Folks we Love with Breighl Robbins | founder and CEO of Ebi
Photo by Victoria Pietri @mymotherhoodstory
Breighl Robbins is the CEO and Founder of a Ebi, a plant-based and eco-conscious postpartum care company that supports mothers holistically. As I researched Ebi, my first impression was instantaneous peace and calm. With Breighl’s background in public health, she has created a company that addresses the physical, mental and emotional aspects of the postpartum period with products like underwear, nipple pads, teas, and baths that are mindfully sourced. This postpartum road isn’t the same for everyone, and it is absolutely the most vulnerable time of a woman’s life. I always encourage new moms to really make sure that they are being taken care of by family or friends (or hiring someone if they can afford to do so) so that they can take care of their new baby without having to also worry about the cooking, cleaning, and all the normal life maintenance that takes up a massive amount of time. Your body needs to recover, your baby needs you, and you need to SLOW DOWN. It is such an overwhelming time of adjustment and much needed-nourishment. We all need that support and I love that Breighl at Ebi has created an entire company to beautifully tailor to that end. Thank you, Breighl.
interview by Kacy Byxbee, editor, Your Zen Mama
Where are you from?
Boston by way of Texas
Who is in your family, and how old are your kiddos?
Me, my husband, my daughter Phyllis (3), and our cava-poo Atwood!
Occupation?
CEO and Founder of Ebi. Ebi is a plant-based postpartum care company that supports you in having a holistic postpartum experience.
How did Ebi come to be?
Everything kind of unfolded naturally. My background is in public health, and postpartum is a very overlooked area of public health. Wellness has always been a passion of mine, I ran a wellness center in one of the major hospitals in Boston for a while, and am a big proponent of plant-based living. I needed something that was just for me post-pregnancy and there wasn't a go-to option with high quality, effective offerings that addressed all of the needs of new moms. Ebi addresses the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of postpartum. Addressing these needs is recognized as essential in many countries around the world, but it's still not very huge in our culture. Ebi makes a holistic postpartum experience accessible to all moms.
Can you talk about the Environmental Consciousness you guys practice as a business?
It's a major value of my company. We've reduced our carbon footprint by sourcing and producing locally. The majority of our plant-based ingredients come from family-owned farms in the Northeast, including a 3rd generation woman-owned farm in the Berkshires. The sea salt in our bath is sourced from a woman-owned saltern off of Martha's Vineyard. Our underwear and nipple pads are made in NYC using USA grown and milled organic cotton. The underwear also have a compression band made from Repreve, an eco-friendly fabric made from recycled bottles. We use glass bottles and organic cotton drawstring bags for packaging. Even our packing peanuts are water dissolvable.
What did a typical day look like for you pre COVID? What does it look like now?
Visting our regional farming partners, traveling to NYC to meet with our designers and production team, and lots of in-person meetings. That's in addition to raising my 3 yeard old. Now, I'm doing my best to stay connected with partners and customers, but my real focus has been on family. It's been a blessing to have all of this family time so we're soaking up every moment.
What tips do you have for staying healthy during this pandemic?
Health starts in the mind so keep your mind healthy by doing some sort of spiritual practice; prayer, meditation, breathwork etc. Minimize snacking and looking at the news excessively (psychological junk food). Try to move your body every day. I've been doing Melissa Wood Health classes online and they've made a huge difference. Call your friends and family!
What kinds of challenges has COVID presented your business?
Ebi launched at the very tail end of 2019, so we haven't been able to build on the momentum we've built in a very short amount of time. I'm seeing it as an opportunity to slow down and refocus on why Ebi was created in the first place: to help all moms have the healthy and holistic postpartum experiences they deserve. This feeling like you have to always be rushing and progressing, is self-imposed, and I'm using this time as an opportunity to free myself from that kind of thinking.
How are you balancing work with homeschooling and all the other realities in this new normal we find ourselves in?
Balance is impossible on a normal day so we're taking a day at a time. My partner and I are doing our best to be there for each other, and support one another in the ways we need to be on any given day. It's not easy, but we have so many things to be grateful for. I think the key is focusing on the positives.
What is your favorite thing to do as a family?
Beach walks
What are you reading?
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
What are you watching right now?
We just finished the third season of Ozark!
Where do you feel most inspired?
At home.
How do you manage stress?
Prayer, listening to spiritual teachings that touch the heart, exercise, and getting enough sleep.
How is self-care playing out for you right now?
Moving my body daily, eating a plant-based diet, and sleeping at least 7 hours every night.
What's the most important thing you've learned?
The relationship you have with yourself is the most important one you'll have. Make sure it's a good one.
What are 4 things you can't live without?
Prayer
Family
Oat Milk
Evan Healy skincare products