Mums in Business: Bella Mama
The birth of Kirsten Baxter’s second baby in March 2007, inspired her to launch her business Bella Mama.
As a breastfeeding mum, Kirsten found it difficult to find clothes that were easy to nurse in without worrying about exposing her post-baby tum.
Through her pregnancy, Kirsten busied herself hunting out lovely clothes for herself to wear whilst nursing.
Unable to find a one-stop-shop, she decided to open up an online store and sell it herself.
Kirsten says: “My aim is to provide fabulous, fashionable nursing wear which will allow new breastfeeding mums to feel confident and stylish whilst providing their baby with the best start in life.
“I believe that if mothers feel comfortable and confident nursing whenever and wherever they choose, they will breastfeed for longer.”
Bella Mama has now been running successfully online for two years, offering a massive range of clothing all specially designed for nursing mums.
As well as being business minded, Kirsten has also been helping to raise money for the charity Mother’s Milk Bank.
The charity helps to provide human milk for sick and premature babies and Kirsten was inspired by her mother’s job in a busy neonatal unit to raise vital funds.
“Whilst growing up, every year we would visit the ward at Christmas to see the tiny babies” Kirsten explains.
“The advances in neonatal care are utterly amazing, and the staff at the hospitals do an incredible job providing care and support to the babies and their families during a very difficult time.”
When Kirsten fell pregnant, she learned about the important work of the Milk Bank in the UK and made the decision to donate some of her own “spare” milk to her local bank.
“Mum had told me about the problems that many neonates have digesting formula feed, and how beneficial breast milk is in providing the nutrients that sick and premature babies require. I proudly donated my own milk during those months whilst I was breastfeeding my own little one, and am delighted to be able to help fundraise for such a wonderful cause.”
Kirsten is thrilled by the positive feedback she receives from her customers who find their experience of breastfeeding much more positive when wearing well designed, discreet clothing.
“Stylish nursing wear really helps us challenge the perception of breastfeeding as frumpy, and I am delighted that Bella Mama is making breastfeeding fashionable.”
This stylish retro 70s style nursing T-shirt is double layered to allow easy breastfeeding without exposing the post-pregnancy tum. Sales of the T-shirt got towards the UK Milk Bank charity. £25
Visit Kirsten’s online store: www.bellamama.co.uk
To find out more about Milk Banking, visit: www.ukamb.org
Kirsten is a member of MumsClub, a business club for Mumpreneurs: www.mumsclub.co.uk