwise. 6. The prizes as published are available on the date of publication. All prizes are non transferable and there are no cash alternatives. 7. Note that by entering into this competition you agree to have your name released as the winner, should you be drawn as a winner of the prize. 8. Events may occur that render the competition itself or the awarding of the prize impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the Promoter and accordingly the Promoter may at its absolute discretion vary or amend the promotion and the entrant agrees that no liability shall attach to the Promoter as a result thereof. 9. English law applies and the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts shall prevail. The Promoters of the competition Mama Designs Ltd.

How to ....with your Mamascarf, easy to follow video clips

2011-10-22T05:01:00.000-07:00

Have a look at our You Tube channel for our latest "How to" video clips which are
- How to change sides while breastfeeding using your Mamascarf
- How to wind your baby while breastfeeding using your Mamascarf
- How to put your Mamascarf on with one hand while holding your baby
Hope you find them useful! If there is anything else you would like to see, please contact me on info@mamascarf.co.uk
Thanks!
Keira x

WIN ONE OF 4 PAIRS OF EARLS COURT BABY SHOW TICKETS!

2011-10-11T04:40:00.000-07:00

We have 4 pairs of tickets up for grabs to Earls Court Baby Show. We will be on stand A21, so pop over and say hello if you are there. To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is "like" the Mamascarf Facebook page and email info@mamascarf.co.uk stating why you should win. Winners will be chosen on Friday 14th October. Good luck!

(Usual terms and conditions apply)

Practical Parenting SILVER!!!!

2011-09-29T00:19:00.000-07:00

Yay, we are very excited here at Mamascarf HQ because, we won a SILVER Practical Parenting award in the breastfeeding bra's and tops category

Some beautiful breastfeeding pictures...

2011-09-26T05:19:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this site today and just had to share it as there are some lovely pictures of mums breastfeeding Have a look...

On the Go Mums with Denise Van Outen

2011-09-12T02:27:00.000-07:00

Last week I was lucky enough to be part of a Three mobile media campaign "On the Go Mums" fronted by Denise Van Outen. I was on the panel with Denise in front of an audience of mums. It was all about how having a smartphone can save mums loads of time and money. This is particularly relevant for me as I would not be able to run my business without on the go access to my emails and internet. Others who have been involved in the campaign include Polly Marsh from Cuddledry and Laura Tennison from Jojo Maman Bebe, so I was very excited to be asked.

I bought a lovely new dress. Then I was advised not to wear a dress because I was going to be on a raised stage and it might not be practical. Boo!

To say I was nervous is putting it mildly! the night before I was like a 5 year old on Christmas Eve. Now I know that celebrities are normal people and blah, blah, blah but they are not are they? It's weird because you kind of feel like you know them, because you have seen them on the telly and in magazines. You know the name of their boyfriend/husband and their baby. You may even know where they went on holiday this year (only the avid magazine junkies). However you don't really know them. They could be completely different to the person you see on the TV.

Denise Van Outen is absolutely lovely, she is completely normal and nice and spent time chatting away to everyone there today. She even asked me where I got my jeans from ;0) (Zara, in case you were wondering too!)and she wants a Babasac for Betsy when I launch, which made my day! Thanks Three for a great day!

Practical Parenting Award finalist 2011/12 and other news

2011-08-15T04:32:00.000-07:00

We are delighted that Mamascarf has made the finalist list again for the Practical Parenting awards, in the category of Best Feeding top/bra. We are also finalists in the Mumpreneur Awards for Best International Trader.

There has been lots keeping us busy at Mamascarf HQ, especially working on our exciting new sleep product which you will be able to see pictures of soon. Our two baby models Olivia and Lily were very well behaved.

We have had some great reviews from some lovely mummy bloggers who independently tested Mamascarf with their babies. You can read their reviews and blogs here. Vicky at Parent Panel gave Mamascarf 5 stars! Jessica at Mumzy Not named Mamascarf as her no 1 breastfeeding essential! We have also had some fab reviews from Rhoda Reviews and Sara at The Scrummy Mummy .

Don't forget you can follow us on Facebook here and on Twitter here.

Mamascarf style!

2011-05-23T03:11:00.000-07:00

Have a look at these fantastic looks, created for Mamascarf by Charis from StyleBabyStyle. They went down really well with the style conscious breastfeeding mums and mums to be at the Baby Show this weekend. You can read her fab blog at stylebabystyle.com

Baby Sleeping Bag

2011-05-17T03:07:00.000-07:00

Calling all mums! We would love your help in developing our new product, Babasac. We will have a sample on show at the Baby Show at the NEC this weekend, feel free to come and have a look and give us any feedback. Tell us what you look for in a baby sleeping bag, how much you are prepared to pay, whether you would purchase one as a new baby gift and what you think of the concept. We hope to see you there (we are on stand M10) xx

Baby Swag winner!

2011-05-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to reveal that the winner of the Baby Swag Competition is Renee Smith from St Helens. She wins a Mamascarf breastfeeding scarf, Hamster buggy pannier bags, a Safe Dreams cot wrap, a Skibz – the funky, highly absorbent, original bandana-style bib, a Cuddledry apron towel, a Snoozeshade, a Buggy Tug, a and some Dream Tubes room stickers. Congratulations Renee! We have some Baby Show tickets to giveaway this week, watch this space ...

Baby Swag Competition

2011-05-11T01:28:00.000-07:00

Baby Swag Competition
WIN, WIN, WIN loads of baby goodies!! (a Mamascarf breastfeeding scarf, Hamster buggy pannier bags, a Safe Dreams cot wrap, a Skibz – the funky, highly absorbent, original bandana-style bib, a Cuddledry apron towel, a Snoozeshade, a Buggy Tug and a Sleepytot). To enter simply comment on the blog below why you should win and email info@mamascarf.co.uk entitled Baby Swag Competition with your contact details by Friday 13th May at 5pm.
It's not a condition of entry but we would love it if you would pop over to our Facebook pages and "like" us.
@Cuddledry @Sleepytot @Mamascarf @SnoozeShade @Buggy Tug @Safe Dreams @HamsterBags @Skibz Bibs Thanks and good luck! :0)

(T&C's)
1. This competition is open to residents of the UK, 18 years or over, except anyone professionally associated with the competition. 2. Details regarding how to enter as published form part of the termsandconditions. It is a condition of entry that all rules are accepted as final and that the competitor agrees to abide by these rules. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 3. Only one entry per person. Late, illegible, incomplete, defaced or corrupt entries will not be accepted. No responsibility can be accepted for lost entries and proof of transmission will not be accepted as proof of receipt. The winner will be drawn at random from all entries received by the closing date. If winning is dependent on answering a question correctly, then the winner will be drawn at random from all correct entries received. 4. All entries must be received by the published closing date – Friday 13th May, 17:00hrs. The winners will be announced and notified by Monday 16th May. 5. The winners will be notified by email, telephone or letter and their name and the name of the county where they live may be published. The winners will be notified within seven days of the published closing date of the prize draw. The prize will be delivered to the winner's home address within 28 days of notification, unless the winner is notified otherwise. Prizes will not be awarded as a result of improper actions by or on behalf of competition entrants, illegal or otherwise. 6. The prizes as published are available on the date of publication. All prizes are non transferable and there are no cash alternatives. 7. Note that by entering into this competition you agree to have your name released as the winner, should you be drawn as a winner of the prize. 8. Events may occur that render the competition itself or the awarding of the prize impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the Promoter and accordingly the Promoter may at its absolute discretion vary or amend the promotion and the entrant agrees that no liability shall attach to the Promoter as a result thereof. 9. English law applies and the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts shall prevail. The Promoters of the competition Mama Designs Ltd.

