Democratizing Baby Feeding and Breastfeeding with SimpliFed founder, Andrea Ippolito
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Episode Summary
Did you know that your insurance has to cover baby feeding support? It doesn’t matter if you decide to breastfeed, formula feed, exclusively pump, or do a mix – under the Affordable Care Act, your health insurance is required to cover the cost of support. This was news to me! So I am thrilled to spread the word by having Andrea Ippolito, founder of SimpliFed on the show today.
SimpliFed democratizes access to baby feeding and breastfeeding services, through a virtual model, 100% covered by insurance. In our conversation you’ll hear Andrea’s story of how she started this business alongside the birth of her first child, how she’s taken the business full time, and all of the options that are available to you. Be sure to share this episode with all of the soon-to-be and new moms in your life!
Topics Discussed:
How SimpliFed was born out of Andrea’s own early motherhood experience and struggles with breastfeeding
What getting support through SimpliFed looks like and why Andrea chose a telehealth platform
Why it’s important to set realistic expectations for baby feeding, no matter the method that you choose
How Andrea moved from the idea phase of SimpliFed into full blown entrepreneurship and how she’s sustained that through her teaching career and growing family
How SimpliFed is supporting women who are a part of the workforce from the individual side AND from the workplace
The need for more equitable support for not only new moms, but new dads, too
What’s coming up next for Andrea through her next transition period and how she’s supporting herself through this time
About Andrea:
While navigating the numerous demands of early motherhood, Andrea Ippolito specifically recognized the systemic challenges in feeding her daughter. It was through this complex journey of navigating a fractured and highly stigmatized system, that a clear opportunity was realized and she founded SimpliFed in 2019. The very real need to democratize access to baby feeding and breastfeeding services, through a virtual model, covered by insurance was clearly missing.
Andrea’s objective is to provide a comprehensive and modern touch to meeting parents where they are with baby feeding across the growing spectrum of available options. To succeed in her mission, she leads with her in-depth knowledge of health care systems.
Connect with Andrea + SimpliFed:
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emily_gorrie:
Welcome to today's episode of the Project Mompodcast today, I'm talking with Andrea Ipolito. She is the co of Simply fed, a company that provides virtual breast feeding and baby feeding support fully covered by your health plan, from pregnancy to weaning, So Andrea. welcome, Thank you so much for being here.
andrea_ippolito:
Thanks so much for having me.
emily_gorrie:
I'm so excited because I had done kind of my home work leading up to this podcast recording, and I absolutely love the mission of your company, and I want to make sure we do it justice. but from what I understand from kind of the materials that I saw on your website in the conversations, Kind of leading up to this, this company came from a personal challenge of yours. It in a personal experience that you had when learning to feed your daughter, so I would love If we could just start there. share us a little bit more, or share with us a little bit more, your journey with motherhood and your experience that ultimately led you to simply fed, and kind of this challenge that you've experienced personally,
andrea_ippolito:
Yeah, I mean, simply fed, and the problem we're solving and the impact were creating is incredibly real to me, because I felt the pain that a lot of the families that we have the privilege to serve feel, and, and I think as someone in this arena, just like a lot of folks, having that lived experience definitely matters and help me build a lot of empathy with with what folks are going through. And so my background is as a by medical engineer and work to Cal devices, worked in till health. Actually, for over a decade
emily_gorrie:
M.
andrea_ippolito:
also worked in the federal government background as an entrepreneur. This is the second company that I founded First company's hold to Athena Health, and was in the federal government, working at the Department of Veterans Affairs down in D, C. And the talent of that I was pregnant with my first daughter, now pregnant with daughter number three.
emily_gorrie:
Oh,
andrea_ippolito:
And
emily_gorrie:
congratulations,
andrea_ippolito:
thanks, It's second to master, So You know, Sweet Spot, as we all know, but
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
also well, like what's about to happen.
emily_gorrie:
Uh, uh,
andrea_ippolito:
I fun and terrifying all at the same time,
emily_gorrie:
Absolutely,
andrea_ippolito:
But I was pregnant with my first daughter, commuting back and forth between decand. Boston was like this is not going to work, and
emily_gorrie:
M.
andrea_ippolito:
decided to move to central New York, Up New York, at the end of York, where at the time I was teaching at court, now had my first daughter, had no idea what to ex Act for surrounding baby feeding Like literally was not prepared at all. I felt like that wasn't covered, and also I hadn't done my own thinking and research, but it just
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
honestly up. and you're so focused on the labor right in that crazy experience, especially when it's the first time and you like this
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
is literally an out of body experience. And then you know you have the kid. You're holding the kid, and then literally your first job, Along with your own recovery, whether that was a vaginal deliverer or sea section, as we all know, is to feed this kid, and all
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
of a sudden, you're you're trying to make this happen. And for me, I started off breast feeding, and that similar to eighty five percent of mom's, And you know, breast feeding was really hard for me and didn't really work. My daughter was born a little bit early to. She was born at five pounds and quickly dipped in the four pound range, which is so scary, Actually as
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
the first time parent when you don't realize that's going to happen, but that very normal Actually, to have that dip, but feeding was really hard for me. My supply was really low, and while I did have some lactation consult and support in the hospital and patric, I guess I just wasn't mentally prepared for what was about to happen, and quickly we had to start using formula and felt a lot of guilt over that, but you know now I know retrospect. That is why And it's okay and it's a very safe
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
healthy option. But you know I felt this guilt and I felt this stigma, but but more so, I wanted to breast feet, and yet it wasn't working and needed access to more support. And so that's like the mom
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
parent had. But then I learned the entrepreneur, like health care background had, in my men, learned that under the Affordable Care Act, health plans are supposed to cover Breast feeding support, as long as your breast feeding and an unlimited amount. and
emily_gorrie:
Wow,
andrea_ippolito:
you know the business entrepreneur or side was like, Wait a second. There's this huge need, huge gap in the experience that families are facing. Why don't we improve access to support? but that support be inclusive, no matter how you feed your baby, Whether that's formula feeding, breast feeding, pumping, and that's really what birth simply fed.
