Nurturing Beginnings: Sharon Asibor-Swarn’s Mission to Support Breastfeeding Mothers

Sharon Asibor-Swarn has had a major influence in the field of breastfeeding support due to her commitment to seeing mothers and babies thrive. Her career started as a certified nurse, where she directly observed the difficulties that many moms encountered despite the numerous advantages of nursing. These difficulties, often caused by a lack of information and assistance, motivated her to seek creative strategies for enhancing the breastfeeding experience. This investigation led to the creation of Cradle Plus, a company dedicated to providing moms with the knowledge and resources they need for a healthy maternity journey.

Sharon’s journey is marked by a blend of professional dedication and personal experiences. Her personal challenges with breastfeeding gave her a deep understanding of its complexities and inspired her to create practical, tech-driven solutions. Her strategy not only meets the immediate needs of nursing moms but also uses technology to build a support network and bridge the communication gap between healthcare professionals and their patients. Through Cradle Plus, Sharon aims to provide moms with information, tools, and a support system, enabling them to face the challenges of nursing with confidence.

Journey from nurse to entrepreneur

A combination of her professional and personal experiences, which revealed deficiencies in breastfeeding teaching and support, led Sharon to form Cradle Plus. Before starting the organization, Sharon was a registered nurse. In this role, she witnessed the serious challenges that women faced when trying to nurse their babies, despite the well-documented benefits of breastfeeding. These problems often resulted in moms feeling frightened and frustrated, occasionally causing them to stop breastfeeding too soon. “My passion for helping mothers and infants thrive led me to explore ways to improve the breastfeeding experience,” Sharon explains.

Her mission was further shaped by her personal experiences. A lack of readily available knowledge caused Sharon to struggle with nursing when she had her first daughter. “I finally understood that the main reason I couldn’t breastfeed my first daughter was a lack of information,” she admits. This insight prompted her to delve into the complexities of breastfeeding, leading her to author a comprehensive guide on the subject, which she generously included for free with every Cradle Plus breastfeeding product.

The popularity of the book and her other nursing products revealed the extent of the issue and the amount of support required for women across the country. This broadened Sharon’s vision of using technology to reduce the communication gap between nursing moms and healthcare professionals. She recognized an opportunity to develop an app that would provide mothers with community forums, educational materials, tools to promote lactation, and individualized guidance. She states, “I wanted to create something that could reach and support mothers beyond the confines of a hospital or clinic,” emphasizing her dedication to enhancing the overall state of maternal and newborn health outcomes.

Key insights and innovations in breastfeeding

Drawing from her own experience, Sharon provides important insights and guidance in Breastfeeding: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. As she notes, “Breastfeeding is not a walk in the park, especially in the beginning.” Like delivery and labor, one’s capacity to endure and succeed can be greatly impacted by prior understanding. To provide women with the tools they need to both prevent problems and cope with them when they arise, Sharon offers helpful guidance on how to handle typical challenges. “Knowing ahead of time what to expect makes it easier to stick with and succeed at breastfeeding,” she says, highlighting the significance of readiness and fortitude in the breastfeeding process.

Along the way, Sharon discovered a major drawback with the nipple correctors currently on the market: the size and shape of the lip make it difficult to maintain adequate suction. “The product is only effective if you can maintain proper suction,” she says. In response to this problem, she created the NipXtender, an innovative nipple suction device with larger lips and scalloped edges that improve adhesion and suction. With its well-considered design, the nipple corrector works more efficiently and supports nursing moms with flat or inverted nipples more successfully.

Supporting national health goals

Sharon’s initiatives are strategically designed to support the Healthy People 2030 objective of increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates. Her strategy starts with extensive education and awareness campaigns targeted at new and expectant mothers. “This includes information on breastfeeding techniques, nutrition, the importance of early initiation and sustained breastfeeding, as well as possible challenges and ways to overcome them,” she says. By giving parents access to this vital information, Sharon equips them to make informed decisions about breastfeeding.

