Belevation Maternity Underwear has evolved from being a twinkle in our eyes in late 2007, to the status of a savvy preschooler – in 2013.

Having worked as a B2B service for the textile industry for many years, we had a lot to learn about the best way to reach 21st century consumers. It’s been a very slow process, but we haven’t quit yet.

Along the way, I’ve held several dumb second jobs to help pay the bills, but my low pay and under appreciation in those positions has just driven me harder toward Belevation’s business success.

So here it is; my best advice for mompreneurs, women who can envision working incredibly hard, but doing it on your own terms. This list is for you:

1. Make sure someone in your house has a day job so you’re not putting all eggs in one basket. The Small Business Administration says most businesses fail in the first 5 years. Know that upfront and protect yourself accordingly.

2. Do as much as possible yourself to keep costs low, then reach out to students who are highly skilled at things like websites, but have lower overheads than pros.

3. Make a website right away and get lots of help with SEO. Word Press content management sites are great since they are easy to self-maintain.

4. Network, network, network. We can’t be an island when it comes to anything.

5. Know the competition and be better in your niche. Evaluate what your niche is.

6. Set up your personal and business Facebook and Twitter accounts separately. Potential clients needn’t know who you’re voting for, or if you’re in a bad mood.

7. Even though personal should remain personal, keep friends and family up to date online about your business news. Hopefully they will help spread the word.

8. Use advertising selectively. Ads are really expensive and can bust a budget.

9. Send out press releases to news orgs and try to get free mentions. Give back to the community right away since good deeds are newsworthy, so it’s a win win.

10. Giveaways are king with bloggers – so be prepared to give away products and services often to get free publicity. Well worth it compared to buying print ads.

11. Read a good newspaper like the NYT daily. Savvy biz owners need to stay abreast of what’s happening in the world. Read on a tablet on the treadmill, so you can fit in some exercise. Busy people need to kill two birds with one stone.

12. Enjoy your successes, nothing feels better than knowing you’ve accomplished something yourself. You’ll have the best stories to tell on the school bus stop too.

The first yoga center in New York City to focus on moms and moms-to-be, the Prenatal Yoga Center offers both Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga, Mommy and Me classes, Support groups and a variety of workshops including Childbirth Education, Infant CPR, Partner Yoga & Massage, and Caring for Newborn and Breastfeeding Support.

A network of online and community resources including a blog by Director Deb Flashenberg, a Nanny and Doctor Exchange, and the Ask the Experts column plus more can be found on the Prenatal Yoga Center website.

Each month a vendor is selected to be featured at the Prenatal Yoga Center with extensive raffle and discount programs. Belevation was busy last month getting ready for this event, which was scheduled many months ago, so the anticipation has added to this special honor!

With fabulous facilities and highly trained instructors in convenient locations in both Manhattan and Brooklyn, the New York Prenatal Center offers an impressive and nurturing support-network for New York based mom-to-be.

Check out a review of the center from last September by Dr. Carrie McCulloch, FITiST expert and Mom-to-Be. She supplies a terrific Mom-to-Be Rx: including critical tips on “Speaking Up and Making Friends”.

Watch the Center’s recently posted You Tube video tour and don’t forget to ask about Belevation Maternity Supports awesome March 2012 give-aways on the Belevation Support Briefs, Boyshorts, Belly Bands and our Prenatal Yoga Pant.

Unfortunately, we can only send out a few free samples every month or else we won’t be able to pay the electric bill. (It takes a lot of juice to make maternity panties.)

Just before Christmas, we sent out some samples to two favorite websites. For northern moms we selected – Baby Alert Canada, because we like blogger Lina Zussinos emphasis on helping readers save money. Here’s Lina on You Tube:

Read Lina’s review of Belevation’s Yoga Pant. Here’s what she had to say:

“I wore the pant to a prenatal yoga class, the other ladies quickly noticed my added support around my tummy and lower back, questioning where I had bought them. I wear the Belevation yoga pant all the time even when I’m not doing yoga! With having a small petite frame the added weight is giving my
back a hard time, but wearing the Belevation Yoga pant really helps.”

Look out Lululemon, Belevation has arrived in Canada at 1/2 the price of your bottoms. Belevation products are seamless and are designed for prenatal yoga.

We can’t forget our other review this week from Amber Stiles, a writer for AskMissA. Technorati describes Andrea Rodgers, MissA as a DC Socialite, with abundant impeccable taste and Southern charm who dishes out advice, reccomendations and her views.