emily_gorrie:
Yeah. that's amazing and my initial question back to you is when you first started to realize that the Which the Affordable Care Act correct? You Just okay, So the Affordable Care Act is supposed to cover support for breast feeding. Now is that disconnect? Because there at the time, which is where you're filling the gap. there was no programs that supported that type of support Or we just didn't. There weren't insurance companies covering it or we. just where was the disconnect?
andrea_ippolito:
So I don't know where like the root cause of it is, but here's what I do know that under the Affordable Care Act commercial health plan and medicated expansion plans are required to cover it, and the vast majority of health plans aren't in compliance with that policy, so they don't have providers in network.
emily_gorrie:
Wow,
andrea_ippolito:
I also think that parents, and this is where I was at, had no idea that there's a clinical specialist like a lactation consultant, but by Their scope a practice is not just breast feeding. it's any baby feeding and safe
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
use formula. but I also think that parents don't know that this health care specialists exists in word,
emily_gorrie:
M.
andrea_ippolito:
as I also don't think it's baked into the system like I think it's in labor and delivery. but as we all know, your breast milk often doesn't come in for three or five days after you leave the hospital. And so there's just
emily_gorrie:
Right,
andrea_ippolito:
like the system is not That up. Help support. And so there's a few issues happening. Not health plans aren't covering it, Because the don't have providers of network people don't know that there's a evidence based clinical specialist that gets credential and it is certified after literally hundreds of hours training hours of clinical training hours for this
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
and I also not baked in system, And that's exactly what simply fed is solving for, but doing so inclusively whether you are formula feeding, breast feeding pumping, and that's I think, the fourth biggest, But the system is that it's very much a breast feeding versus formula When the vast
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
matrity of parents do both, and it shouldn't be that way.
emily_gorrie:
Yeah, absolutely. I love that this is kind of all encompassing for you at this company because I think you're absolutely right. There's only certain things that we learn as mom's and as new parents over time, right there? Not things that unless they are shared with us from the get go, that we learned through child and error, we learned through our own personal challenges. And you know I had a very similar experience when I gave birth to my daughter. I have a two year old right now. She was born Thirty eight and a half weeks. So you know, full term. essentially, Um, and I had a really hard time building supply and I didn't know it at the time, so there was no real from my understanding support in the hospital, either, either from lactation consultant. So I attempted to breast feed. She dipped below the ten percent of birth weight Your allowed to leave before they're like. You have to feed her formula, Which I'm honestly grateful for, because I would have continued to try breast feeding, not realizing that I wasn't producing enough supply for her, which at the time right, is not even really milk. At that point right, it's like so perhaps the journey could have looked a whole lot different if the support system looked a lot different. Of You know how to support. You know me as the mom through the journey and all of that And I remember we left the hospital with and I'm going to. I don't recall the name. There's like a whole nam Of this system that they do, But it's with the syringe and because I still wanted to try and breast feed, and you like wear a nipple guard, and you like have like a little syringe with formula in it, and you like stick it in the nipple shield, and you breast feed your child at the same time that you're like pushing in formula. so it like simulates breast feeding so you can still continue the journey that took a tole on me. I remember walking out of there looking at my husband being like We have to do. what.
andrea_ippolito:
How does this work
emily_gorrie:
How does this work? And we tack team that we did it together. He would do the syringe. I would hold the child, who at the time I would describe as like my chita. I'm trying to wrangle at chita to the boob because she was hungry. She wasn't getting what she wanted and we didn't know it at the time, so it was like a tag team thing and neither of us were sleeping because we were both up at every feeding trying to figure out how this works And I just remember it like two weeks old. I looked at my mom and I said I cannot do this anymore, And that's where my journey ended with breast feeding, So I can imagine the women who come across your platform and in your services, finding some level of comfort in knowing that they're not alone in this journey and they can reach out, so maybe share with us a little bit about how the virtual services work for women who are and moms who are participating.
andrea_ippolito:
Well? And Emily? thanks so much for sharing that story Because Holy Molly, I was in your same tones. Um, and you're with the syringe and
emily_gorrie:
Uh,
andrea_ippolito:
the piping. you're like, so like,
emily_gorrie:
This
andrea_ippolito:
like
emily_gorrie:
shouldn't be this hard. this shouldn't be this hard.
andrea_ippolito:
A and again, Sometimes it really works for folks, but I think that's exactly why were here is
emily_gorrie:
Yep.
