Little Mother’s Helper is every mother’s guide for body, mind, heart, and soul in the days, weeks, and months following childbirth. Using evidence-based information from a variety of health fields, this mobile app and card game answers mothers’ most important questions. We sat down with this awesome company’s founder, Rebecca Egbert (who also happens to be my sister), to share what each of you can expect from her products.
Tell us a little about your background and a general overview of what Little Mother’s Helper is all about.
I graduated from midwifery school in Seattle, in June of 2008, after attending 100+ births as a student. I started my first practice in Montana, having a big heart for providing care to women in rural America. I’ve worked with women in home-birth, birth center, and hospital settings. Collaborative care always ruled in my mind, because it set women I worked with up to have the best outcomes. They felt safe and well cared for, in an evidence-based soulful practice.
Where did the idea for a deck of cards come from?
The idea came while reading a ton of research papers on postpartum depression, and the lack of postpartum maternal health care in the US on a plane to CO for the holidays in 2014. LMH was also born from 14 years of advocacy and working with women in childbearing years with the first hand experience and listening to what women want from their providers to heal after having a baby. After the initial “spark” moment, and some consultation with advisors, I chose decks of cards for our first product. It felt like a good move.
Before Little Mother’s Helper, had you any experience with mobile apps? What was the process like?
Only as a user. The process has both been fun and has pissed me off. It’s actually been the best learning process of the year, so far. I’m super high functioning and always say I’d be a great neurosurgeon. Our first version is truly a simple translation of the cards, but what we’re really building for an app mirrors that high functioning vision I see in my head – a place where women (and partners/family/friends) can come learn, engage, and commune in a modern environment that feels safe and loving and fun.
What kind of exposure has LMH gotten since this process began?
Since a successful Kickstarter, we’ve received great national press like a feature in People. The first hospital system here in Minneapolis to adopt LMH, Park Nicollet Health Partners, is giving LMH to every mom who gives birth across 4 hospitals as an educational tool. It is a wonderful partnership and it’s fun to be advocating for a change in postpartum care together. Their providers are stoked! Our friends at Every Mother Counts have been more than generous with LMH and sharing her with the maternal health world, as well.
Have you faced any unexpected challenges/resistance in the creation of LMH?
Sure! I’ve been pitching LMH to hospitals since December, and sometimes I hear comments like, “We don’t have room in the budget for something like this…” My head spins like the girl in the Exorcist, a little. Then I move on, trusting and knowing there are 4200+ hospitals delivering care to birthing moms across the country and there will be early adopters and innovators. And, there will be late stage adopters. It’s just the curve of innovation taking place in front of our eyes. There’s resistance on a social level, too. But that’s the energy I’ve learned to not take on, instead keeping my heart and focus on the vision of health moms everywhere.
What are your most useful tips for new moms? What are FAQs from new moms?
My most useful tips can be found in Little Mother’s Helper. I’d say for the purpose of this interview, be patient with yourself. You’re growing into a new self, with a new body, and more feelings than you ever knew you could feel. The big love. Be patient with yourself, and ask for/get help as you grow into your new self and normal. A lot of it.
Oh, and download audible reading: Yes Please by Amy Poehler, and All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior, and The Confidence Code by Katty Kay, Claire Shipman.
There are too many FAQ’s to answer in one blog post. I guess commonly:
How do I get my body back?
Am I ever going to sleep again?
What do I do about lack of sleep?
Is it normal to feel like I hate my husband/partner?
Why didn’t anyone tell me how hard it was going to be?
Will I always pee a little when I exercise and laugh?
What if I relax by being busy and multi-tasking?
Do you have any additional developments planned for LMH or anything else in the works that we should know about?
So many plans. All very strategically aligned. Right now, we’re tripling down on business development and strategy, and very focused on growth and partnerships. The best way to stay connected to future developments is to follow us on social, subscribe to our newsletter, and on the blog to stay informed on what’s to come.
Where can moms find and order Little Mother’s Helper?
My most useful tips can be found in Little Mother’s Helper. I’d say for the purpose of this interview, be patient with yourself. You’re growing into a new self, with a new body, and more feelings than you ever knew you could feel. The big love. Be patient with yourself, and ask for/get help as you grow into your new self and normal. A lot of it.
Why didn’t anyone tell me how hard it was going to be?
Will I always pee a little when I exercise and laugh?
What if I relax by being busy and multi-tasking?
Where can moms find and order Little Mother’s Helper?
You can find and buy LMH online at www.littlemothershelper.com, and in both the iTunes app and Google Play stores. We’re also on fire on Snapchat and love the medium to connect and share the process with our community, people can follow us there and on Instagram: @themotherlove.