Take One Small Step competition

2011-05-03T05:21:00.000-07:00

Please take a look at my entry for the Barclays Take One Small Step competition. It's a prototype for my new product Babasac, a multi tog baby sleeping bag. Please "like" it if you think it's any good! Also feel free to leave a comment on the Barclays website. Thanks! x
https://www.takeonesmallstep.co.uk/Entry/Detail/1517

Gorgeous new Retro Leaf print Mamascarf

2011-03-10T22:55:00.000-08:00

Have a look at our gorgeous new print Mamascarf, Retro Leaf, in brown and cream and perfect for the Spring & Summer. We hope you like it ...

ps. Did you know, that if you keep your Mamascarf tied in a knot you can put it on with one hand?
x

Would be good to see more celebrities publicly breastfeeding!

2011-01-20T23:58:00.000-08:00

Seeing the backlash from the beautiful picture of the gorgeous Miranda Kerr with her newborn at her breast has forced me out of my blog desert. When celebrities breastfeed we tend to know about it, when celebrities go one step further and either breastfeed in public or release pictures of themselves feeding, it makes the headlines. Seeing such images is a wonderful thing and is inspiring and encouraging for many mums or mums to be. We are used to seeing celebrities a world away from the average mum, back to their pre baby weight at 6 weeks, looking beautiful every time they step out the front door. Where are the bags under their eyes, the sick/milk on their clothes? Yet by breastfeeding they are doing something that we can relate and aspire to and hopefully achieve. It brings them down to our level and normalises them. They can’t use a nanny if 24/7 if they are breastfeeding their baby. Dannii Minogue has recently had a lot of coverage about juggling breastfeeding her baby Ethan whilst being a working mum and stories like this can only have a positive effect in a society where we are obsessed by celebrity.
It makes me feel sick that people can think to complain about a picture like Miranda’s. The Mirror says “Internet message boards were littered with negative comments about the photograph, ranging from the dismissive “Put it away love, and show some decorum” to the damning “Yuck! This is gross.” Some responses to the picture were downright vicious, such as: “Women who breastfeed in public make me sick. It’s just an excuse to get their baps out. They’re a disgrace and should be ashamed of themselves.” I cannot believe that people actually think like that in this day and age, let alone make a point of complaining about it.
You see more on display in magazines and newspapers on a daily basis. The power of celebrity is huge and if more celebrities did this, I am sure that it would do a huge amount to encourage more mums to breastfeed. Well done Miranda, we think you are great!
http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2011/01/21/miranda-kerr-and-the-debate-about-breastfeeding-in-public-115875-22863924/

Documentary makers looking for mums

2010-12-17T07:21:00.000-08:00

Renegade pictures have asked me to help them by posting this on my blog. Please contact them direct if you are interested.

Hi there,
BBC Three and Renegade Pictures are making a new documentary about motherhood and parenting and we would love to hear from any mums who are happy to share their stories.

The documentary will be presenter lead and will explore what it’s like to raise children today – it will be a thoughtful, insightful film about the decisions women make and different approaches to being a mum today.

Perhaps you believe there is not enough discipline today and have decided to raise your children with a strict framework?

Or do you think children should be treated like adults and allowed to make their own decisions and choices?

Have you given up your career for your children or do you have help from nannies or other childcare so that you can balance the 2?

Do you worry about the dangers out there and try to protect your children from them or do you think children are too wrapped in cotton wool?

Whatever your age and background – whether you’re a mum, step-mum or foster mum, religious or not, strict or liberal - we would love to hear from you.

If you’re interested in finding out more please email: parent@renegadepictures.co.uk. If you do not have access to email you can call: 020 7449 3242. But please note email is preferential at this stage.

Many thanks and looking forward to hearing from you!

Renegade Pictures

The Breastfeeding Diaries...

2010-10-18T01:59:00.000-07:00

This one from Bec made me cry...
I am Bec, I blog at www.beetrootandgherkins.blogspot.com about my children Monty (3yrs) and Blossom (7 months) both of whom I breastfed and this is my story….

I’m not going to deny it. I struggled with breastfeeding Monty. On the day my milk came in I had comedy boobs. I looked like Jordan but without the massive bank balance and pink horse box. I became so engorged with milk that there was nothing for Monty to latch onto and my nipples were cracked, sore, bleeding and painful. I began to dread every feed.

I was in so much pain the midwife suggested I expressed and fed Monty either from a syringe or one of those thimble cups. She also booked me in with a breastfeeding counsellor whilst muttering something about having enough milk for twins.

Engorgement is horrible. It’s like trying to latch a baby onto an apple. No chance. So I dutifully began to express for the first tie and sobbed my heart out as the bottle filled with blood.

The counsellor never turned up the next day and in the end I gritted my teeth, suffered and got on with it, stamping my feet and swearing with every feed. Eventually it got better but I don’t remember enjoying it.

When Monty was seven weeks old I got mastitis. I felt so ill I decided to give up breastfeeding as I was exhausted and just needed the break. In all honesty though I didn’t really know what I wanted. No sooner had I stopped I was so sad and regretted it terribly. So my nine week old baby and I started again.

Sounds crazy? I kept putting Monty back to the breast, literally hourly. I still kept him topped up with formula but made sure I offered him my milk as much as humanely possible to get my supply back. Although I have to admit to keeping the 11pm bottle as he was sleeping through, I wasn’t going to give that up!

I then successfully fed him myself until he was six months old.

Fast forward 2 more years and Blossom was born. And the struggles started again. Although painful, it was easier in a way as having been through it before I knew it would get better and I would get through it. And I did. With a lot of help from my trusty Savoy cabbage leaves, warm baths and cold compresses. Oh and lansinoh, tonnes of the stuff!

7 months on and I’m still feeding Blossom with no plans to stop just yet. I definitely feel its been a positive experience. And in some ways will feel sad to stop eventually as chances are she is my last child.

I guess the moral of my sore boobed tale is, it does get better. And it is worth it. I love that last feed of the day when Blossom is all snuggled into me slowly drifting off into her milky sleep. Contentment that is, right there.

Bras for pregnancy and breastfeeding – a starting point!

2010-10-14T06:44:00.000-07:00

This guest post is from bra expert T-J from Bra's for Mums.

Bras! Where do you start? Some women when they get pregnant ignore the changes in their breasts and just carry on as usual and then finally when it all gets too uncomfortable buy new bras. But at that stage they then realise that they could have been comfy all along!