andrea_ippolito:
because you need access to ongoing support. the trouble shoot and whatever your goal is right, And I think as parents, especially as mom's with baby feeding. and no matter how you feed your baby, you just get to this point where like am done. and that's how I felt too, and it shouldn't have to get there. You should have trusted health care professional that's there with you alongside you
emily_gorrie:
Yep.
andrea_ippolito:
to health trouble. Shoot, because it needs to work for you, full stop, period
emily_gorrie:
Totally,
andrea_ippolito:
and off in the current care pathway. You get to this Fed Point and it shouldn't take that you should have access on going sport like they do in other countries. And so so what our support looks like? It's one hundred percent virtual, so that we can be there next to you. Because let's be real. The idea of going to a clinic appointment with this little new born nugget, you know, often, under
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
ten pounds at that point, and strapping them into that car seat driving when by the way you're recovering, whether C section
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
or know, so the idea of going to another clinic appointment Is like insane. right when you're
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
just trying to physically and mentally recuperate. Also, let's also be real that they're just house calls is something that can happen, but it's also something that is very expensive. And again, I live in a rural area, But even if you live in a city, even if you live in a suburb, having access to a house call, someone coming to your home is also not feasible for the vast majority of people across Us,
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
especially at a frequency that you need them. So this is where Tell of health is actually an incredibly powerful platform because you can improve access to support twenty four seven, leveraging the scale of the Us. and that
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
was actually my background, working with military health system with mental health care and how we could improve access to mental health care services by leveraging the scale of the United provided across us, So that's what I simply fit, does Have a national network of providers. their lactation consultants that are all inclusive, no matter how you feed your baby, whether it's breast feeding formula, feeding the, They're there to support your goals. whatever those might be,
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
many of them are nurses or nurse practitioners, and we have National Health Plan contracts, along with local and regional contracts as well, where we get our whole care pathway covered for free, starting during pregnancy. So what it looks like as we meet with families one and one, we all, And get refers from other providers or other moms they find about it. You have to try it. simply fed.
emily_gorrie:
Yep.
andrea_ippolito:
We do a pre needle education appointment and we talk with parents about what to expect, but also mostly we do a lot of listening. What are your roles And if you're like me, But your first part of saying had no idea what. Where to start. Then we share options
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
for you and then we design a plan. but we also said expectations, like, Like your milk doesn't come in at first, it's often droplets at first. Don't get too nervous If your baby drop weight, Because most babies do drop weight.
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
Yea, no one had told me that until we do a lot to set expectations, but also based on your goals. If breast feeding is one of your goals, what breast feeding does look like in that first week and hand expression and droplets and typical amounts. Um, and then after baby's born, we then continue to work with you virtually in your home virtually, and we work with you at all hours of the day, seven days week. Because That's what baby feeding looks like in that time period and it's it's a experimentation, right you? Every situation and context is different. Everyone's goals are different. So
emily_gorrie:
Yep.
andrea_ippolito:
we meet. You make a plan here. How things going often at first In those first couple weeks. it's a. It's a insane period and so getting access to ongoing support to trouble. Shoot these needs. Um. latching is pretty popular. All latching shouldn't be painful We all. And so we work with them to make sure it's pain free. We work with folks on positioning nothing about breast.
emily_gorrie:
M.
andrea_ippolito:
even though it's quoteanquote natural. Nothing about it felt very natural to me and so like It just felt very awkward. So our providers will work with you. And, and one thing that people ask as well, if you're not there side by side, how do you help with things like launching a positioning? But that's the beauty of it is that we are virtually in your home so we can see where you are going to be feeding. All right, let's go
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
to that spot. Get that Up a little bit here, and you can give us that few back. Feels awkward for me and then we can trouble you in your own home, and we can do so in an ongoing way. If pumping is part of that plan, We work with you on pumping. Getting sized for pumping. A Lot of people aren't using the right flanges, which again causes pain
emily_gorrie:
Yes, yeh,
andrea_ippolito:
fly concerns, and all the transitions back to work. So we follow you on this journey and again it's all covered for free as it should be under federal law.
emily_gorrie:
Yeah. that's really incredible because as you're talking, honestly do feel that that is something that was missing for me personally in that journey, So I can see why that this company is so powerful and so successful in this journey for you. Because there really is this this gap that you're filling for these women. I think about right, my personal experience, there was one maybe two hour breast feeding class right ahead of In delivery. Right, You get a little bit of an insight, but you don't really. and it's just some positions. Not you know. This is what you should do to get them to latch. No crouble shooting. Now you know support on if this happens, which is a common challenge. like. They don't really highlight any of the challenges that are common for women in these experiences. So there absolutely is this like very glaring gap there. There's also I'm so impress. You also touch on the pumping journey because I think for me I had. I moved from trying to breast feed her to pumping. I did it for six weeks, gave up because I was barely getting an ounce on each side. If that, each time I pumped and I was like strapped to this thing for hours on end, And it's funny because I, everyone, I talked to every new mom I talked to hate pumping. They hate
andrea_ippolito:
Hm.
emily_gorrie:
it more sometimes than just chin, Breast feed their kid like they would just rather be attached to their child all day every day, then pump to give themselves some additional freedom. So I would love if you could talk a little bit about your personal journey. So in terms of so, you kind of you were hitting kind of this point where you didn't know what to experience with the birth of your daughter and feeding her and you started to see this gap that was you know, existing in the system and how to support us Women. What did? How did you support yourself right then? An there, in that particular moment before you created this company Like, what did that look like for you?
