Fargo Mom BLOOM Event for New & Expecting Moms | 2022 Recap

We were so thrilled to bring the 2nd Annual Bloom event for new and expecting moms back for 2022!

About Bloom: BLOOM was an event for new and expecting moms in the Fargo-Moorhead area held on April 23, 2022 at the Sanctuary Events Center. We welcomed moms at all stages of early motherhood to our event where we learned from 2 expert panels, shopped, ate, and enjoyed a morning out together! And everyone took home a swag bag full of goodies, a diaper bag from Enfamil, and so much knowledge. 

Note: All professional images below credited to Karly Schefter Photography. 

Our Fargo Mom Bloom event would not be possible without our amazing sponsors! Special thanks to Beyond Boundaries Therapy Services and Dandy Lion Cuts for Kids for being the Presenting Sponsors of our 2022 event and helping bring all these amazing resources to our Bloom moms!

Genuine. Experienced. Welcoming. Caring. Compassionate.  

While there are many other service providers in our area, Beyond Boundaries Therapy Services has proudly served our community for over 15 years. With their stellar leadership and dedicated therapists, their team is ready to go beyond the boundaries to serve your family. They offer occupational, speech-language, and physical therapy along with 20+ specialty areas (including sleep and lactation!).

Whether therapy services take place at one of their two clinic locations, at your home, at your child’s daycare, or yes, even on a bus (their mobile therapy unit!), they are here for you! Beyond Boundaries offer free screens, and they can’t wait to hear from you! 

Dandy Lion Cuts is the only local salon that is JUST for kids! From Playtime + Haircut and Sensory Sensitive Cuts for kids that need a little time, to Teen Cuts, Detangling, Updos, and Lice Checks, Dandy Lion Cuts serves all kids and their unique needs! Their team strives daily to provide a safe space of no judgement, self-expression, and love for every family regardless of background or makeup.

Apex Physical Therapy & Wellness Center is here for all your postpartum physical health concerns! Our highly trained Women’s Health therapists treat Diastasis Recti closure, pelvic pain, incontinence, c-section management, prolapsed uterus, digestive issues, and many other aches and pains associated with pregnancy and postpartum. 

Annie, owner of Zen Sleep Consulting, is an Occupational Therapist, Certified Infant Massage Instructor, Certified Reiki Practitioner, and Certified Sleep Consultant. As a sleep expert, it is her mission to help people of all ages feel calm (or Zen, if you will) and confident in their ability to sleep through the night. She is extremely passionate about pediatric sleep as it is a crucial component in pediatric brain development. 

Thanks to Zen Sleep Consulting, all participants had access to our coffee bar where Thunder Coffee served a special “Zen Mama Latte,” brewed coffee, and other non-caffeinated options. 

Whether you’re starting out with formula, supplementing or switching, Enfamil is here to answer your questions and support you in feeding your baby. With a complete family of brain-building formulas to fuel the wonder of your little one, from everyday nutrition to specialty formulas. Their formulas are backed by decades of research, so whether you’re starting your baby on formula, switching, or supplementing, you can count on Enfamil.

Thanks to Enfamil, our moms enjoyed a cinnamon roll, fruit, and lots of great product samples right at their seat. 

At Vance Thompson Vision, their vision is to offer “Best on Earth” vision care for every patient. They invest in the latest technology innovations, leading cutting-edge vision research studies, and train and hire the most experienced and proven surgeons and staff in all of eye care. They strive to offer a customized patient experience – from their excellence in technology, research, and surgical results and commitment to patient education, listening, and fully customized treatment plans for every patient.

Vance Thompson Vision provided a fun PHOTO BOOTH for attendees to capture some fun memories in! 

Blooming Baby HD Ultrasound is the only ultrasound studio in the area to offer the new Samsung HD Live Ultrasound. Our 3D, 4D, & HD ultrasound packages are affordable for all expecting parents, and can provide you with timeless videos and photos as keepsakes of your baby.

They offer the most advanced 3D/4D & HD ultrasound image quality available so that you have the opportunity to bond with your baby at every stage of prenatal life. At Blooming Baby HD Ultrasound you are able to watch how they bring phenomenal images of your baby to life!

Find what you love – do what you love with Indigo Bloom Yoga & Wellness. Their primary classes include Bikram, Vinyasa, and Sculpt & Shred practices. Others will be offered along with wellness events such as sound baths, meditation, essential oils, and more. 

Jessica with Indigo Bloom led us in a short meditation and chair yoga practice before our panels started.  

A College SAVE plan from Bank of North Dakota makes it easy and affordable to plan ahead for higher education at colleges and universities, technical and community colleges, trade schools and many other post-secondary education programs in or out of state. Investing in a College SAVE account helps parents plan ahead to cut student loan debt and offers state and federal tax-deferred growth in the account. 

You can open an account with just $25, and can get a head start on your savings with various College SAVE match programs, including:

• New Baby Match, a program that seeks to give $200 to every North Dakota newborn.
• Kindergarten Kickoff Match, a program offering to match up to a $100 account contribution for North Dakotans with kindergarten-age children
• BND Match, a program which offers up to $300 for North Dakota residents

Thanks to these great expert providers, we hosted 2 panels: one focused on baby and child health and one focused on mom health and wellness. We solicited questions ahead of time from our attendees, and had time for our moms to ask questions in person as well. It was such a great conversation with real-life questions and topics answered!