So, we suggest that you get new bras when you start to feel that the ones you’ve got don’t fit any more. Makes sense really doesn’t it? That’s what we do with our other clothing (unless we’re in denial about dress sizes!), so why not our bras?

Our breasts start to get ready for breastfeeding baby (even if you don’t plan to breastfeed, your breasts don’t know that!), when you first conceive. So we usually expect women to need a new bra during the first trimester. We suggest a simple soft bra, usually a bustier type bra, is a good buy at this stage. Women often get tender and sore breasts in the first 12-16 weeks, so a soft bra that you can sleep in is a good investment.

If you get more structured bras (that do up at the back, with a bit more support in them), we suggest you get them towards the end of the first trimester. Maybe after your first scan so you don’t mind too much about spending money now you know it’s really true that you’re pregnant! A rule of thumb for buying a maternity bra at this stage, is to increase the band size, and keep the same cup size, or increase it. You’ll know what’s best for you, and specialist bra fitters can always advise you on what’s likely to last to the end of pregnancy.

There are a few unlucky ladies whose breasts continue to grow during pregnancy, but this is rare. So, the bra that you get at the end of your first trimester should last you to the end of your pregnancy, AS LONG AS YOU’VE FITTED IT ON IT’S TIGHTEST SETTING WHEN YOU BOUGHT IT, to allow for the band to grow with your rib cage during pregnancy.

The best time to get fitted for nursing bras, is at about 35-36 weeks, when your ribs are at their biggest. This way we know that your ribs will get smaller, but your breasts will get bigger – yes, again! You fit this bra on its loosest setting as you would a normal bra. So, the starting point at this stage is your pre-pregnancy band size, and 2-3 cup sizes bigger than you were before you got pregnant.

Always make sure the bra covers your whole breast as anything pressing on the breast can cause blocked ducts, and potentially lead to mastitis, which you really do not want. Sometimes you need to change the style of the bra, rather than just change the size. Ask a specialist fitter for advice on different styles you can try.

Bra fitting is not easy at the best of times, with all styles and manufacturers fitting differently. It’s even more complicated with an ever changing body and breast shape. But, it’s so important to be comfortable. Yes, comfort above style during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Some would disagree, but if you’re not comfy, it can affect your milk let down when feeding, and can also make you feel grumpy about being uncomfortable.

There is so much selection out there of maternity and nursing bras (and you can wear nursing bras during pregnancy if they’re the right style for you. We have older ladies wearing the HOTmilk and Cake Lingerie styles as they want attractive bras without wires!). Some of you will have more limited choice with your size. But there may still be a choice if you use a specialist bra shop.

The bras4mums range caters for the many changes your body will undergo during pregnancy and breast feeding, with your complete comfort in mind. You can be a loving mother and an attractive woman, presenting a stunning cleavage and curvaceous silhouette to be proud of! In a perfectly fitting, functional yet feminine bra you will feel beautiful inside and out! Happy, confident Mums produce happy babies - you and your baby deserve the best!

bras4mums: Supporting you…through pregnancy and beyond
 From comfy to sexy
 Value for money
 Expert bra fitters
 Online shop & support
 Unlimited exchanges

www.bras4mums.co.uk, email: info@bras4mums.co.uk, telephone: 0845 373 3875

Baby Show Earls Court

2010-10-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

Just a quickie, we are not going to be exhibiting at the Earls Court Baby Show but the good news is you can still get a Mamascarf from the show. If you want to buy a Mamascarf, you can get yours from the Bra's for Mums stand (C52).

Breastfeeding diaries...

2010-10-07T07:08:00.000-07:00

This post is from Amy Shipham. Her story is a reminder that breastfeeding doesn't work out for everyone.

I saw your request on the netmums site and thought i would reply with a different angle on breastfeeding.
When I was pregnant and at antenatal classes, they made breastfeeding sound so easy and so important to the childs development that I thought "why wouldn't you breastfeed?" there was no alternative for me I was obviously going to breastfeed my child.

My daughter was born and we couldn't get her to breastfeed, everyone tried to help me and she would not latch on. I expressed for 2 weeks and gave up.
Trying to breastfeed stressed out Bethany and me, I got PND and bethany was scared of skin contact (from being pushed onto me and having a nipple forced at her), it seriously damaged our bonding and it took us weeks to bond properly after this.
Beth has been perfectly healthy and really seemed to enjoy bottled milk.
I hope to tell my story to other mothers, so they don't feel so pressurised into breastfeeding and so they don't feel like such a failure if they don't. I still believe breastfeeding is better for the child and mother, but it wasn't for Beth! If we have another child I will attempt breastfeeding again, but will be more willing to stop trying if it doesn't work for us again.

Thanks Amy. Don't forget to send your stories to info@mamascarf.co.uk

Breastfeeding diaries...

2010-10-05T04:25:00.000-07:00

Today,thanks to blogger Leanne from Second Time Mummy for her guest post.

Breast feeding can be quite a controversial subject: some people love it, some people can't do it and some people choose not to do it at all. The important thing to remember is - it's your decision and no one elses. For me, I knew from the moment that I found out I was pregnant, that I wanted to breastfeed but I was slightly naive in the fact that I thought it would be easy and I'd instinctively know what to do.

When Mister A was born in 2007, I had a few problems getting started. I couldn't get him to latch on properly and I ended up with very, very sore nipples. Not one to give up, I talked things through with my midwife and I found a great lying down position that worked for me and baby. Luckily, once I had mastered 'latching on' in that position that I was soon up and running and knew exactly what I was doing.

Yes it was sore for the first few weeks, especially on day 3 when my milk came through -I actually thought that my chest was going to explode! I managed to persevere and with the help of plenty of nipple cream and lots of support from other breastfeeding mums, I ended up breastfeeding A exclusively for the first six months. I would have carried on for longer but I had to go back to work and so I took the decision to move him on to formula.

For me, my mistake was that I never introduced Mister A properly to a bottle. I only ever expressed milk on a couple of occasions but he never took to it so we gave up. When I came to go back to work when he was 6 months old he would not drink anything from a bottle. Whether he was with Grandma or at the nursery he would not adapt and they ended up having to use a cup and let him sip from it when I wasn't there.

Second time around I found breastfeeding so much easier - purely because I knew what to expect. I knew what had worked for me the first time around and Ellissia and I managed to get in to the swing of things straight away.

I do seem to have a lot more milk this time around and that isn't necessarily a good thing - I'm finding it difficult to get through the day without flooding through my clothes. I'm going to start expressing my milk now and freezing it so hopefully that will mean less embarrassing 'wet patch' moments!

Little E is 4 weeks old today and I'm loving every minute of it - except maybe those 4am feeds - I won't miss those once she starts sleeping through!

My advice to other mums...If anyone ever asks for breastfeeding advice, I always say - express your milk - that way Daddy will have a chance to feed your little one, you'll have a little time to yourself and baby won't have any problems if you are ever apart.

