National Breastfeeding Awareness Month is organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and hopes to empower women to commit to breastfeeding by highlighting new research that shows babies who are exclusively breastfed for six months are less likely to develop ear infections, diarrhea and respiratory illnesses, and may be less likely to develop childhood obesity.
We are honored to highlight Stephanie Scholz Neurohr this month, in recognition of her tremendous efforts to promote breastfeeding.
Success Through Play™ is proud to bring you this interview with a multi-talented, inspirational Mother of 7, Stephanie Scholz Neurohr.
Stephanie Scholz Neurohr is a traditional mother of seven who does it all. She is a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, author and the founder & CEO of Mother of 7, Inc. – a motherhood company specializing in products for the expectant, new mother, and family. Stephanie is a recognized leader in motherhood development and is known world-wide for her outstanding contributions in educating new and expecting mothers. Neurohr grew up in Lubbock, Texas, where she graduated from high school early, and with honors, to go on to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film at Southern Methodist University. In 1979, Stephanie Scholz Neurohr was one of eleven rookies chosen from over 2,500 women to join the renowned Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders cheerleading squad. She was also elected to represent the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders for three years as a famed “Show Group” member who made hundreds of personal appearances entertaining U.S.O. troops, State Fair fans, and Charity Telethon audiences nationwide.
Neurohr authored Deep in the Heart of Texas: The Real Story of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders; St. Martin’s Press.
Stephanie has made many national TV appearances including:
* Larry King Live
* Good Morning America
* CBS This Morning
* NFL Today
* Inside Edition
* Jenny Jones
* Joan Rivers
* Maurey Povich
* Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Part II
* Family Feud
* Bob Hope’s Tribute to Roger Staubach
Among her myriad producing credits, her documentary Autumn’s Story was featured on Discovery Health Network and she recently launched the Mother of 7 global birth and breastfeeding video series.
Neurohr has written, directed, and produced Mother of 7 global birth and breastfeeding videos – Breastfeeding Basics (20 min.), Breastfeeding Intensive (45 min.), Breastfeeding Comprehensive (130 min.), Breastfeeding FAQs: Ask the Experts (45 minutes) and Autumn’s Story (45 min.). All DVDs/VHSs are available worldwide, May 2006, featuring representatives from the U.S. Government, UNICEF, World Health Organization, African-American Breastfeeding Alliance, Pediatricians Dr. William Sears, Dr. Jay Gordon, Dr. Paul Fleiss, La Leche League Founders Marion Tompson and Edwina Froehlich and other leading motherhood world authorities as well as mothers, babies, and families from over 63 countries. These state of the art videos will be distributed internationally through www.Motherof7.com website, retail stores, hospitals, health care professionals and other educational venues.
* Mother of 7 Birth and Breastfeeding Videos featured in Jan. 2007 Pregnancy magazine and Jan. 2007 Pregnancy magazine “Favorite Buyers Guide.”
* World WIT and Business Women’s Network 2006 Diversity and Women’s Leadership Summit and Gala “Entrepreneurial Star Award” honoring the Mother of 7 Videos in Washington, D.C. October 25-26, 2006
* Baby Dallas Article – “The Glory of Breastfeeding”
* Dallas Morning News Article – “Breastfeeding Advocate’s Hail Dallas Mom’s Video Series”
* Maui News Article – “A Mother’s Passion”
* ABC News Now – Live TV Interview followed 20/20
* Channel 11 Kids Corner Live TV Interview
* World Breastfeeding Week 2006 Platinum Sponsor
Autumn’s Story, a 45 min. documentary for Discovery Health Channel, was Neurohr’s highly-acclaimed television show, which she wrote, directed, and produced. Discovery says, “Autumn’s Story continuously receives top ratings – a DHC favorite. ”
Stephanie makes it clear that her family comes first. Stephanie works out of her home, adapting to her childrens’ schedules, to bring creative endeavors to life, which mirror her philosophy, “a child’s well-being begins at home.” Tom Bywaters, an Emmy award winning producer and director, describes Stephanie Neurohr as “a motherhood industry!”