A site where charity meets style, MissA has been building an empire with hundreds of writers in 20 US cities, highlighting topics of interest to women. Chick Power!

Belevation is pleased to be featured on AskMissA and is delighted that writer Amber Stiles ordered a bunch more Belevation briefs from our website after completing her review. Every girl knows that one pair of great Maternity panties
is never enough. Be sure to read Amber’s review and to use the MissA coupon code on the Belevation website check-out screen for 15% off on all products.

Published in 2009, Bovis-Nelsen’s book has definitely made a big hit on the mommy scene, with it’s fun cocktails and great photographs.

The recipes center around healthful fresh juices and herbs and are especially great for baby showers. Cleverly organized by trimester, there’s something for everyone in this pocket size manual, with a few alcohol cocktails offered to keep things interesting for Dad.

Perfect for those expecting this New Years Eve 2012, if you still want to enjoy the festive holiday atmosphere and great if you’re currently breast feeding too. Many of Natalie’s (aka The Liquid Muse) wonderful recipes can be found on the Thoughtful Entertaining tab of the Fre Wine website.

Too late to turn back now, 2012 is definitely right around the corner. So, how about enjoying a Merry Berry Basil Mojito? (Watch Natalie making one on the below You Tube video.) Like Belevation on Facebook to be entered to win your own copy of Preggatinis in February. All the Best for 2012 from Belevation Maternity Support!

Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, author of Preggatinis, Mixology for the Mom-to-Be

I first learned about Wattenberg’s book and accompanying website while listening to an NPR program
on baby naming. Her impressive research and groundbreaking computer models examine name usage and popularity over the last hundred years in the 2005 book.

Quoted in recent articles in both the New York Times and Time Magazine, Wattenberg, once a name-searching mom herself, said that people hunger to be different these days. Name hostility is a by-product of this trend, as others may have strong opinions about the unique baby names that you’ve selected.

A result of the internet, a 2010 survey on the pop-culture website Lil-Sugar indicated that 64% of new parents Google their baby name picks before making final choices. Makes sense to see what unknowns may be lurking on your child’s “domain” prior to taking the leap.

If you are in a name shopping mode, it’s important to enjoy the process, even though it is one of your life’s most important decisions. With tools like Wattenberg’s Baby Name Wizard, there are now amazing resources to help you with the search.

While reading the Times article, I learned about Kick to Pick – a newly released iphone app that claims to let your child pick their own name. Also available for iPod Touches, the app “ generates names while monitoring the baby’s movements. Any kick detected will then stop the generator at the baby’s chosen name, ready for the parents to accept their child’s choice or dismiss the name and start their search again.”

Available for .99 cents, it’s definitely a game-changer to think of your baby participating in picking their own name. Don’t know if I like the idea of putting a cell on your stomach while pregnant, but it’s amazing to consider.

If you are interested in upholding more parental control, here’s a simple method. You and hubby can make separate favorite lists from a baby name book, narrowing the search to a few alphabet letters that honor loved ones (deceased or alive depending on your tradition). Hopefully there will be at least one name in common on each of your lists, and that will be the name! No matter how you do it, possibly combining several of these methods – have fun!

As a new company, Belevation probably wasn’t around when you were carrying your other children. But I understand what you mean,
as that’s how I feel about Florida Physical Therapist, Micky Marie Morrison’s book, Baby Weight.

I had done some Yoga in college and loved it, but I didn’t stick with it consistently enough to make a difference in my life. Then pregnancy came and hit me like a ton of bricks. Morning sickness stretched into afternoon sickness, and lasted a full four months. After that finally passed, I somehow viewed myself as kind of fragile.

OB-GYN researchers now understand that during most healthy pregnancies it’s prenatal inactivity – not exercise, that puts moms-to-be and their babies at risk.

Micky Marie Morrison’s new book Baby Weight, released in Oct. 2011, offers a comprehensive look at
the changes the body goes through during pregnancy.
Her unique vantage point as a health professional, prenatal fitness instructor and a mother makes Baby Weight an important new pregnancy resource.

Good practice nutritional principles and information on hormonal and body mass changes are highlighted in a manner that raised my scientific IQ on the subjects.

Building upon this technical info, Morrison makes a strong case for the benefits of sensible, prenatal exercise. Minimizing excess weight gain and building stamina for delivery are certainly two compelling reasons to get moving during pregnancy.