I think the thing to remember is, we are all different, what works for some people, won't work for others. There are plenty of online support groups available if you're struggling or want to find out more about breast feeding and if you can't do it or it's not for you then you shouldn't be made to feel guilty.

I really enjoyed feeding time and although sometimes I felt tired and that I never had any time to myself, I really feel that you bond with your baby during feeding times and that makes me a very happy mummy.

Good luck! x
www.secondtimemummy.com

Practical Parenting Awards finalist and the Baby Show

2010-09-30T12:57:00.000-07:00

I am delighted to be able to tell you that we are finalists in the Practical Parenting Awards 2010/11 in the category for breastfeeding top/bras. Although the winners have already been announced, we are so happy to have made it this far. We are in great company as the winners are George at ASDA, Mama's & Papa's and HOTmilk. Now we can use the badge on our packaging, which is fab!

Just a quickie,unfortunately we will not be exhibiting at the Earls Court Baby Show this year but the good news is you can still try and buy a Mamascarf at the show on the Bras4Mums stand.

The Breastfeeding Diaries...

2010-09-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Sarah from Baby's Day for today's breastfeeding post.

I love your list of love / don’t love about breastfeeding – I can really relate to the one about a secret passion for watching Keeping up with the Kardashians. I have lots of happy memories of being curled up on the sofa feeding my baby with the log fire crackling in the corner – and Judge Judy on the TV!! “What? I’m feeding, I can’t reach the remote control!” (usually for an hour and a half triple bill :-D ) I really enjoyed those quiet afternoons, spending time snuggling up with my new baby whilst the rain poured down outside.

I was really disappointed that I didn’t seem to be able to produce enough milk for my little one once he was about 3 months old, and remember the really mixed feelings of giving him a bottle for the first time. On the one hand I was a tad relieved that I wasn’t the only one that would be getting up in the night anymore, but on the other hand I knew that it was the beginning of the end of that wonderful close time we would have together. So my advice to anyone breastfeeding is that even though it does feel like a physically exhausting chore at times, enjoy the chance to spend quiet time with your little one.

Breastfeeding diaries...

2010-09-28T05:07:00.000-07:00

Todays post comes from Helen, mum of 2, from New Stork Times.

I have had an interesting experience as I bottle fed my first and breastfed my second for 9 months! It makes me sad to see the guilt felt by mums who decide to bottle feed and also angry when I hear bad advice being given in the early stages of feeding. I encourage my breastfeeding mums to feed during and after my baby massage classes and they all enjoy getting together and talking about the highs and lows of feeding.

Don't forget if you have a story or tip, please send them in to me at info@mamascarf.co.uk Thanks! x

The Breastfeeding Diaries...

2010-09-23T05:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Frances from bigbooklittlebookcardboardbox for her breastfeeding tips!

My top breastfeeding tip is learn how to breastfeed lying down, as early as possible. Nothing else improves your quality of life as the ability to properly rest while you breastfeed. The bed is a much more stable surface than your arms or cushions so your baby is less likely to fall off from a good latch, plus he/she tends to lie stiller with less wriggling, thus generates less wind. Other tips - don't rush a feed in the early days (e.g. because you have visitors anxious to meet the baby) - the baby will end up just getting the foremilk without any hindmilk which will make them fractious as they struggle to digest it. If you're finding breastfeeding difficult (a euphemism for agonisingly painful!), set yourself targets - 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 6 weeks. Six weeks is the magic number - if you make it to 6 weeks, things thereafter become alot easier and it's unlikely you'll want to stop, as you'll start reaping the benefits: not having to sterilise bottles, much easier to spontaneously go out and about, no faffing about in the night stumbling up and down stairs, and, finally, the ability to eat a whole box of milk tray without putting on any weight!

Please send your stories or tips into me, Keira, info@mamascarf.co.uk

Breastfeeding Diaries...

2010-09-22T01:05:00.000-07:00

I must apologise but a crazy week (including A&E visit with 3 yo!) has meant I have been a bit slack with my posts. This one comes from Paula, mum of 2 from Curtain Lab.

I breastfed my 2 boys for a year each child. I can honestly say that I was only able to travel back home with a new baby (2-months) because he was breastfed.... I had to travel door to door for 24hrs (London/Sao Paulo/Manaus and back of course). It would have been almost impossible to carry formula milk, water and equipment for such a journey now!

Further to that, I also donated breastmilk to Kingston Hospital for 6 months! Whilst I feel it is important to give our babies the best possible start in life, I also understand the need for mum & baby to bond and breastfeeding gave me the chance to come to terms with the birth of my children (both very traumatic, 4 weeks early).

My husband and I were going through some tough times when I fell pregnant with my second child, and I wasn't looking forward to being a mummy again. I often wonder if I would have bonded as much or as well if he had been put on a bottle? No doubt my husband would have helped more, and I would have been quite happy to step back a little.

As for the fear of 'saggy breast' it is a complete myth! I had so much milk I had mastitis and once all settle down, I still have nice, mature breasts... it has not stopped me from topless sunbathing! My own mother refused to breastfeed us (4 kids) for fear of ending up with saggy breasts.

Breastfeeding was so rewarding to me that I was desperately trying to train as a breastfeeding councillor... Sadly it was not to be but I'm happy to be the only person I know to have fed the neonatal unit of Kingston Hospital for 6 months!

Mamascarf- The Breastfeeding Diaries

2010-09-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

It's day 5 of the breastfeeding diaries and we have a guest post from Clare from Baby Abroad.

There are certain memories that will always stick with me from breastfeeding. One is eating cherry bakewells swiftly one after another as I was starving the whole time - a pleasant memory that can be relived via the wonderful Mr Kipling. The other is with my second daughter, breastfeeding her while we were having our extension completed. She arrived among chaos, the weekend that they knocked through a stone wall (I was assured the whole thing would have been finished months before she arrived!). Thank goodness she was my second, as I pretty calm through the whole thing. I wish I had known about the mamascarf then though - it would have saved the builders' embarrassment for sure!

I have a tip for new mums feeding - it's the babysday book (www.babysday.co.uk ) - it's a notebook for recording feeding/sleeping/play/cry times etc. It's great for when your baby brain has forgotten when the last feed was or which boob they had last - I bought one for my sister-in-law who had twins recently - she found it to be excellent especially when the midwife wanted to check their feeding/number of wet nappies etc.

Don't forget to keep sending your stories in to me, Keira at info@mamascarf.co.uk .

The Breastfeeding diaries...

2010-09-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

Day 4 on the Breastfeeding Diaries is a tip from Beth Peat, mum of 2, on tandem feeding.

My little ones are 22 months and 3 months. I breastfed my daughter all through my pregnancy, and we're still feeding at bedtime. Obviously, your newborn is your priority and we did some work with Lucy to reduce the number of feeds in the day before Sam was born. We were down to just bedtimes before I went into hospital - I had a planned section - but I fed her at naptimes for a few weeks after as well as she needed the comfort. Then, we cut out naptimes as it wasn't feasible to feed her to sleep without someone to take Sam, and as I'm home most of the day by myself... I think my biggest tip would be to not be afraid to give it a go, and to be flexible and sensitive to needs of both children. And, if you need to wean the older one because it's not working out, that's ok too - they've had a lot of benefit from extended feeding, and you can substitute other activities for the feeding - reading or singing together for example. There's also a book called 'Adventures in Tandem Feeding' that was a good resource - I borrowed it from the counsellor at my local Breastfeeding Network.

