What prompted you to undertake this venture? Tell us your founders’ story.
Manisha Singh, owner of Divine Mama, launched her company after working with a lactation consultant when her own baby was born and her milk was slow to come in. Learning about the importance of diet and nutrition for building an ample milk supply, she grew interested in the possibilities for using the knowledge she had gleaned to help other nursing mothers. She also experienced postpartum depression, and grew intrigued with the possibilities for integrating nutritional, practical, and emotional support systems in the process of helping new mothers to adjust.
Manisha is a pharmacist by trade and yoga teacher, who a has a personal interest in wholesome foods and holistic healing solutions. The bars and the business bring together her scientific knowledge and personal experience, along with her orientation towards using longstanding wisdom about food and healing as a tool for improving physical and emotional health.
What is your mission/purpose for your company? What sets you apart from others in your industry?
Divine Mama is a company committed to improving quality of life for nursing mothers. Our products are designed to help women adjust to the physical and emotional challenges of caring for an infant. We offer lactogenic food bars, which are convenient, nutritious snacks created from ingredients that help to build and maintain a healthy milk supply.
The first few months of motherhood can be a difficult and stressful time. Although breast feeding is one of the most natural acts in the world, it often doesn’t go according to plan, especially in the context of contemporary culture, where much mainstream food is processed and nutritionally empty, and our existing social structures don’t always provide the practical and emotional support that a new mother needs.
Proper nutrition is an essential puzzle piece for staying physically and psychically balanced, especially during this period of vulnerability marked by unfamiliar routines, lack of sleep, and dramatic hormonal changes. While a food bar won’t meet all of a nursing woman’s nutritional needs, it can often tide her over until she’s able to eat a real meal, providing nutrients and micronutrients targeted towards her specific physical circumstances.
Nutritional support for nursing mothers is a matter of both quality and quantity. Not only is it difficult to eat right because virtually every moment of the day can be taken up with the work of caring for an infant, but a nursing woman also needs significantly more calories than she would if she weren’t breastfeeding.
A new mother needs the specific nutrients that are provided by lactogenic foods, and she also needs extra calories because the process of breastfeeding burns 500 calories each day. The convenience of Divine Mama bars makes them an ideal solution to these added caloric demands, and their lactogenic ingredients facilitate the process of not only eating enough food, but also eating the right foods.
In addition, having access to a product that is primarily designed for nursing women sends the powerful message that her needs matter as well, even though most of her time and energy is devoted to caring for her baby. Eating well helps a new mother to stay physically and emotionally healthy by preempting the added stress caused by inadequate nutrition and blood sugar imbalances, by providing her with a vital tool for starting to take care of herself.
What do you want HMN Members to know about your company and its products/services?
Divine Mama’s long term mission is to provide more than a food bar, by becoming part of a network aimed at supporting and educating nursing women. We are excited about the possibilities for helping new mothers to adjust and thrive.
What are some of your favorite holistic resources?
The Second 9 Months – Holistic Support for Breastfeeding and Parenting
http://www.second9months.com/
Natural Resources in San Francisco
http://www.naturalresources-sf.com/index.html
Mother Nature Network -
http://www.mnn.com/
Elephant Journal – Videos, blog, articles on ‘the mindful life’: Organics, Ecofashion, Buddhism, Conscious Consumerism, Education, Arts, Wellness, Adventure.
http://www.elephantjournal.com
How do you balance work life and family?
A constant challenge with a 15 month old and as a single mother! Having a solid support network is key.
Between work and family, surprises are inevitable. I try to be prepared by having back-up and emergency plans. Another thing that I strive to do is to let go of guilt. Guilt is one of the greatest wastes of emotional energy. It causes you to become immobilized in the present because you are dwelling on the past. Guilt can be very debilitating. By introducing logic to help counter-balance the guilt, you can avoid sabotaging your efforts toward work/family balance and stay better on course. One thing that I have had to learn being a new mother is how to establish limits and boundaries. Boundaries and limits define how you take charge of your time and space and get in touch with your feelings. They express the extent of your responsibilities and power and show others what you are willing to do or accept. Without limits it’s difficult to say “no”. I have to remind myself often that my boundaries are necessary for balancing work and family. I also have had to get rid of the notion of being a perfectionist. I had to quickly wean myself off it by making compromises without short-changing myself, my son, my family, etc. I try to live by my own standards rather than someone else’s. Yoga has taught me to create time for myself. Being a good parent, friend, and professional means being good to yourself first.
I also have to set priorities each day, work smarter not harder, delegate (and really let go!). I also try to forgive myself when things don’t get done.
What is your favorite snack food?
Greek yogurt with honey, granola, and strawberries. YUM!
Which is your favorite season?
I love the spring time. It’s a time of renewal and re-awakening and getting outdoors!
How and when did you get started on your personal green journey?
I grew up in a recycle, re-use, and reduce household, however, it wasn’t until I had my own child that I became really serious about raising a green baby. After having a large baby shower and receiving so many items that I didn’t need I realized that there must be a better way of raising a child. So I did research, read blogs, and became educated about raising a green baby. As parents, we want the best our babies, we often find ourselves looking for products that are healthy to be around our babies, baby proofing our homes, ways to save money and ideas for living a healthier lifestyle. Raising an eco-friendly baby is not only safer for baby but also reduces the impact on the environment. I chose to breastfeed as long as I could before my son self-weaned at 15 months, use cloth diapers, created a clothing swap among my mom friends, shop and feed only organic foods, and use non-toxic detergents and household cleaners. My hope in raising my green baby is to set an example so that he continues to live green as he grows up.