Valerie Stevenson, Occupational Therapist at Beyond Boundaries

Valerie grew up in rural North Dakota. She found her interest in therapy as she helped her aunt’s daycare and she had several children who she did “therapy” with. Valerie learned about walkers and braces and stretches and really cute smiles!  Valerie attended the University of Mary where she earned her in Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy. She continues to invest numerous hours to continuing her education in the areas of Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) certification, autism training, Level 1 Hippotherapy Certified, trust based relationship intervention (TBRI), and sensory processing disorders.  When she’s not practicing therapy, Valerie keeps up with the joys of raising 4 kids, she loves cooking, walking, and being outside. Other areas of interest include children and adoption.  

Jill Suppes, Speech-Language Pathologist at Beyond Boundaries

Jill received her Master of Science degree from St. Cloud State University in 1996. She previously worked in Fargo Public Schools before joining the Beyond Boundaries team in 2008. Jill brings a wealth of experience to her sessions, valuing the importance of client and family interaction. She is qualified to work with individuals of all ages across any speech and language disorder. Jill was also instrumental in setting up the preschool program at Beyond Boundaries, Go Beyond Preschool. She has a special place in her heart for preschoolers.

Jill Ehrmantraut, Apex Physical Therapy & Wellness

Jill is a Board-Certified Women’s Health Clinical Specialist (WCS) at Apex Physical Therapy & Wellness with advanced training in pelvic rehabilitation for females, males and children. Jill graduated with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2010. She has years of experience and advanced training in treating pregnancy related issues such as pain, urinary incontinence, and constipation. She is also trained in post-partum care for diagnoses such as urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and pain-related dysfunction. She is also certified in Pelvic Floor dry needling.  Jill has given various presentations educating other practitioners and the public on women’s health issues. She has had work published in the Section of Women’s Health journal as well as through various other outlets.

Annie Schlecht, Zen Sleep Consulting

Annie, owner of Zen Sleep Consulting, is an Occupational Therapist, Certified Infant Massage Instructor, Certified Reiki Practitioner, and Certified Sleep Consultant. As a sleep expert, it is her mission to help people of all ages feel calm (or Zen, if you will) and confident in their ability to sleep through the night. She is extremely passionate about pediatric sleep as it is a crucial component in pediatric brain development. 

Natalie Reiter, MEd, LPC/LPCC, CCS, PMH-C, & Owner of Prarieland Counseling

Natalie started counseling in 2009 and owns Prairieland Counseling Services. She specializes in reproductive mental health which includes peri-natal, post-partum, infertility, infant loss, paternal mental health, and the impact on couples. Her work as a child birth educator and mother of two children sparked her passion to work with reproductive mental health. She has specialized training and am certified in perinatal and postpartum mental health from Postpartum Support International. Natalie works with adults and couples, is licensed in North Dakota and Minnesota, and is board certified in Telehealth. 

Jackie Klefsaas, Birth & Postpartum Doula & Certified Breastfeeding Specialist

As a Birth & Postpartum Doula & Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, Jackie helps moms reclaim joy in infant feeding by supporting you through all feeding options from formula, chest feeding, pumping and bottle feeding. Jackie Klefsaas lights up when she gets to help women in their postpartum journey to feel nourished as they nurture their new baby. Jackie became a postpartum doula in August 2020 and Certified Breastfeeding Specialist in March 2021 as well as working to become an IBCLC. Jackie has a Masters of Education and Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Spanish.

Tara Brandner, Fertility Coach

Hi! I’m Tara Brandner, a nurse practitioner and infertility “warrior” turned full-time fertility coach. I’ve spent the past decade pursuing nursing including a master’s and doctorate degree. Like you, I endured a long road through infertility followed by infertility treatments and a traumatic pregnancy. I sought professional and medical intervention from two fertility clinics as my medical mind was spinning and led me to google and social media for answers.

After experiencing a long road through infertility, I decided I wanted to help couples in their journey to grow their family. I chose to change paths to provide a full suite of coaching services and support for those struggling to build their family. I am certified through the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), a natural family planner with the Marquette Method and a Certified Hormone Puzzle Fertility Coach.

Melissa Smith, Simply Well with Melissa

Melissa is a holistic nutritionist and herbalist specializing in optimizing women’s health, and owner of Simply Well with Melissa. With an emphasis on supporting women during pregnancy she is also a childbirth educator, doula and Certified Lactation Consultant.  Combining all of these modalities she takes a whole-istic view of how a woman’s body is functioning during pregnancy and works with mom to support her health and health of baby with healthy whole foods.  

Jessica Kuhn, DNP, CPNP

Jessica Kuhn, DNP, CPNP, is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner and provides primary care to children and adolescents from birth to age 21. She specializes in ADHD, depression, behavioral health, and mental health. She also has a special interest in children with special healthcare needs and neonatal care.

The team at ima Kids Care are board-certified pediatric providers and offer a wide range of pediatric care including wellness exams, immunizations, wound closure and circumcision, sports and camp physicals, developmental screenings, and adolescent gynecology, as well as mental and behavioral healthcare.

Dr. Jenny Heidt, Pinnacle Chiropractic and Rehab

Dr. Jenny is fully dedicated to providing chiropractic solutions to address your unique needs during and after pregnancy, whether you are experiencing back pain, neck pain, headaches, or even muscular tightness and tension. She has received training from some of the top chiropractors in their profession in chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapies, and rehab. 

Thanks to these fabulous vendors, our Bloom moms got to sip their coffee and shop for some fun items for themselves and baby. 

Each Bloom attendee received a swag bag filled with products, samples, and goodies from our sponsors and local and national businesses. 

We can’t wait to host again next year!

Interested in sponsoring our annual Bloom event? Contact [email protected]!