If you have anything you would like to submit please email it to me at info@mamascarf.co.uk

The Breastfeeding Diaries...

2010-09-15T02:33:00.000-07:00

It's day 3 of the Breastfeeding Diaries and thanks to Debbie from the Nappy Wrap Store for sending me her story.

I remember nursing in the back of my brothers car with my oldest who is now 16 (I was 17 at the time). We lived in Northern Ireland at the time, and every so often there are army check points. My brother was new in the army at the time, and we got stopped at a check point, he showed his ID and they then shined a torch into the back of the car to check all the passengers, and there I was sat on the back seat breastfeeding. The soldier was only young and got all flustered lol, before telling us we could go! Have to add 16 years ago the seatbelt and car seat laws where not so strict, just so anyone knows I wasn't irresponsible... things where just different then!

The Breastfeeding Diaries...

2010-09-14T01:59:00.000-07:00

In the first guest post on the Breastfeeding Diaries, I received this funny story from Teresa from JM Baby Equipment Hire.

I am a mum to Jack and Max aged 6 and 4 and a few years ago when the boys were younger we were sat in a cafe having some lunch. On the table next to us there was a Sun newspaper open on the page 3 girl. Jack then aged 4 took a quick look at the newspaper and then promptly shouted "look mum that lady is like you always getting your boobies out in front of people!" Everyone around me looked at me as I turned a bright shade of red. I didn't even want to start trying to explain that what he meant was I was always getting my boobs out to breastfed his little brother Max (of course it was in public places in front of people trying discreetly to cover up - oh I wish your product was known to me back then!). www.jmbabyequipmenthire.co.uk

If you have any stories, please send them in to info@mamascarf.co.uk Thanks!

The Breastfeeding Diaries

2010-09-13T03:16:00.000-07:00

This is going to be a series of blog posts about breastfeeding. I would love you all to submit your breastfeeding stories/experiences/tips, good or bad, funny or sad so I can post them on here. To start things off;

Things I love about breastfeeding
1. I love the look that I get from my milk drunk baby when she has finished her feed and gazes up at me with adoring eyes. It is the BEST feeling in the world.
2. I love the fact that I can feed her anytime, anywhere and don’t have to faff about with carrying or heating bottles, day or night. My milk is the right temperature and is there on tap whenever she wants it.
3. I love the fact that I am giving her the best start in life. I can provide all of the food my baby needs. How clever am I!
4. Breast milk nappies don’t smell too bad. In fact sometimes they smell quite sweet and biscuity. Or is this just because of my level of cake consumption? Does this make me weird?
5. If I want some quiet time together we can retreat upstairs for a feed and get comfy on the bed with lots of pillows. I am feeding my baby, not being lazy!
6. I can use breastfeeding time as an excuse to feed my secret habit, watching episodes of Keeping up with the Kardashians (shhh, don’t tell anyone!)
7. My 3 year old, Sam, thinks that every cry from Lily means she needs feeding or what he calls “boob milk”. The other day when I was out of the room I heard him say to her “I can’t give you any milk Lily, as there is no milk in my boobs. There is only boob milk in mummy’s boobs”. Funny.

Things I don’t love so much about breastfeeding
1. Expressing is the bain of my life. I hate it. I can pump away for about ½ hour and all I have to show for it is a measly few ounces. I am rubbish at it. I recently had to go to London without baby L and had to make 3 trips to the toilet to express, else my boobs would have exploded. The worst thing was that I had to throw the sacred milk away as I didn’t have any way to store it or sterilise the pump. I have heard stories about women who can fill a cup on one side while feeding on the other. This makes me very jealous! Although this wouldn’t be very helpful when you are out and about.
2. Distractions. 5 months in and I have a baby who is very interested in the world around her. This means that feeding is not so high on her list of priorities. Watching tv, her big brother, looking out the window, anything else are more important. This means that she feeds for no more than a few minutes at a time. I have even taken to using my Mamascarf at home (even when I’m on my own!) to minimise outside noise and distractions.
3. Sometimes, just sometimes I would like more than one glass of wine. My inability to express means that I will just wait until I stop feeding to have a proper drink. Two glasses will probably make me blind drunk anyway.
4. Feeding on demand can sometimes make you feel that you are feeding all of the time. I appreciate that I could have chosen to get baby L into a routine of 4 hourly feeds but I just went with it and admittedly she is quite good now but in the early days we had regular feedathons (a good excuse for trash TV and magazines though- see above!)

5. Sometimes I feel guilty about the amount of time I spend with baby L versus Sam. My time is not split equally and this is mostly because of breastfeeding. He is really good about it but has definitely become more of a daddy’s boy.

6. I have to wear 2 bras to the gym. Ok, maybe I am not normal but since I have been breastfeeding, I need strapping down in a big way to go to the gym and jump around at Body Combat without blackening my eyes. A fellow mummy friend gave me this tip as she runs and swears by wearing 2 sports bras. It gets a bit hot but it does seem to work.
Please send your stories, tips and anything breastfeeding related to me Keira info@mamascarf.co.uk Thanks!

latest news...

2010-08-09T02:13:00.000-07:00

I have been a bit slack in the blog department lately, so thought it was about time to update... Baby Lily is now 4 months, it has absolutely flown by and she has definitely been keeping me very busy!

Mamascarf has been in the news in the last month or so. I was interviewed on Radio 5 Live with Zoe Williams about the Mother& Baby breastfeeding story that hit the headlines. We were featured in the Independent newspaper in an article on Parenting Inspired businesses and also in the Irish Independent parenting supplement. Me and baby Lily just had a v embarassing photo shoot for the Nat West magazine, which involved standing on a box in my local cafe, which you can see from September.

It's all come at once but I am really pleased that Mamascarf has been given a Bizzie Baby Gold Award, are finalists in the Practical Parenting Awards (Breastfeeding tops and covers category), a finalist in the Remote Worker Parentpreneur Awards, shortlisted for the Most Unique Product at the forthcoming Mumpreneur Awards and am a finalist for Nectar Entrepreneur of the Year. I have my fingers very, very tightly crossed (particularly for the Nectar one which prize includes £2k!)and am looking forward to conferences/awards/do's/shows over the next few months and catching up with the lovely helpful, supportive and inspiring people that are my "virtual" colleagues.
See you soon. x

My holiday must-haves

2010-06-15T05:39:00.000-07:00

We have just got back from a lovely week in Spain. It was lovely because we had help, in the form of my parents and my sister and her boyfriend. Had it been the four of us, it would have definitely have been hard work! It was probably easier with a 10 week old baby than it would have been with a 6 month old though as all she needed to do was breastfeed and sleep. Of which she did lots! So my Mamascarf came in very handy. I breastfed Lily at the airport, on the plane, at the pool, on the beach and in restaurants. All of which would have resulted in numerous flashings without it (especially taking into account bikinis and dresses). Considering we were surrounded by men on stag do's at the airport and on the plane this was a very good thing! The three things I couldn't have done without this holiday were my Mamascarf, Sam's Trunki for keeping him entertained at the airport and my SnoozeShade for getting Lily to sleep in her pram.
So now we are back to reality and the daily grind...