andrea_ippolito:
Yeah, I'm so happy to ask this because this just highlights that the reality that every child is different and I have two daughters, you know, pregnant with the third and every journey is very different. I know that sounds super cliche, but that is the real truth. No doubt this third kid is going to be a whole lot different than the second gold. Ours. Id.
emily_gorrie:
Yep?
andrea_ippolito:
My first journey actually looked a lot like your journey. Baby dropped weight over that ten per cent, Tried the syringe model and all that fun stuff and was like, How did we get here?
emily_gorrie:
Uh,
andrea_ippolito:
Like
emily_gorrie:
uh,
andrea_ippolito:
at two a M, with syringes and like,
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
And this is tape and M and again, sometimes that works. So if it works like rock on, Um,
emily_gorrie:
Totally,
andrea_ippolito:
and my supply was dropping. She kept dropping weight. We started
emily_gorrie:
M.
andrea_ippolito:
combo feeding. Ous. Think we need to talk about combo feeding more. If like, it's like always position as an either or when, Like a lot of people do both at the same time and like what's Celebrate that and recognize
emily_gorrie:
Totally,
andrea_ippolito:
that, Um,
emily_gorrie:
hm.
andrea_ippolito:
a lot of combo feeding. But with my first daughter it was like very much majority formula, very minority breast milk, and again that that's what worked for me Like. And and
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
then, after a while, once you're getting one ounce per pump, or you know you're just like. Yeah, let's just move to formula. And that's what work for me. Now the second kid I had started simply fed, and by the way, that journey was a long journey. He wen entrepreneur. S talkin. You started a company And then like all of a sudden, was super like success. Well, no, sorry, I was in full time and doing it part time and it was. It was a year's long journey there. so just to be very upfront about that, Um, but with my second daughter I had access to support simply and so like I'd like to say, folks, I am like this story of how your experience can get better with when you actually get support. and and honestly, the app. It is mostly for mom. Yes, it's baby, gets the outcome of it, but it's It's for you and your physical health, because breasts are organs. Let's be real. Um, and your mental health. And so I got support starting during pregnancy and I got a lot of support post Part him on going way and I did that trouble shooting. I was never never able with my first kid, really to get breast feeding at the boob to work,
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
but I got a lot of trouble shooting The way. It took like a couple o weeks and I was. I was lie down for that and again. If you're not down for that, that's also cool. But I was down to get that support and I actually really like dick. Someone was focused on me, not just the bat,
emily_gorrie:
M
andrea_ippolito:
as we all know often, once you pushed out the kid or after a C section, all the attention kind of goes to the baby and like hello while we're here struggle.
emily_gorrie:
Yet,
andrea_ippolito:
Um,
emily_gorrie:
totally.
andrea_ippolito:
but, but it was actually nice to get that support for me and so I enjoyed the appointment And we worked through different positions that actually worked for me, But I also was a pretty big pumper and I felt the same way. S a lot of folks, But what I liked about pumping was I I could see the amount so it worked for me, Although I definitely had my moments with pumping where you know the movie office space when they take the cap out and you're like
emily_gorrie:
Yep.
andrea_ippolito:
bashing like I'm looking at this pump and I like I can't wait to do that with you.
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
I have They. you know, More traditional quote, Unquote pump that you know, had batteries, but also gonna be plugged into a wall with the flanges, but I also had a willow, and I love that because it gave me the flexibility like I'd like to tell Sara. I've pumped everyone a boat on a bike on a
emily_gorrie:
I
andrea_ippolito:
train
emily_gorrie:
love it.
andrea_ippolito:
and like, I like that flexibility. But but the long story short is I got support and I
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
made it work for me. And would I rather be, you know, in Italy, Skinny doing something rather than pumping Heck. Yeah,
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
I found a plan that worked for me and
emily_gorrie:
Yep.
andrea_ippolito:
that worked for my mental health and my physical health, And it's like it flipped like the. The. I was able to give more best milk than formula, but I still complifed because that's again what worked for my mental health. And then you know, I think I made it. Not that I was about making it, but I made it do about like nine months to a year, kind of slow La. transitioning And and that's what worked for me, And so every journey was very different and both options are of breast feeding or pumping, or I would say all three of formula are like great and they're all safe. And
emily_gorrie:
Yep.
andrea_ippolito:
and I think that's something we need to talk about that You just kind of make it work for you and work with trained health care professionals who can give you those evidence space practices to be more successful with whatever your goal is.
