We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenny Morrow, RN, IBCLC, LCCE, RYT and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jenny, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The idea for Unique Footprints was born in the delivery room
I have a background as a neonatal nurse and perinatal educator (helping families prepare for the transition into parenthood). While attending deliveries and helping with neonatal resuscitation, I soon realized that most families are not prepared for anything other than a healthy outcome but what about the unexpected caesarean delivery, the baby needing to go to the neonatal intensive care unit or the mom returning to work with low milk supply and has no idea how to pump or what that even looks like. Even if everything goes to plan, there is always a learning curve and it’s just overwhelming.
I wanted to create a resource that could truly improve birth outcomes, help mothers have a smooth, positive transition into motherhood and just make life a little easier for families.
And to be honest, this came through prayer and the families that allowed me to witness tiny glimpses into the most memorable moments in their lives.
This dream then came to life through hours of research, business planning and working overtime to put every dollar into a program (that some people thought was crazy) – as a way to help humanity. And after 4 years of creating evidence-based content in a beautiful and non-clinical way with the UF team of experts (who are mom clinicians who’ve been there) – both my baby (Jane Morrow) and Unique Footprints was born.
Behind the name: Unique Footprints. In the delivery room I helped with inking the footprints – knowing how special this moment and memory can be, I always wanted to make sure the footprints looked perfect – oh those precious feet but almost always the baby would unexpectedly kick – it amazed me how perfectly imperfect it always turned out. But every family loved them and would comment on the differing lines within the prints.
At Unique Footprints we honor that every newborn’s footprints are unique and every pregnancy journey is equally unique.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Coming up with the idea is easy, however, executing a dream to life while not giving up when others don’t understand your vision can be hard. It’s not glamourous and everyone only sees the outcome – which looks good. The reality is that Unique Footprints is a dream come true only because of the countless hours over the last 5 years while funneling every penny I made from my hospital nursing job into the program.
Would I change a thing – NO!
Unique Footprints exists today because of the dream to help families – it’s a supportive resource, 100% online and self-paced, unlike anything out there and truly fills the gap expectant and new parents are faced with today.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’d spend most of our time at home cooking, playing with our kiddos and enjoying nature. We’d wake up before the kids to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, practice yoga and catch up, just us two. The men would go play golf and the ladies would visit the Dallas Arboretum and soak up the beauty from the botanical gardens. We’d go for long walks around our neighborhood, with kids in strollers and on our backs. Then cookout on our patio under twinkle lights while the kids play in the dirt. At the end of the day, we finish our evening routine and tuck the kids in bed saying the Lords prayer and listing what we’re grateful for. Then the adults would hangout and enjoy a glass of wine under the stars or lounging in the living room. Our lives are really quite simple but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
NOTE: The reality – My husband and I work extremely hard on our businesses every day but when around our daughter and others we try to be present in the moment as often as possible. Before my daughter wakes up, during naps and after she goes to bed – this is work time.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to do a SHOUT OUT to the entire Unique Footprints team that has put in so many hours towards this passion project and the families we serve. TOGETHER we’re able to have a meaningful impact by helping families prepare for this time in their lives.
The main goal from day #1 when I started Unique Footprints has always been to help families, to help our amazing team and to be a vessel of support. We have a great group of 19 women on the Unique Footprints team. We are moms, female entrepreneurs and support one another!
Chelsey Charbeneau, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, YACEP (Yoga Therapist)
Caroline Susie, RD/LD (Dietitian)
Katharine Ottone, M.Ed., LPC (Counselor)
Lauren Margolies, E-RYT 200 (Yoga Practitioner)
Stephanie Morrow, MSN, RN, CPN (Nurse)
Mary Cantwell, CSC (Sleep Consultant)
Jennifer Todd-Barnard, OT (Pediatric Occupational Therapist)
Katie Sardone, PhD (Psychologist and Certified Maternal Mental Health Expert for prenatal/postnatal)
Anna Thomas, MA, PhD (Psychologist who provides couples’ therapy)
Priscilla Rogers – Fahy, PsyD (Psychologist who provides couples’ therapy)
Samantha Siegel, M.S., M.Ed. (Counselor and group support services)
Aysha Najjab, PhD (Couple and group therapist)
Margaret Vadiee, MA, PhD (Therapist for children, adolescents and adults)
Neeti Prasad, M.Ed. (Counselor and Child Development Teacher)
Claire Burnett, E-RYT 200 (Postnatal Yoga Instructor)
Elizabeth Rohe, BSN, RN, IFMCP (Nurse/Functional Medicine Practitioner)
Website: https://uniquefootprints.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquefootprintsrns/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UniqueFootprintsRNs
Image Credits
Unique Footprints photography by BFaith Photography