Baby Show, new baby and more...

2010-05-26T04:27:00.000-07:00

I thought it was about time that I updated my blog as it has been a while. However I have an excuse, a very good one and she is called Lily and is now 7 weeks old. She has turned our lives around. So now I can breastfeed in public using my Mamascarf for real and do you know what, I love it! I have fed her at a funeral, in restaurants and in places and in front of people that I never would have considered feeding in front of last time. In fact I fed in front of 16,000+ people at the Baby Show last weekend (not all at once!)

We had live demonstrations on the stand, as you can see from the picture. The show was great, unfortunately we missed out on the sunshine though. Was good to see lots of Mumsclub members as well as fellow exhibitors.

We were recommended in the Parenting page of the Mirror last week and I was interviewed for Heart FM about the Baby Show. All in all a busy week, and now I am in need of a holiday which I will get v soon if the volcanic ash cloud doesn't come back!
Keira x

This blog has moved

2010-03-29T13:47:00.001-07:00

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Mamascarf gets "Mumsnet Best"

2010-03-16T02:15:00.000-07:00

I am very happy to announce that we have been given "Mumsnet Best" status for Mamascarf from Mumsnet members for our breastfeeding / nursing cover. You can see some of the customer reviews at mumsnet.com
Keira x

Practical Baby Gift Guide

2010-02-24T00:46:00.000-08:00

Our friends at Sleepytot are compiling a Practical Baby Gift Guide voted for by parents and they need your help. If you love your Mamascarf for breastfeeding in public, don't forget to vote for it!

Looking back on all the baby stuff you bought or had given to you from friends and family, how much of it did you actually use? Since the day your little bundle arrived, you’ve probably been on the steepest learning curve of your life. There's no other role which forces us to learn so much, so quickly, while working on the job 24 hours a day!

With this comes the stuff you buy to actually solve a problem, to make your life easier, and to make your baby happy. It seems that we all come to the end of the first year with three baby products that we rave about.

It might be a fantastic toy, a baby sleep product, something for bath time, a baby guide book, or a feeding product. Anything that made your life easier.

Whatever it was, Sleepytot want to know about it. Why? Because they’re compiling the first ever Practical Baby Gift Guide. This ultimate guide will be totally free and available to all parents and parents-to- be, their friends and their families.

In return for your feedback, your email address will be entered into a prize draw to win £50 of Sleepytot vouchers.

Head over to Sleepytot http://www.sleepytot.com/community.phtml to vote today!

Mamascarf wins an Award!

2010-02-23T08:05:00.000-08:00

We are just back from a hectic weekend at the Baby Show in London. It was a great show and we had some wonderful feedback from both breastfeeding mums and mums to be who tried and bought our breastfeeding covers. We even had several live demonstrations on the stand! It was good to meet up with some fellow Tweeters as well. Doing the show at 7 months pregnant meant I had very swollen feet but all back to normal now!

I had some great news while we were there, Mamascarf has won a SMARTA 100 Business Award, judged by a panel including Dragons Den's Deborah Meaden. As well as this we are through to the final 4 for Outstanding New Product from "Women on their Way", the winner will be revealed at a ceremony at Villa Park in March. Fingers crossed!

WIN BABY SHOW TICKETS!

2010-01-25T06:32:00.000-08:00

Mamascarf are very excited to be exhibiting at the Baby Show next month at Excel(from 19th-21st Feb). Preparations are well underway at Mamascarf Towers and we would like to offer you the chance to win a pair of tickets so you can come and see /try our wonderful breastfeeding cover for yourself. Breastfeeding in public will never be the same again! All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is email me the names of the two celebrity mums who are fans of Mamascarf. Put "Baby Show Competition" as the title of your email and click on the email us link.
If you need a clue, check out the Feedback page! The winner will be randomly selected on Friday 29th January. Good luck!

Mamascarf gets I'm Pregnant Best Buy status

2010-01-19T07:09:00.000-08:00

Mamascarf has been given "Best Buy" status for our breastfeeding cover by I'm Pregnant magazine. This means that we can use their Best Buy logo on our packaging and website and we are very happy!

All you need to know for getting started with breastfeeding

2010-01-19T07:04:00.000-08:00

What do I need to know?
Breast milk is the best possible food for your baby. It will build your babies immune system as well as giving them the best possible start in life. It protects babies against ear infections, gastro-intestinal infections, chest infections, urine infections, childhood diabetes, eczema, obesity, asthma. Breastfeeding protects mums against ovarian cancer, breast cancer and weak bones later in life. (source: National Health Service, 2009). What’s more breast milk is free, on tap and is always the right temperature. Breastfeeding is also great for bonding with your baby.
How can I prepare for breastfeeding?
You can attend an ante natal class, where you will be able to get some advice on breastfeeding techniques and meet some other mums to be. You should try to include your partner, and encourage them to be supportive of your decision to breastfeed. You can read up on breastfeeding and again, encourage your partner to do some reading. The more informed you are, the more likely that you will succeed.
What do I need?
To breastfeed, all you really need is a nursing bra, some breastpads, muslin cloths and nipple cream. You may also want to purchase a breast pump and a steriliser, a nursing cushion, some breast milk freezer bags. Some non essentials but nonetheless useful to have are a breastfeeding cover such as Mamascarf and/or some special breastfeeding tops.
Different positions for breastfeeding
There are several different positions for breastfeeding, you need to make sure that you choose the most comfortable one for you and that gives your baby the best access to your breast.
You could try holding your baby across your lap and positioning her on a pillow or cushion to get the right height. You can use either arm to hold her and ensure she is in the right position.
An alternative position is lying down with your bodies parallel to each other. This is good for the early days or if you are lying in bed.
Another position for breastfeeding is to hold your baby underarm. This is particularly recommended post caesarean.

Where can I get help for breastfeeding?
If you need help at any time with breastfeeding you can contact the NCT or La Leche League for help. They have trained counsellors available to answer calls. Many areas have breastfeeding support groups or breastfeeding cafes run by Health Visitors and Breastfeeding Counsellors where you can drop in for help or advice. Your Midwife or Health Visitor will also be able to help you with any problems.
Breastfeeding isn’t always easy but it is extremely rewarding and the best start you can give your baby. Good luck!

Breastfeeding in Public – a guide for new or expectant mums

2010-01-02T05:07:00.000-08:00

So you are pregnant and know that you want to breastfeed your baby. Congratulations!Or maybe you have started breastfeeding but not yet ventured out in public. Breastfeeding in public can be a scary prospect for new and not so new mums. These tips will help you on your way.