emily_gorrie:
I love that. I think there's something so empowering about the model that you created because you know just from those first couple of weeks of memories that I have it. Just we really felt like my husband and I making the best decisions we could in those moments, but we didn't feel educated enough, so at times I'd be like on my phone going down Google rabbit holes on like. Well, what happens if I don't produce enough for? like, what are my? You know, what are my formula options? What are all the Options that I have? Okay, I have t pump. What type of pumps are there? I, you know, wasn't producing enough. So I got you know. I rented one from the hospital. Then I, you know, was stuck because it was plugged into a wall. But then you, I had these friends who like you know, had the ones you like slip into. You know your shirt, and you can go bike writing. Like you said. There's all these different options, But I felt so uneducated to a point where I felt disempowered because I just felt paralyzed by needing to understand all of my options, So I just love how Powering this platform is to the women who are able to get the support. so I just really applaud to you for that and kind of taking the initiative to create something just so uniquely powerful and necessary for this massive part of our community. I mean, moms make up so many percent of the world like we need to support each other, So I just really applied to you for that and I'd love to just get it Quick understanding so I know the support should be covered right by our insurance plans. How frequently can women tap into the support? Is this like weekly sessions they can have? Is it? you know? up to four months post part like, What's the longevity and the frequency that women can tap into this service?
andrea_ippolito:
So here's the good news. The good news is that under federal law like so this is your right. This isn't just like a Hey, like somewhere, Andrea,
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
this is your right. under Peter Law, starting during pregnancy for as long as you're breast feeding in any capacity, you can get support fully covered at no cost to you. and and sometimes it stops at a year. but, but technically under federal law for as long as you're best feeding in any cap City. Um,
emily_gorrie:
Amazing,
andrea_ippolito:
by the way, simply fed, provide support for when hundred percent formula feeding moms is well, because formula is so connected to your baby's health it's connected to. so just just also say that as well. That is also part of our care model, but specifically the health plan services. piece of it that's fully covered at no cost is that,
emily_gorrie:
Yep.
andrea_ippolito:
and I just really want to thank you for your comments, and you're so kind to me, but but really like with woman's health, and specifically breast feeding, Breast feeding is woman part of woman's health or getting support for
emily_gorrie:
Yep.
andrea_ippolito:
our best health, breast or organs. There is all this technology out there, right, You high lighted them pumping, and there's all these evidence based approaches, But to date women have been left toiling on their own, overwhelmed by these choices, overwhelmed by this care pathway, because it hasn't existed Frankly
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
and often, I think This s exemplary of a lot of stuff, mom's face, as you just figure it out and we make it happen and we get stuff done. But like it shouldn't have to be that way
emily_gorrie:
Yep.
andrea_ippolito:
and you should get support to help navigate these options, and in a year where choice has been taken away from woman, whether that's woman's health, but also the formula shortage, right, that was incredibly stressful. Like we need access to evidence base clinical support more than ever, And that's what the providers do and they are Trained on modern practices because we just that's what we deserve, and so I just wanted to
emily_gorrie:
Yes,
andrea_ippolito:
highlight, gets a part covered by your health plan and get Evan face port based on modern practices so that you can design a plan that works for you.
emily_gorrie:
Yeah, love, love, love that, and I think it's just so impactful to reiterate over and over again that like we don't have to do this alone. So I'm just like so grateful for having this conversation and we can share this and get it out really as far and wide as possible. I'd love to take a step back and talk a little bit about that entrepreneurship journey that you mentioned. Write this years long process to get from point Idea starter generator. You're in the thick of it to where you are today and I, You know. a lot of the goal of this podcasct is to share the journeys that we go throu, you know as New Mom's Yes, on the mom friend, but also for those who have these desires to solve a problem that we personally faced, or to fulfill ourselves in some other capacity than just being a mom's love. To touch a little bit on that that business For you, can you share with us just a little bit of how you got from point a of this idea to start simply fed. Kind of what you're situation looked like at the time. I think you mentioned you were teaching At the time you had this new born. You had this idea. How did you move into producing this and creating and actually sustaining this idea?
andrea_ippolito:
Yeah, well, thanks so much for the opportunity. It's a twisty attorney like it's not this. As we talked about this moment where you your goes off and then like here it exists. So for me, based on my experience with my first daughter, I just was like this has got to change Like this
emily_gorrie:
Yep.
andrea_ippolito:
is awful, and I do have this background entrepreneur. If I do have this background of health care, And so once I, this stuff started coming together, It was one of Things that you talk about and so I always, I still teach a little bit our time to students and always tell some folks is when you have something that's like keeping you up at night and maybe that's literal or figuratively, but something that you're thinkin about like whether you're driving or in the shower. For me, it's like shower thoughts. I always say it's
emily_gorrie:
Totally.
andrea_ippolito:
like
emily_gorrie:
yep.
andrea_ippolito:
ing me up in the shower, but this idea of like how do we actually re design this care pathway, but also Vide option surrounding breast feeding and formula feeding and also pumping like this is. there's all though there's this portfolio of things that you can do, but yet it's not created and personalized and connected to a health care provider covered by your health plan. And so this notion kind of kept popping up and eventually like you, based on community and friends and family, just saying like, Well, go do it already. And so so yeah, that's what we started working on And pursuing and I was actually very focused on kind of the formula side of it at first be because it felt like there was just a gap and then realize
emily_gorrie:
M.
andrea_ippolito:
that, Hold on if this really care experience and we, we need to treat it as a comprehensive care experience and meet parents. Whether at eight, five per cent of women start off prescivating most transitional formula At some point, so let's actually start there. and and actually, re design is based on what we would have wanted to see covered by health bands. And so it's a lot of iteration. It's a lot of talking out. but the key thing is This didn't happen overnight. I didn't quit my job all time like we're doing fine as a family. I feel very privileged that I was able to work on this in my nights and weekends, but like I don't come from generational wealth where you could just like, quit and work on this. And so
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
for me I was still teaching. And and then what you do is you find these quick winds or you find little milestones that you can use. And then I reduced my time to eighty percent teaching, and eventually fifty percent. So you find this way Step wise, get there
emily_gorrie:
M.