Stephanie is also currently designing a line of maternity/nursing wear, mother/baby baskets, and producing a lullaby album for mother and child. A series of Family Fairytale Animated TV Shows and Books are in development.
See www.breastfeedingdvd.com for more information.
What was the inspiration behind the development of your series of instructional breastfeeding DVD’s?
There are no up-to-date, cutting edge Birth, Baby, and Breastfeeding DVDs currently on the market featuring world experts and experienced moms from all over the globe, so I knew my knowledge as a mother of 7 exclusively breastfed children, author, and filmmaker would be the perfect combination to show and tell every expectant and new mother the way. When you please world authorities, educators, and mothers from various ethnicities, backgrounds, and cultures, you’ve done your homework as a documentary filmmaker. Touching and educating lives all over our planet has been very gratifying. These were the tools I needed to show me the way. I also needed review courses before every baby, or babies! DVDs are the next best resource to someone actually showing you how they are breastfeeding their baby!
Can you offer our international readers 5 breastfeeding tips that you have discovered along the way, that you wish someone had told you in the beginning?
1. Breastfeed Your Baby During the First Hour of Life
If you have a vaginal birth or c-section and both you and the baby are healthy, don’t miss the magical first hour to start breastfeeding. Talk with your health care provider team both before and immediately after delivery to remind them of your desire to breastfeed as soon after birth as possible. The hour goes very quickly. Voice your request and seize this special opportunity.
2. Breastfeed Exclusively and Frequently with Let Down and Proper Technique
Before delivery, learn about proper technique, maximizing your milk supply by breastfeeding every two hours during the day and at least twice during the night, and allowing time for let down during each feed. Breastfeed exclusively for the first six months and continue to breastfeed as long as possible (Benefits of breastfeeding are dose related
– the longer you breastfeed – the greater the benefits!) and mutually desired by both you and your child.
3. Room-In
If possible, deliver at a Baby Friendly Hospital, where you can have your baby with you at all times for “on-demand” feedings to prevent jaundice, engorgement, plugged ducts, and mastitis—all of which can be overcome with continued, frequent breastfeeding. If you develop any of these problems, don’t stop breastfeeding; the solution is to continue nursing and/or pumping.
4. Avoid Sleep Deprivation
Room-in with your baby so you can breastfeed on-demand and sleep when baby sleeps. Night nursing is an ideal way for both mother and baby to get more sleep, because mother stays in constant touch with baby’s needs as they cuddle and nap together, all part of attachment parenting.
5. Let Someone Else Be Super Mom
Cook and freeze meals before delivery. They will come in very handy. Have friends and family cook, clean, and deliver meals to reduce stress. Everyone is anxious to help, so don’t be shy about delegating tasks. Don’t feel you have to entertain anybody either. Excuse yourself when well-wishers stay too long. They go home to a good night’s sleep; you don’t. Dismiss yourself with the baby into a quiet room with white noise (fans are great) or soothing music to drown out all extraneous noise. Silence the phone and let the answering machine do its job. Stay away from anything that will drain your energy and take time away from taking care of yourself and the baby. Let-down takes time to learn and is difficult even for experienced moms who find themselves multi-tasking and feeling tense. The post-partum period is the perfect time to be totally selfish. Everyone will understand, and if they don’t, they’ll get over it.
6. Eat Well and Enjoy Your Body (Bonus!)
Eat nutritional foods as often as you feel the need for extra energy. Small meals several times a day usually help keep your milk supply up and let down possible. If your milk isn’t letting down, take a break, eat a nutritious snack, and drink a tall glass of liquid. Try again to breastfeed an hour later. It usually does the trick. Avoid empty calories like sweets, caffeine, and alcohol, and certain foods like dairy products and spicy foods.
Success Through Play™ Comments:
Thank you Stephanie for sharing these tips with us! To learn more about the DVD collection that Mother of 7 Inc, offers and enter the DVD giveaway, please refer to Part II.