1. Practise in front of a mirror. It will help you to see exactly what can be seen when you are breastfeeding your baby and you might actually be pleasantly surprised!

2. Wear the right clothes. Ensure that you are wearing something that you feel comfortable in and that will give you easy access to your nursing bra. This might be a large top that you can easily lift or open. Layering with a cardigan can give additional coverage. There are many different styles of breastfeeding clothing available, often with hidden openings across the chest, allowing access without having to lift or remove any clothing.

3. Take a friend along for moral support. If you are going to breastfeed in public for the first time, you are going to need some moral support from your partner, mum or friend. The first time I ventured out was with friends from my ante natal class.

4. Go to a breastfeeding friendly place. Your Midwife or Health Visitor should be able to tell you where there are breastfeeding friendly cafes in your area. If not, somewhere that is child friendly is usually a safe bet.

5. You could use a breastfeeding scarf or cover such as Mamascarf to ensure that you have complete privacy yet are still able to see your baby. This will also ensure you get the additional support when there aren't any cushions around.

6. Plan your route. If you are out for the day, try and work out what time your baby may need feeding and ensure you are near a breastfeeding friendly place.

7. Have confidence in yourself and what you are doing, it is your right! Breastfeeding your baby is a wonderful thing, it's better for baby and for you and the majority of people recognise this. It will also get easier with time.

Good luck!

Photo shoot with Vogue photographer!

2009-12-07T00:35:00.000-08:00

We have had some new Mamascarf lifestyle shots taken by B72 Imaging's Andy (Vogue photographer extrordinaire) and I am sure that you will agree they are pretty good! These show the lovely new fabrics for the breastfeeding scarves / covers in action.

Thank you so much to Andy and my wonderful models Sarah and baby Noah, who did a great job and of course to the Kitchen Garden Cafe in Kings Heath for letting me use their courtyard (not that anyone else wanted to in early Dec!). Don't worry though, baby was wrapped up very warmly!

My crazy week on TV

2009-10-22T01:16:00.000-07:00

Hi, it has been a completely weird and surreal week. Last week, I woke up in the night and couldn't sleep and thoughts turned to all things Mamascarf (as they often do) and more specifically the postal strike. That's when I had my PR brainwave and thought that maybe I could use this to my advantage. I spent Monday phoning around everywhere, the first few calls made me realise that yes, people were interested in having a case study of a small business affected by the strike and I kind of gained momentum and went with it. By Tuesday I had done 2 radio interviews and had SKY News coming that afternoon. Central News were booked in for Wednesday and Thursday GMTV were going to do a live broadcast from our house!!

SKY News came and taped an interview (I decided what the hell, I would wear my Mamascarf t shirt and they let me). They got loads of footage including me trying on a Mamascarf and going into the Post Office with a pile of parcels. Of course they didn't use any of this and the bit of interview they did use I managed not to say "Mamascarf" or "breastfeeding scarf" once. Damn! My 2 year old Sam watched on the TV and was mildly amused.

Next up was Central News where they filmed/interviewed both me and Sam. This was shown yesterday twice, lunchtime news and evening. By now Sam thinks it is completely normal to be on TV but does like seeing himself on the big screen.

GMTV arrived this morning at 5.15am for the live broadcast. This was the one I was most nervous about, aside from the live factor this would be reaching more of my target audience. They are really strict about not advertising but the presenter was able to say "Keira runs her breastfeeding scarf business from home" and they homed in on the Mamascarf packaging a few times. They also let me have a mannequin wearing a scarf next to me at the kitchen table (it's always there honest!). It was all great, apart from 5 mins before we went live and I nipped to the loo, and my mic fell off my belt into the toilet. The sound man was not impressed and had a go at me. At that point I was thinking that it was all going to go wrong but the rest of the crew told me to ignore him and the show went on! Sam watched live and was completely unimpressed by now, preferring to sing over it and throw dinosaurs around the room.
Anyway, as quickly as they had arrived they packed up and left, leaving me to get back to reality after my 3 days on TV. x

My first trade show

2009-10-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I exhibited at my first trade show, the BPA Show at Excel in London. It was an absolutely fantastic experience on the Launch Pad, it was great to be launching the new improved Mamascarf there (new softer fabric), new colours and gorgeous new packaging. There was some great feedback from buyers and retailers and I have made some great contacts and had some good orders as a result (both in the UK and internationally).

My mum was there to help me and it felt like a bit of a holiday as we were staying in a lovely apartment on site. We met some wonderful people, it was particularly nice to put faces to names for some of my Twitter friends (Lucy from Sleepytot, Helen from Cuddledry, Helen from Cheeky Wipes, Anna from Molliemoo, Alison from Dribblebusters, Babygenie and Lynda from Easidream) . Everyone was so generous with their advice, information and sharing contacts and I have come away with some great products for baby no 2 (a Sleepytot, Cuddledry apron towel, Sophie the Giraffe and Weeman toilet trainer).

Also an added bonus but there were some breastfeeding mums who tested out Mamascarf on the stand and then placed an order. Always good!

I can't wait to do the next one now! x

I won the PR competition and highly commended for best Start-Up business!

2009-10-03T11:47:00.000-07:00

Had a fantastic day at the Mumpreneur Conference in Birmingham today, putting lots of faces to names I felt like I knew already from Twitter and Mumsclub. Not only was it a bit of a social event, no wine for me though :0( but there were also some great seminars and then the awards.

Mamascarf won the PR competition, scoring over 400 points from TV coverage, radio, newspapers, magazines, blogs and websites! The prizes are the cover of Business Mums journal (pictured), editorial in Prima Baby and on BabyExpert.com as well as a PR consultation with ACPR (among others). I am really, really pleased as have worked hard on my PR over the last 9 months or so. As well as this I got a highly commended in the award category for Best Business Start Up. Congratulations to all of the other award winners! I hope you enjoyed your cakes as much as I did (we won cupcakes too!). I am exhausted but it has been a great day.

Bambino Goodies review

2009-09-16T11:50:00.000-07:00

Bambino Goodies is a lovely site that reviews lovely stuff for mums and little ones. So I am really pleased that Natalie chose to review Mamascarf, used it herself to breastfeed her 5 month old baby Nia and that she really liked it. I believe in my product (well I would wouldn't I?) but I must say, I do always feel a little bit nervous when someone asks/agrees to do an independent review. What if they hate it? What if they write horrible things? They never have (touch wood). Anyway I digress, you can read the review for yourself here. Take a look at the site to.

http://www.bambinogoodies.co.uk/review-mamascarf/

Another celebrity fan, in the paper and a toddler review

2009-08-24T00:39:00.000-07:00

I have been a bit slack on the old blog front but I am back!

My first bit of exciting news is that I have another confirmed celeb fan. I happen to know there are several more too but unfortunately without a quote I can't mention them!! Anyway, Leah Wood (daughter of Rolling Stone Ronnie, actress and model) and mum to Maggie has said "I love my Mamascarf, it's great! I use it virtually all of the time". Thanks Leah, I love you too!!