The second half of the book includes terrific photos of Morrison’s Yoga based Core FitMama exercises, with modifications for your skill level and trimester. But then it gets even better. As an International Childbirth Education Association certified fitness instructor, Morrison mentors moms continuing with the program after delivery – helping themselves regain stamina, lose pregnancy weight and
fight off postpartum depression.

Skillful guidance is articulated on how moms can also incorporate their babies and
toddlers into these sessions. What a wonderful way to bond with your child, while fostering positive attitudes about healthful living right from the beginning.

Somewhere between Weight Watchers and Gymboree – I wish that I had
Micky Morrison’s excellent book Baby Weight, now available from Amazon,
Barnes and Noble and as Belevation’s January book give-away!  So, Like Belevation on Facebook to be entered to win!

Although the numbers may look gloomy, Belevation is still experiencing strong interest in our products from hundreds of moms around the country.

Since we started doing Belevation product give-aways, we are contacted many times each week by mom bloggers who want to review Belevation products. Alba Garza is a pregnant Latin mom from Houston, who works full time in an office and writes a really informative Blogger format blog, called IndependentMami.

Her post Oct. 11th post was about a new program from the AllState Foundation called Purple Purse, which supports efforts against domestic violence. Thanks Alba for getting me up-to-date on this important new program. (Purple was a really hot European color this fall – so it’s coming our way…)

Here’s what Alba had to say about our Boyshort:

“I work full time in an office. I dress up everyday of the week in my dresses. The Belevation Boyshort is perfect under my dresses and has made life easier for me. I have been wearing biking shorts under my dresses along with my undies and boy oh boy is that not comfortable after a full day of work. I really loved the seamless Belevation four-way stretch microfiber construction that is made with moisture wicking, breathable mesh.

***Disclosure-No monetary compensation was received. Product was provided to review. These are my honest opinions.”

Thanks Alba – We’ll wait to hear the give-away winner from you!

Jen is the author of a neat blog called Crum’s This N That; which is where I connected with her. After viewing online photos of Jen, I eye-spyed that she needed some extra support. Belevation undergarments to the rescue!

Here’s what Jen had to say about our Belevation Support Band:

“I am pregnant and I have a big belly. That is my confession for the night.

Did you know that it hurts to have a big belly? I’m about 31 weeks right now and I’ve already gained about 35 pounds. I feel huge. My great aunt asked the other day if I was having twins. I’m not.

I’m not small anyway, so when you take a body that’s already overweight, & add 35+ lbs… yikes!

I often am short of breath, sore in my belly muscles, achy in my back, my legs hurt, etc. Basically, I feel pregnant. I have never used maternity “support” before, it hasn’t really been necessary with my other pregnancies.

This time though, I’ve noticed a need for some extra support and I had the privledge to try a belly band by Belevation. I feel fully supported and ready to conquer the world – too bad it’s almost bed time.

I LOVE using this support. The Belevation Support Band makes me feel secure even when I am wearing loose fitting clothes, like shorts. I don’t feel nearly as sore at the end of the day when I’ve worn the belly support, as it does on days that I go without.

I think one reason this band is so comfortable is that it supports me from below my belly to the top of my belly. I feel supported in my front and my back!

Belevation’s products are seamless, so they don’t leave marks or sore areas due to rubbing. They come in 3 colors and in multiple sizes. Even with my heavier body, I fit comfortably in the belly support.

I have to admit, I did consider maternity supports when I was about 7 months pregnant with Crackers, I looked at the prices, however, and turned away. They were way too expensive for me to seriously consider at that point. Belevation’s belly bands are not as expensive as the ones I found 2 years ago, in fact
the prices start at only $18 each.”

Thanks Jen! Glad to lend support at Belevation’s affordable prices! Your children are beautiful, so it’s all worth it. Don’t forget to send baby pictures!

Belevation will be doing a monthly Facebook book give-away beginning
in Sept. 2011! No purchase is required.

All you need to do is “like” Belevation on Facebook to be entered into this free monthly mom-to-be give-away.

Winners will be chosen by Random.org at 12AM on the last day of each month.

Here’s our line-up of upcoming give-away selections:

November: Jennifer Wolfe’s Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga DVD
December: The Baby Name Wizard by Laura Wattenberg
January: Baby Weight by Micky Marie Morrison
February: Preggatinis by Natalie Bovis-Nelsen
March: To Be Announced

Like Belevation NOW on Facebook and tell your friends too!

Questions? Email us at belevation@belevation.com or write to us on Facebook.

See more maternity underwear products on our homepage like the belly band or maternity yoga pants!