Melissa Bowley

Flourish Collective Wins The 2021 Rhode Island Business Competition

Newport, RI – May 13, 2021 – Flourish Collective today announced it won the 2021 Rhode Island Business Competition. The company received $83,855 in winnings: $50,000 in cash and $33,855 in professional and consulting services. Flourish Collective will use the funds to continue to market its family wellness platform, the Flourish Care Baby Registry.

“We are so honored and humbled to have won; it also shows Rhode Island’s commitment to bettering maternal health. This award will be instrumental in building awareness of our first-in-kind baby registry that focuses on family wellness,” said Melissa Bowley, Flourish Collective Founder & CEO.

With the Flourish Care Baby Registry, pregnant women can register for gift bundles that include essential items for both mom and baby and wellness services that help their families thrive from pregnancy into parenthood. Flourish Care team members curated the gift bundles with products recommended by maternal health experts and mothers.

Evidence-based services are provided by a vetted, exclusive network of birth doulas, lactation counselors, postpartum doulas, newborn care specialists, fitness trainers, and more. With the Flourish Care Baby Registry, families do not have to spend hours searching for trusted providers. Additionally, just by creating an account, users get instant access to the Flourish Care’s video library for prenatal and postpartum wellness.

About the Rhode Island Business Competition

The Rhode Island Business Competition aims to create and foster growth companies in Rhode Island that will increase local employment. This nonprofit is supported by a broad range of sponsors that include private businesses, investors, foundations, colleges and universities, public entities, nonprofit organizations, and former competitors. Today, it is the leading community-supported business plan competition in the Northeast. The Competition encourages plans for new businesses, as well as from early-stage companies.

About the Flourish Collective Inc

The Flourish Collective was started with a vision to fill the gap in maternal healthcare and make wellness accessible to all moms. The Flourish Collective launched its first product, Flourish Care Baby Registry, in 2020, a first of its kind platform where expecting parents can register for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support in addition to essential products for mom and baby. Learn more at www.theflourishfund.com.

CONTACT: Aliza Friedlander

[email protected]

Pregnancy is Hard: How One Mama Made It Easier On Herself

As I enter into my third trimester, I’ve been talking with Flourish Care Founder Melissa Bowley about what have been some of the most valuable components to the success of my second pregnancy. I joke about having a love-hate relationship and feeling “happy-miserable” in pregnancy. This is because I have had nausea all day, every day, throughout the entirety of both pregnancies. Luckily, this has been a very healthy pregnancy for our baby and me, which is a gift. 

A huge part of why I have had a good experience in pregnancy, despite daily nausea, is because of my strong relationship with my healthcare providers. This is especially true with OB-GYN Lori Kelley and the staff at South County Hospital in Rhode Island, where I plan to deliver. Here is a little bit about my journey with Lori. 

I met Lori on one of the most heartbreaking days of my life. Our first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. At the time, I was supposed to see a different on-call doctor to talk about the ultrasound results. I had never met Lori, and her presence was calming from the moment she entered the room. I was doing my best to hold back tears as she explained my options to terminate our pregnancy. As I broke down right in front of her, she gave me a huge hug, then looked me in the eyes and said, “I’m going to see you back here soon with a healthy baby.” 

There was a tiny moment of relief even though we both knew she had no control over how long it would take my husband and me to conceive again. Those moments, while short, were filled with fear but having Lori as part of our journey felt like a really bright light. She was a stranger at the time but soon became a wonderful part of our first baby’s start in this world. The power of positive thinking and one foot in front of the other led to a healthy pregnancy two months later.

After the day I met Lori, I scheduled all my future appointments with her. She was there the day I gave birth to our first daughter, Sky. There are not enough words or space to describe how grateful my husband and I feel that we have this connection with my OB. I feel supported in a way I didn’t know possible. She makes me feel so well taken care of in a world where healthcare can feel so impersonal.  

Especially now into my second pregnancy during a pandemic, I go to her for honest and loving feedback to questions that I know only she will be able to provide. It’s a powerful experience when you find a healthcare provider, or anyone in your life, to partner with. Especially when you know you want to have a collaborative, hands-on experience through challenging times. Anyone who meets Lori is extremely lucky because she doesn’t just love what she does—she makes you truly feel that you matter, and that is a gift in itself. 

I also want to give a shoutout to physical therapists and pelvic floor specialists Michelle Clark and Melissa Nassaney. I am so lucky to be working with them again in my third trimester. I am not seeing them to manage intense pain during pregnancy. I wholeheartedly believe in preventative medicine and taking steps to make sure I feel my absolute best. Caring for myself and my body allows me to show up for my daughter, husband, and business. I preach this to my clients and practice it daily. 