andrea_ippolito:
very much full time on, simply fed. And and for us it was you know, finding providers that joined us and then what we would do is find ways to get the service out there and communicate this to parents. People try the service out, And then we found partners along the way, and so we found a great partner with milk stork, and they started reselling our services right, And that took a bit. and and then we got our first health play in Con, Leveraging that a C A policy. And and then based on that we could raise money from venture capitalists, and so last year raised six million dollars from manager capital. And and you know that's a big milestone, but it's just the fuel, not the actual impact you're creating. And so then
emily_gorrie:
Yep.
andrea_ippolito:
we, You're more help in contracts. Now we're very focused on how do we share this resource with with parents. And and so, as an example, we just got a national Etna commercial contract. So if anyone's on Etna, you have access to freeze Or it, starting during
emily_gorrie:
Amazing.
andrea_ippolito:
pregnant. We serve all military families. We try care for free. Starting during pregnancy, we have a number of medicated contracts across the country, So so you find these milestones and maybe at first they are smaller. But then you build and build and build and build. And but it's very iterative. you know, Form founded this in twenty nineteen, and here we are
emily_gorrie:
Yep.
andrea_ippolito:
in twenty three. And it. it took a lot of time
emily_gorrie:
Absolutely, and I really appreciate you high lighting that journey because I mean it is a progression right. You don't go from one point to another in the flip of a switch. And it's not you know a lot of. I think What we see a lot these days is instant gratification, right? This need for? Well, if it's going to work, it's going to be easy. or if it's meant to be, it should be going better by now, and I think a lot of that is really just false narrative to keep us looping and something, so I just really appreciate you sharing that kind of trajectory of at the beginning It's small winds. It's you know, getting yourself to a point where you can you know, make enough to Use your hours at your job, or you know to focus a little bit more on partnerships that you want to, you know, have companies recall your services right things like that, so I really appreciate you sharing that too, because as mom's right, we become new women right, We are not the same person that we were prior to the birth of our child, So while we are different, a lot of our desires still exist, so how do we navigate both of those in gain Tinue, to educate ourselves and empower ourselves on the mom front on the business front, and just trust the time line on all of that.
andrea_ippolito:
Totally. And you think it's going to be one experience before, and no doubt it's going to be different and I think giving ourselves bit of grace to roll with it, and also know that the way society is set up sometimes where we're not given that flexibility. and so I think
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
we need to be the strongest advocate for ourselves and and find a way, Make it work and really roll with it as much as you can. but also you set expectations with yourself that it's okay
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
for to look different and to your priorities to change.
emily_gorrie:
Totally totally, and I think you hit on it right there to. It's like a perfect transition. So you know, from what I saw in your website, there's also part of what you're doing to educate employers right. So there are women who are going back to work after maternity leave. Who are you know? entering a phase of life where there priorities are different than when they went. They were, you know at work prior to the birth of their child, And they feel very much alone in this, or their companies don't Afford them the time that they need to pump or know the location, a safe location to do so, or resources to do so. so I'd love it if you could just talk a little bit about the work that you're doing from an employer perspective on kind of the benefits to them and sharing these resources with their female employes.
andrea_ippolito:
Yeah, absolutely, and I do apologize. If you hear some hammering in the background,
emily_gorrie:
It's
andrea_ippolito:
My
emily_gorrie:
real
andrea_ippolito:
house,
emily_gorrie:
life. I
andrea_ippolito:
real
emily_gorrie:
love
andrea_ippolito:
life.
emily_gorrie:
it. yep.
andrea_ippolito:
You know, one of the things we like to do is work with employers to advocate on behalf of their employes about this resource. that, by the way, within their health plans network, so it's not an extra buy up that they have to make. it's just part of the part of the services that you get is part of that you pay a lot of money for With your Points, you gotta got
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
a lover. But you know often when the the the notion of women in the work for kit spread up, It's the It's talked about as you know what employers should be doing to a common working parents, which I actually think is the right conversation, but I think the part that's missing from the conversation is that it's often framed in a way that feels like philanthropy. Like employs.
emily_gorrie:
M,
andrea_ippolito:
You know, Sh, Do this to support their working parents. And what I like to always say is it's not philanthropy. It's just done good business sets
emily_gorrie:
M,
andrea_ippolito:
that it's actually not a pipe line issue right now with women in the work for we, women are getting more degrees than ever were entering the work for us were almost half the work force, and where we're not thinking creatively and thoughtfully Is for those that want to stay based on our last conversation like it's okay for your situation to change your goals. That is awesome and let's celebrate and actually like, Let's rock on. and for those that want to stay in the work for us, Whether that's working inside the home outside the home,
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
let's find. let's turn transition argument from it being, let's find flexible work opportunities or provide breast feeding support programs or lot of tationrooms. Let's take is not its philanthropy, but for thee, I want to say in the work for E, how do you retain them? Because we know
emily_gorrie:
M,
andrea_ippolito:
that organizations that have women do better. they are more profitable. Employes are more productive. They are better performing organizations. Period, and there has been endless studies on this, so people that say we need more data. The data is very clear that companies and oraizations that have women perform better, So supporting for those that want to stay in the work force, supporting them with flexibility. Maybe that is working remotely. Maybe that is having you know different hours. Maybe that's allowing them to work flexibly. What? Maybe that's
emily_gorrie:
M.
