Home Business, The Home-Based Entrepreneur’s Magazine April 2006

Solving the Lunch Time Dilemma Three Related Women Design Special Cover-Up for Nursing Moms By Sandy Larson

For not doing much other than looking cute and filling up their diapers, human babies have incredibly voracious appetites. And, they don’t subscribe to a predictable 3-meals-a-day plan, either.

There’s no telling when hunger will strike for these pint-sized eating machines. It could be when mom/s shopping, dining at a restaurant, or taking an aerobics class. For nursing moms venturing out of their homes, this can present an uncomfortable situation, especially if they cannot find a discreet location to feed their child.

Marie Wakefield, of Auburn, Washington, was all too familiar with the challenges of nursing in public. “I was tired of fumbling around with small baby blankets that fell down at just the wrong moment, “she says. That is ultimately inspired her, along with her mother, Donna McComb, and her sister-in-law, Joanne Gonzales to design a special cover-up for nursing moms, called the NursEase Nursing Shawl.

“What was offered seemed impractical, did not offer complete coverage both front and back, and was not stylish at all,” comments Marie, who is also a Naturopathic doctor and midwife. “Here came the idea to create our own nursing shawl that was easy to use, very functional, and best of all, fashionable.”

The three women launched their business, Bellies & , in 2004. They®Beyond started making the nursing shawls by hand, after taking a brief sewing class to learn the basics. “We began giving them as baby shower gifts or selling to friends until the demand became such that we went to a manufacturer to product the shawls for us,” shares Marie.

The NurseEase Shawl can now be purchased at specialty baby stores ad hospital gift shops across the country, as well as at the web site, www.Bellies-Beyond.com. According to Marie, “Explaining the number of stores we are in and exploring the opportunities to get into the larger retail shops are our current goals.”

All three women work out of their homes. “The best part of owning a home-based business is the opportunity to stay home with our children and for Donna to be able to retire and travel,” says Marie. “Our business is important to us, but the time sent with our children or grandchildren is priceless.”