Sharon also stresses the value of support networks, such as online discussion boards and peer support groups. “These resources help mothers overcome challenges and receive guidance throughout their breastfeeding journey,” she writes. Another important aspect of her work is collaborating with neighborhood businesses, healthcare providers, and organizations to promote a culture that values and encourages breastfeeding. “By concentrating on these tactics, we hope to support the national objective of raising the rates of exclusive breastfeeding as stated in Healthy People 2030,” Sharon states, emphasizing her larger dedication to enhancing the health of mothers and children and fostering lifelong well-being.

MY BREASTFRIEND app

The MY BREASTFRIEND app features are designed to assist nursing moms on their journey. One of its primary features is the ability to document nursing sessions, including the start time, length, and breast used. This thorough tracking helps mothers monitor their feeding habits. The app will also include a notification timer to remind moms when the next feeding is scheduled, helping them establish a regular nursing schedule. Sharon emphasizes that, in addition to offering weekly rewards for effective nursing, the app will also provide motivational support to help women stay dedicated. A single, easy-to-use button for finding and contacting lactation consultants ensures that expert assistance is always accessible. Additionally, the resource area will give women access to a wealth of educational materials, equipping them with the knowledge they need to overcome breastfeeding challenges.

Furthermore, the app’s community discussion component will be essential for encouraging effective nursing techniques. Sharon stresses that peer support and community involvement are crucial for a mother to succeed in these endeavors. She acknowledges that most moms find breastfeeding and other newborn-related duties to be stressful. “Having someone or a group of people in the same season as you can go a long way in helping moms meet and surpass their breastfeeding goals,” she continues. This supportive community will significantly impact a mother’s breastfeeding experience by providing both emotional support and helpful information. By integrating these comprehensive resources with a robust community component, the MY BREASTFRIEND app seeks to offer a comprehensive strategy for assisting nursing mothers.

Future goals and broader impact

In the future, Sharon envisions Cradle Plus providing breastfeeding moms with the information, tools, and encouragement they need to enhance their breastfeeding experience. “Our mission is deeply rooted in fostering a supportive community and providing evidence-based information that promotes successful breastfeeding experiences,” she writes. This comprehensive strategy aims to achieve several significant goals that will have a long-term, positive impact on the health of mothers and infants.

First and foremost, it is anticipated that breastfeeding rates may rise as a result of the app’s accurate information and tailored support. This can lead to higher rates of breastfeeding initiation and continuation, which may positively affect both mothers’ and infants’ health by potentially reducing the risk of infections, allergies, and chronic diseases. Sharon also emphasizes the potential advantages of breastfeeding, including the possibility of accelerated postpartum recovery, a decreased risk of postpartum depression, and increased bonding. “Our app aims to reduce anxiety and stress related to breastfeeding by offering reliable guidance and a supportive community,” she says.

In addition, Cradle Plus aims to create a community where moms can ask questions, seek guidance, and receive support from those who have been in their shoes. This community support is essential for overcoming societal and cultural hurdles to breastfeeding. Long-term health outcomes are also a focus, as research shows that breastfeeding is associated with decreased chances of obesity and diabetes for newborns, as well as lower risks of cardiovascular disease, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer for mothers. “Overall, our goal with Cradle Plus is to leverage technology to make breastfeeding support more accessible, personalized, and effective,” Sharon emphasizes. She envisions a future where all breastfeeding mothers feel empowered, supported, and confident in their breastfeeding journey.

Sharon’s initiatives highlight the importance of readily available support systems. By empowering mothers with knowledge and resources, she aims to improve breastfeeding rates, which may also enhance maternal well-being and long-term health outcomes. “We aim to educate mothers about the importance of breastfeeding, its techniques, and its benefits,” she says, underscoring her commitment to educational empowerment. Thanks to her groundbreaking work, Sharon’s vision and ongoing efforts to create a supportive environment for nursing moms point to a positive future where maternal and newborn health outcomes are considerably improved.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your breastfeeding practices or if you have any health-related questions or concerns.