andrea_ippolito:
job share, but allowing them paid parental leave. and by the way, it needs to be both both parents that get paid
emily_gorrie:
Yep.
andrea_ippolito:
parental, Because that's how equity happens and how women don't get left fine for those that want to be in the work force, so we work with Places to help share resources, to help them make that support available, but also to help support that transition so that they can continue to have folks in their work force that want to be there.
emily_gorrie:
Yeah, absolutely, and I think right. There's also a lot of research behind the impact on companies when you do lose an employee right, Just like the financial repercussions and the on boarding that needs to happen to bring somebody on the gap, right, it leans like leads to no other employees having to have coverage and then burn out and I just feel like the impact is like exponential it so to be able to support the women and the dads, too, Who want to stay and be present parents, but also really dedicated employees is so important and I love that you highlighted the kind of need for equitable resources, right for not just for the moms who are physically taxing their bodies to support the life of the new born, but also to give the partners a chance to also have that opportunity to be home with their kids. And Um, it's funny Because I think this deneration are like my generation of moms. are generations of moms are wanting That we want more dedicated partners who have the capacity to be not necessarily home during working hours, but like not burnt out when they get home from working hours, or can be present before the kids go to bed and not expected to you know, Be you know, killing themselves at work, because we can have some sort of equitable partnership and all of this Lot of that is you know, giving the partner a chance to have leave and bond with their kids, but also to give the women a chance to support themselves in this, like physical changes that they're going through and they're not burning themselves out at work to come home and burn themselves out at home, so I just I love that that is also a priority for you and this company.
andrea_ippolito:
And and we just launched, actually a partner class And it's it's for all partners and we also have, like dad's Olften come to us a lot saying. I feel super helpless in this
emily_gorrie:
M.
andrea_ippolito:
and I know that's like separate then what you're talking about, But we believe that both mom and dad are both party partners should be able to take that leave because that's actually how women don't get left behind, and we also know the dads to feel a little bit helpful at this All in the baby feeding arena, so we actually
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
just want this class about to arm them with education and tools. of. Here's how you can be helpful. Whether that's what formula feeding with bottle feeding like you can purchase in that and cleaning the bottles, cleaning the pump parts. Um, if there is combo feeding, if there is pumping, like how, you can be part of those midnight or light night feedings and just
emily_gorrie:
Yes,
andrea_ippolito:
are parents, or if they are fully breast feeding at the breast Like, Hear other things that you can be doing to help support. You know We shouldn't like you have to do this. but in the way like it is nice to bring transparency and also so parents can just Mom's, in particular, can send this to their partner and say, listen to this.
emily_gorrie:
Totally
andrea_ippolito:
But I think it's It's all put on Mom often and and we need to evolve as a society because we're We're equal partners in this arena. You
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
were there pining of this journey with the conte.
emily_gorrie:
yeah, absolutely, and I love that you highlight that because there is right
andrea_ippolito:
So
emily_gorrie:
a part of us who feel like we feel like we shouldn't have to be
andrea_ippolito:
M.
emily_gorrie:
giving direction
andrea_ippolito:
hm,
emily_gorrie:
right. We hold the whole load of what we need. What this baby needs. How the partner can help You know a lot of the time I know. I personally get a level of resentment of like, Why can't you just know this by now or like? can't you just you know, observe and deduce what You need to do? And I think the big piece of that is They don't and that's okay, right, they were not. I mean, it's generational right. This is generationally held these beliefs of the man's role, and we're trying to break a lot of those habits and those belief systems like within this entire systemic you know set up, so I think that the fact that you are taking a lot of that load off of the mom individually as well and providing some resources for the dads to actually say. I know I want to do something. I have no idea what it is I want to do. Let me at least take this class and get some ideas, so it takes a lot of the pressure off of the mom to say I need to make sure I have water. Can you just bring me water? The dads can always be making sure that the water is filled. You know, they can be more empowered themselves to participate in this journey and not wait for direction, because I know for me personally
andrea_ippolito:
Exactly
emily_gorrie:
if I have to give direction all day every day I lose my mind. I like. Could you do some observing and do do something right now? Like that would be great.
andrea_ippolito:
Yeah, I always think it's interesting like I appreciate when Dad say they feel helpless, but it's actually like pretty easy to observe. like Mom. physical mental health is deteriating. Well, let's make sure she's fed. Let's make sure she gets some sleep. Let's
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
let's think about ways it shouldn't take us telling you, and that this notion of Mom always being the default parent, even though we should be equal partners, we shouldn't have to be the default and so
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
rock on with everything. You just Ed
emily_gorrie:
Yeah, and it's so funny because I always remind myself to like just to have a little bit of compassion Like this isn't the way his brain works right, and I won't speculate on the whole you know general population of men, but I imagine he, my husband is not the only one. It's just not how his brain works, and I've grown to love that about him, but I do love that there are ways that your implementing classes and tools for them to then empower themselves To step up, so I don't have to do it, and it just makes things all around a little bit simpler.