Having a baby at home, who just turned two years old, being in my third trimester of pregnancy, and with my husband and I both juggling work, it’s easy for self-care to fall to the wayside. I have to actively prioritize myself, making sure I am not just taking care of everyone and everything around me. This is one of the hardest struggles I encountered postpartum, and I find this to be the case for many new and seasoned mothers. As a nurturer, it’s easy to put everyone’s needs before your own. But ultimately, it’s in the best interest of everyone to make sure your own foundation is supported too. 

If you are struggling to find help right now, please do not be afraid to ask for help. We are meant to lean on each other. Flourish Care Founder Melissa Bowley and her team have created a village of providers, resources and education to help moms-to-be find support. Flourish Care providers can also help you postpartum.

As we continue to prepare for our second baby, I feel grateful for the lessons I learned the first time, and I can’t wait to put them into practice with my growing family. 

It is possible for you to get the excellent support you deserve. The gift of healthcare providers you love could make a huge impact on your pre-and-postnatal journey. 

Is there a provider playing a huge role in your pregnancy who you love? Let us know in the comments; your recommendation might help a pregnant woman who is reading this! 

“When you say YES to others, make sure you are not saying NO to yourself.” – Paulo Coelho

Check out Tessa’s earlier blog post Breakdown to Breakthrough.

What is a Newborn Care Specialist? Do I Need One?

“What is a Newborn Care Specialist?” People ask me that all the time.

A Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) is a bit like a nanny, and many of us have worked as one. An NCS generally has taken a course with a recognized training school or academy, earning a completion certificate. The classes cover everything you need to know about caring for a newborn, from their new baby appearance to breast and formula feeding to working with multiples. There are also NCS certifications. However, no governing board oversight like with medical nurses. All Newborn Care Specialists should have a current CPR and first aid certification.

Did you know? You get can 1 on 1 newborn feeding, sleep support, and more from a personal doula, completely free

Years ago, newborn care specialists were called “baby nurses,” think Downton Abbey. Nowadays, we are called Newborn Care Specialists because we can’t use the term “baby nurses.” However, some pediatric nurses care for newborns in the home, and they are true “baby nurses.”

What Does a Newborn Care Specialist Do?

On some occasions (before COVID-19), an NCS can come to the hospital as your support person; perhaps your partner needs to stay home with an older child. But most often, we come into your home after you return from the hospital with your newborn. If you’re a first-time parent and have little experience with babies, an NCS can be your teacher. Not your first baby? We can be an extra pair of hands, offering up-to-date information on what’s new in the world of babies. Some parents like to watch and learn anything and everything, from how to pace feed to bathing a newborn. Other parents rely on us to care for their baby during our entire shift while they get some much needed rest.

What does a Newborn Care Specialist shift look like?

A night shift can be anywhere from 8 to 12 hours. Our goal at night is to come in and help parents get some sleep. We feed, burp, and change baby, and get them settled back to sleep. If you are nursing, we can bring your baby right to your bedside and help get them latched if needed. Many newborn care specialists are certified lactation consultants or have a good knowledge of breastfeeding. After nursing, you can go right back to sleep while your NCS puts your baby back to sleep. Our hope is to settle your little one into a good routine and get them on the right track for healthy sleep habits. Most importantly, an NCS follows SAFE sleep practices. You may find us removing bumpers and toys from the crib as well as mobiles.

We have lots of tricks up our sleeve for promoting a good sleep environment. Some of us stick electrical tape on anything that emits light in the nursery. A few of us carry a red light to use in the nursery as it doesn’t upset a newborn’s sleep cycles.

Does a Newborn Care Specialist Sleep During a Night Shift?

We rest our eyes while your baby sleeps, so a spare bed or comfy couch is necessary. Overnight awake care is available though, but generally at a higher cost.

Are Newborn Care Specialists Available During Day Hours? 

We are available for day shifts and can help tidy the nursery, stock the changing table, and wash your baby’s laundry. During the day, we make sure your little love is well cared for. We guide them through appropriate activities such as going for walks, tummy time, and bathing. An NCS should always take care of cleaning bottles and breast pump parts before the end of her shift.

On a side note, some family situations require a live-in NCS. A newborn care specialist can travel around the country or even the world with you. Their contract can be a week to six months or longer.

In a day and age where families live far apart and grandparents may not be available to help, a good newborn care specialist can be worth her weight in gold! Many continue to take professional development classes to expand their knowledge in everything baby. You can guarantee they know the latest in the best baby gear, formulas, and gadgets.

An accomplished NCS will be able to guide and have an excellent network of specialists and colleagues that can answer most questions. There is also evidence to suggest having a helping hand can lower the chances of postpartum depression and anxiety in new moms.