My other news is that I was featured in the Sun newspaper, in an article following the supposed "expert" claims that the benefits of breastfeeding were overhyped. The link to the article is below. I was asked to comment on my views on public breastfeeding and the support that women receive from health professionals.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/parenting/2549653/Have-the-benefits-of-breast-milk-been-overhyped.html?offset=4

And finally I am delighted to share that Mamascarf received a fantastic independent review for feeding a toddler. Now it is probably no surprise that most of my customers are either pregnant women or women with young babies who are concerned about breastfeeding in public. So when I was contacted by a lovely lady (via Twitter) who wanted to review it on her toddler I was surprised... pleasantly surprised as Natalie and Sophie gave Mamascarf a big thumbs up after giving it a thorough road test. You can see the review on her blog here and there is a picture of her using her breastfeeding cover in a cafe above.

http://soph4soph.blogspot.com/2009/08/mamascarf-toddler-review.html

Birmingham stressful for breastfeeding in public and celebs who breastfeed!

2009-07-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

This one links into my last post, as it has received a huge amount of press in the last week or so. As part of the same survey, it seems that the two "most stressful places to breastfeed" are the West Midlands (where I live, in sunny Birmingham) and the North West (where I am from!!). So was I destined to be someone who was stressed about breastfeeding in public?

Another big thing to come from the research (in my opinion!) was that two thirds of the women surveyed thought that celebrities should be breastfeeding in public to act as positive role models. I completely agree with this and think that it would have a great impact. However, when I think about how I felt breastfeeding in public and imagine if my every move was being snapped to be displayed to the world and his dog, maybe I would stay indoors to. Unless of course I had a Mamascarf! :0) Come to think of it, I don't think I have seen many pictures of celebrities breastfeeding in public. I have just done a search and seen a picture of Billie Piper breastfeeding her baby on a beach. Go Billie!!

It seems that most celebrity mums are breastfeeding, some are more open about it than others. Various celebs have been used to front breastfeeding camapigns, Charlotte Church and Jenny Frost are two that spring to mind. Obviously we know Melanie C is breastfeeding, Holly Willoughby and Tess Daly too. I'm wondering whether Coleen will be breastfeeding. I noticed that she has said she is going to all of her ante natal appointments at an NHS hospital. Proving she is just like us ....!

Two mothers in three 'fear stares if they breastfeed'

2009-07-06T07:29:00.000-07:00

The Independent newspaper ran a story yesterday reporting that some mums are so nervous about breastfeeding in public that they prefer to use formula. The survey results from Mother & Baby magazine indicated that nearly two in three mothers believe the UK is "not breastfeeding-friendly", prompting concerns from nursing mums that they would struggle to breastfeed while out and about.

Apparently the next issue of Mother & Baby magazine will feature a breastfeeding mum on the cover, a first in this country. Well if its good enough for Angelina Jolie! You can read the article in full here http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/two-mothers-in-three-fear-stares-if-they-breastfeed-1732181.html

Mamascarf in the news

2009-06-30T02:55:00.001-07:00

Mamascarf has been featured in the summer edition of "I'm Pregnant" magazine under best breastfeeding buys. I am really pleased as it is the only breastfeeding cover to be featured. It was also recently in the Birmingham Mail and will be in Wednesday's Liverpool Echo (which is my hometown).

I am currently working on my new packaging and hoping to create something with a retro feel. I have been doing lots of research as I think packaging is so important. How many times have you picked something off the shelf because you liked the packaging? I know I have. A lot of baby and maternity products seem to have really functional packaging but I want something a little bit different, that is going to stand out on the shelf. Fingers crossed it works!

Alternative uses for your Mamascarf!

2009-06-24T04:30:00.000-07:00

On hot days, like today, don't get caught out without a sun shade for your pushchair. Not only is Mamascarf a breastfeeding cover, it can also be used to shade your baby! I always used to find those sun parasols were a nightmare and you had to constantly move them to get the right cover. It's easy keeping baby out of the sun, but not so easy when they are walking. In spite of constantly slathering on the factor 50 on Sam, he actually has a tan. I feel like a bad mother!

My second top tip for your Mamascarf is to use it as a headscarf for yourself, I was working this look in the garden only yesterday. If anyone can think of any other uses, please email them to me at info@mamascarf.co.uk

I wonder if Melanie C will be using hers like this....

NCT Pregnancy and Baby Fair

2009-06-20T11:55:00.000-07:00

Been exhibiting at the NCT Pregnancy and Baby Fair in Stratford today with my wonderful mum who came to help me. It was a good day and saw lots of mums-to-be and mums and babies to spread the word about Mamascarf!

Celebrity breastfeeding mums love Mamascarf!

2009-06-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

I am really excited as I now have a celebrity following(of 2)! I have received a lovely comment from Melanie C (ex Spice Girl) about her Mamascarf (go to the feedback page to see it). Mamascarf is perfect for celebrity mums wanting a bit of privacy for public feeds. I would imagine you would want to be ultra discreet if you were followed around by the press.

As if this was not enough, the same day I had an email from another celeb's agent (not sure if I can say who yet). She had received a Mamascarf at the Baby Show and her agent said she loved it and yes she would like another one in a different colour!! Yay! Now I just need to get them papped using them.

I think it's great that celebrities are open about breastfeeding as they are positive role models and people really do look up to them.

Another one

2009-06-11T02:27:00.000-07:00

This review was posted today http://babyccinoblog.com/ on Babyccino, Kids in the City. I'm really pleased as I love their site as well as the UK, it covers the Netherlands, France and Italy (Amsterdam, Paris and Milan sounds more glam though!).

A great review

2009-06-10T22:57:00.000-07:00

Mamascarf has had a great independent review by a breastfeeding journalist. You can find it here at Family Fun Guide
http://www.familyfunguide.co.uk/news/2009/0609/090609/the-best-breastfeeding-coverups/the-best-breastfeeding-coverups.htm

My first blog!

2009-06-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

Hi
This is my first blog! I'm not really sure what I am doing but I suppose an introduction would be a good start.

My name is Keira O'Mara and I am a 31 year old mum to Sam, a very lively 2 year old. Whilst on maternity leave, I was made redundant, which made me start thinking seriously about an idea for a new product I had had, whilst breastfeeding Sam. I was never particularly comfortable breastfeeding in public, and was always trying to cover up but found that nothing worked. Blankets overheated him, muslin cloths were pulled off or fell off, scarves blocked my view of my baby. In addition to this my arm and back would ache without my support cushions. When I realised that there was nothing available that would solve all of these problems, I started thinking about creating something that would.

Mamascarf was born! There have been ups and downs along the way but about 8 weeks ago I made the big decision to give up my job to focus on Mamascarf and Sam. Things have been going well, highlights being 2 national TV appearances (This Morning and Working Lunch) being featured in 4 national newspapers and feedback from a teenage mum who said she would not have breastfed were it not for Mamascarf (that made me cry) . Lowlights have been nightmares with suppliers and companies illegally copying my product.

If you want to find out more about Mamascarf please go to www.mamascarf.co.uk