andrea_ippolito:
For sure. For sure. I think that's exactly it like it's a. It's a bit of both. It's a bit of empathy and were wire differently and you can do some observation here
emily_gorrie:
Absolutely Absolutely. it's funny too, because I think coming from somebody who's not your wife probably resonates a little bit more to right. if somebody you know educating you in a class and they're like, observes what your wife needs. That sounds a lot more doable than you know when I'm sleep deprived in the corner I'm like, Can't you just and observe what it is I need like. Do you see my water cups empty like? I'm sure the delivery of the Facilitator is a lot more like well received than me as a sleep deprived mom.
andrea_ippolito:
Exactly
emily_gorrie:
Uh,
andrea_ippolito:
hundepern. by the
emily_gorrie:
uh,
andrea_ippolito:
way, like it's a lot of mental energy to figure out how to deliver things thoughtful.
emily_gorrie:
M.
andrea_ippolito:
So if you can just defer and hundepercentegree,
emily_gorrie:
I love that. Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. so I want to, just for the sake of time, I'd love to just talk a little bit about your approach. Moving forward with, you know, working on Simply Fed and Spear, heading this company as the C O, and growing your family. I mean, What does the next now, a couple of months year look like for you personally, And how are you supporting yourself through through this transition period again?
andrea_ippolito:
Yeah, so a big part of supporting myself is asking for help and I think it's important to recognize the privilege that I have in the ability to ask for help, so I just want to say that, but there's this article and I forget what magazines that said that we as women leaders need to share the support systems we have, and while a hundred percent agree with that sentiment again is just like another tax here we are having to share. but I also
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
think important. All that being said, You know how I'm protecting myself Is my kids are in day care and we're making an investment and it's it's annoying investment. In one sense, that doing it alongside of day care full time, take care
emily_gorrie:
M.
andrea_ippolito:
a pair. because with three kiddos, both of us are working full time, and M, and you know that's the decision we've made. It's not ideal. I like to say we're always failing forward, But that's what I felt like we need for our mental health and we're
emily_gorrie:
Yeah,
andrea_ippolito:
gonna see how it goes. And but I think the key is you have to figure out what works for your family and what is your goal. What what is what feels right right now? By the way, that can change and that can
emily_gorrie:
Totally
andrea_ippolito:
change. And you know I know I've heard you talk about this in the past to right your what you're doing now and how it can change, and you have to feel good about what you're doing now And
emily_gorrie:
Yeah.
andrea_ippolito:
give ourself that grace to make decisions. But for me it was finding that that support tribe, and by the way that causes a lot of drama all the other things. But that's what what we're doing now to make it work in this moment.
emily_gorrie:
Yeah. I love that you highlighted that to right the in this moment that's working for you now, and that's the big key, right Like we are only promised that now, right that now is the moment that matters, the ones we can impact the ones that we are living in. So how can we create the right situation for us now without the worry of what that's going to necessarily mean in the future, Right when we get to the present moment, which is The future moment. Right In this current conversation we can make a different choice we can make now a different educated decision based on the new situation that we're in at that given moment. So I love that you highlighted that and I think there's also, and I'll touch on it really just quickly. The piece that you mention, You know there's a lot of opinions right and you're kind of at the risk of other people's opinions, And I just love that you guys are still continuing to make a choice. What's right for you, Your nuclear family, Not what's right for the in laws or the parents or the friends or the other support teams, Or you know, you put them in day care, so you can't also have a pair. Because what's that going to look like? You know, all those things are so many opinions we can get wrapped up in looped up in that. At some point you got to put those aside and do it right for you. So I love that you highlighted that and just shared that sentiment.
andrea_ippolito:
Totally Yeah, and there's a lot of voices eating voices.
emily_gorrie:
Yep,
andrea_ippolito:
Um, and you just have to put yourself first in your mental health first, because you can try to make all these accommodations. But if you're not good with it doesn't matter for your tfamily's health for your kids health. You like to say that there is a safe replacement for breast milk. M. there's no safe replacement for healthy functioning, Mom.
emily_gorrie:
Absolutely,
andrea_ippolito:
And so if you're not there mentally with your decisions, then it's going to make it so much harder and you need to put you first.
emily_gorrie:
Absolutely absolutely, and I just really appreciate you sharing this journey and walking us through your experience and how it simply fed came to be, and the services that it's providing, so I would love if you could just give us a quick rundown of how those listening can engage with the company where they can find you. Um, what's the best way for them to start engaging
andrea_ippolito:
Well, we would love for you to come check out our website. Simply fed dot com. S. I, m p, l, I f d dot com. We tried to be puny with our name. Um, come find us on Instagram at Simply Fed, Baby. You can text us to start getting support covered by Help Plans For free. Um text, Connect to eight, eight, four, five, eight, thirteen, sixty four, M. But come check us out because we love to help support you share with your friends. Because this is a resource that folks should have access to and know about.
emily_gorrie:
Absolutely, And we will make sure that we link all of those in the show notes for this episode. Um, and we'll be sure to promote it out to the audience and those listening, and just those around us. And honestly, I'm probably going to tap into this to the next go around. So love, love, love, thank you so much, Andrea for being here and sharing this with us.
andrea_ippolito:
Thanks so much for having me.