After my 6th baby was born I got to try a Showerhug and now it hangs on the shower rail, handy for me to use all the time.  So comfortable and such a relief particularly in the early days with a brand new baby and tender breasts.  I had the chance to ask Andria, one of the sisters behind Showerhug, some questions to go along with their giveaway for 3 lucky winners.

TLB:  What should TLB readers know about Shower Hug?
Andria:  The Shower Hug was created by two Mommy–veterans.  We have been there and done that in terms of the breastfeeding experience!  We have suffered through early stage breastfeeding, engorgement, cracked nipples, bleeding nipples, plugged ducts, mastitis and weaning.  We know that breastfeeding is SO WORTH IT, but it does come with its share of challenges and, at times, aches and pains for Mom.
The Shower Hug is a breastfeeding essential for any Mom suffering from sore breasts and nipples.  The Shower Hug does so much, and I’ll get into the details later, but my personal favorite aspect of the Shower Hug is how it creates the *most* perfect, *most* soothing warm compress for the breasts while Mom relaxes in the shower.  Mom gets a chance to be at peace in the solitude of her shower…a chance to restore her spirits…while The Shower Hug gently cradles and supports her breasts and soothes away breast and nipple pain as it absorbs warm shower water.
As I write this, I am literally craving a hot shower all wrapped up snug in my Shower Hug.  I am pregnant with my third baby and my breasts and nipples have been extremely tender during this pregnancy.  I use my Shower Hug daily, and it really works wonders!
TLB:  How did Shower Hug come to be?
Andria:  Alaina and I (Andria) are partners in Belmama & Cherub LLC and are the proud creators and distributors of the Shower Hug™.
My life and dreams changed forever when I learned I was pregnant with my first child. I once enthusiastically worked as a CPA, but quickly forgot about the world of numbers and analytics with one glance at my little one. Never was I so fulfilled or content than in my new role as “Mama.”  It was in my new role as stay-at-home Mom that I conceived the idea for the Shower Hug. It struck me when I was struggling to comfortably shower in the early days of motherhood and breastfeeding and dealing with VERY SORE BOOBS! No one told me that my breasts would be huge, hard and hot and that my nipples might crack and bleed!  I quickly learned that breastfeeding would take some getting used to…

I never would have imagined that showering would become so difficult and uncomfortable after the arrival of baby either!  Lingering in long, hot showers is a favorite retreat of mine, but the force of the shower spray hitting my tender breasts was too painful to tolerate.  Engorged, tender breasts and cracked, bleeding nipples needed protection from the shower streams!   I had looked forward to the solitude of a long, hot shower all day, but as soon as I stepped in, I was hurrying to get out.

My doctor advised holding a towel over my chest when showering, which was not practical and made tons of extra laundry.  I tried dodging the shower sprays by keeping my back to the streams, which did not allow me to easily shampoo, shave, etc.  And, I shopped and shopped and shopped, looking for a product that would help me.  My search revealed there was no such product to treat this problem.  As I became more involved in the “mommy” community, I learned that I was not alone in my struggle.  Many mothers quietly struggle through the pain and discomfort brought about by early stage breastfeeding, plugged milk ducts, mastitis, and eventually weaning… but I knew there was a better way.

As the saying goes “necessity breeds invention” and as a born problem solver, I was determined to create a solution by creating The Shower Hug™!  It’s a therapeutic breast wrap that Mom can wear either while showering or just around the house to provide lots of oh-so-soothing benefits to women suffering from breast and nipple pain.
TLB:  What was your favorite mother’s day present to receive or give?
Andria:  Being a Mom, my favorite Mother’s Day presents are any items made with love by my little ones’ own hands and hearts.  I proudly display all of my hand-crafted goodies…painted frames, chunky ceramic pieces, clay pots bedazzled with “gemstones” and glitter…  These are my priceless treasures.  The sparkly eyes, smiling lips and proud hearts the kids wear when they present their treasures to me is the cherry on top!
TLB:  How do you keep connected with your children and take care of yourself?
Andria:  Having a special “date” with each of my children.  My son and I will head out for a movie night at the “fancy” theater nearby, and my daughter and I will attend a “Princess Tea Party” hosted by Sleeping Beauty herself.  I love family time as one big group, but I also savor spending time my kids individually.  It’s a different dynamic when you have one-on-one time …and something we all periodically need.  For me a decaf Mocha and apple fritter from Starbucks …. That is my guilty indulgence.

This giveaway is a Shower Hug to 3 lucky winners.  The Shower Hug’s retail price is $29.95.
The Shower Hug™ is Mama’s breastfeeding essential that brings welcome relief to sore breasts and nipples.  The Shower Hug is a therapeutic breast wrap designed to be worn by pregnant and breastfeeding mothers while showering and when outside of the shower too!
For many Moms, their only “me-time” in a day is their time spent showering. We believe that showers are a time to cleanse the body and renew the spirit. They are about rituals.  They are about relaxation.  They are a mini “time-out” from the demands of our lives, and sore boobs should not get in the way of Mom’s precious alone time! Worn while showering, The Shower Hug returns the serenity and renewal of the shower to pregnant and breastfeeding moms who suffer breast tenderness and nipple pain.  The Shower Hug provides ~
•    gentle bust line support for heavy & engorged breasts (particularly important when breast milk first comes in and when weaning!!)
•    a soft barrier between the pelting/stinging shower sprays and Mom’s delicate breast tissue and sensitive nipples
•    protection of cracked and bleeding nipples from harsh/irritating ingredients in toiletries
•    a soothing warm compress effect to ease engorgement, plugged milk ducts and pain associated with mastitis.
Mom may also wear her Shower Hug outside of the shower to hold therapeutic warm or cool packs with hands free convenience, and it is the perfect breast support to sleep in! It is nonrestrictive, super soft, absorbent for those pesky milk leakages and easy to nurse baby while wearing.
Other incredible uses for the Shower Hug shared with us by happy customers include:
•    perfect for wear during water birthing
•    comforts, protects & supports C-section tummies
•    eases cyclical breast pain & mastalgia
•    soothes breast pain related to breast cancer treatment & breast surgery recovery
The Shower Hug is made of an incredibly soft, double-sided knit terry velour. It is stretchy, absorbent and lightweight. It is the perfect fabric for wear in the shower, and it won’t get heavy or sag when wet. The Shower Hug stays in place without the use of shoulder straps, which means that there is no weight pulling on Mom’s shoulders or uncomfortable “digging in” of straps. We also provided an ample 4” Velcro closure to provide for size adjustability and to allow Mom to obtain her ideal fit and level of support over the course of pregnancy and breastfeeding.

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Good luck to everyone!  Please use the widget below to be entered and enjoy browsing showerhug.com.  The giveaway is open from July 27, 2012 to August 3, 2012.  A big thanks to Showerhug for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women, and be sure to visit their Facebook page or follow them on twitter and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.

This giveaway is open to international entries.

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