Today we’d like to introduce you to Nichole Lester
Hi Nichole, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I came up with the idea for The Baby Suite back in 2015 after having my daughter born still at 24 weeks Valentine’s day of 2012. During my pregnancy I did not have access to any care. My husband lost his job right around the time we found out I was pregnant. I tried for weeks to get insurance just to get prenatal care but it was too expensive, I made too much for free or reduced care and the insurance companies rejected me because pregnancy is a pre-existing condition. I also knew I was high risk after having my sons in 2008 and 2010. So my husband took a job right away just to get benefits so I could see the doctor.
When we finally had insurance I was worried a few weeks prior because I felt a decrease in the baby’s movement. We were so happy to finally get in for an ultrasound and see what we were having, how big the baby was and to see and hear the heart beat. All those happy moments we experienced before with our two sons. Unfortunately when the doctor did the ultrasound there was no heart beat. I was in complete shock to the point where I could not even cry. My appointment was on a Friday and they had no doctors available for my “situation” until Monday so I had to go home and wait. I delivered my baby girl asleep after 26 hours of labor 3am Valentine’s Day.
We tried to get pregnant multiple times afterwards going through 2 miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy and 6 rounds of IVF cycles with the last round in 2022 resulting in a chemical pregnancy. I started having other issues from the IVF treatment and other multiple other surgeries that my doctor suggested the only way I could feel like myself again and be healthy was to have a hysterectomy. I scheduled the surgery which landed on the exact same date 11 years after I lost my baby girl.
I wanted to create a way for women to see their baby whenever they want, something that I did not get to experience with my baby girl before she passed. Women should have the option to see their baby on their own terms and not to be dictated by an insurance company. There are so many women in worry in between appointments that adds unneeded stress during their pregnancy. It also helps them share the happiest moments of their life that they may never have again with whom ever they want.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been smooth. I tried to start school and start the business while living in NJ but my sons and everyone else always came first. My sons both played for the NY Red Bulls Academy which was over an hour away from where we lived and they travel domestic and internationally. They would have training in the mornings school in the afternoon and training again at night. I would work in the car at the training facility or anywhere with Wifi it just was not possible from me to do anything else. Both of my sons were signed to FC Cincinnati’s Academy so we sold our house and moved close to the training facility where it has freed up so much time for me to focus back on what I was passionate about.
The real struggle for me was getting over the thought of sharing my business idea for The Baby Suite and actually opening up to have people interested. It’s such a small niche that I was afraid of people thinking it was weird to have an at home ultrasound or going anywhere else except for their doctor’s office. Even though I spoke with all different women at all stages of their life and they all said that it’s an incredible idea, I still struggled with being confident to open.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At The Baby Suite, we wholeheartedly believe in providing our services to everyone, regardless of their background. We are motivated and committed to creating memorable bonding experiences during pregnancy, surrounded by family and friends as well as those moments you need alone. We strive to ensure that everyone is at ease and are comfortable every step of the way, allowing them to cherish this special time and celebrate their huge milestone how they want to.
All of us here at The Baby Suite understand the journey of motherhood because our team comprises of women who have experienced pregnancy. Our passion drives us to provide empowerment to all women, offering elective ultrasound scans and early gender testing on their own terms. Even though we offer our services for entertainment purposes we feel that with the advancements in safe technology, every expecting mother should have the choice to prioritize her feelings of when she can check in on her baby without being dictated by insurance companies, simply for her own peace of mind.
We are very proud to be the first mobile non-diagnostic elective ultrasound provider in the Cincinnati Ohio area. We are also very excited to grow into a permanent boutique location in downtown Cincinnati while still offering at home services.
The Baby Suite offers several types of appointments to see and hear your baby’s heartbeat, to check on them anytime, as well as gender reveal scans and early gender testing. We also take it a step further and provide full event planning services for your pregnancy or gender reveal and baby shower.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My Husband Glennis and my sons Jaylen and Dominick are my core motivation for starting the journey with The Baby Suite. They encouraged me to go with my gut and to be confident. They also convinced me to go back to school at Cincinnati State for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. I asked my boys if they were embarrassed of me going back to college after almost 20 years and they said absolutely not. My oldest son actually said he can give me a ride to school and tell me to make good choices now!
I have my best friend Natasha of many many years, that is basically my nonbiological sister. She motivates me and gives me the confidence to stop talking about it, put in the work and make moves! She’s been with me through every milestone of my life and knows me better than anyone. I’ve learned so much from her not only from a business standpoint but life in general. She inspires me by all the hard work she puts in to what she does that I have so much respect of her opinions and feedback and own a huge part of why I’m now in business to her.
Through Natasha I’ve also gained a mutual friend Perdita over the years and she has also taught me so many things and given me confidence to start my business, do something different and to be a better version of myself. She is the biggest cheerleader that anyone could ask for. Between her and Natasha I don’t know how I became so lucky to have a girl gang that lifts each other up consistently.
My family has also helped me by getting the portable ultrasound machine and supplies to start appointments but, my sister Danielle has had the biggest impact in my decision to start The Baby Suite and go back to school. She always puts things into perspective for me, she is balanced, practical and she’s such a positive voice of reasoning at all the right moments when I needed. She is there to remind me I CAN… I’ve always had self doubts about but she is always there to tell me it’s going to be ok, you can do it!
There’s so many other people that have encouraged and inspired me along the way from the new group of girlfriends at The Beauty Bar in Milford that help me look fabulous to many other women that I’ve spoken with in passing and asked hey do you think this would be something you wished was around or something you would do when you’re pregnant and they all said yes. They gave me the huge last important push to open and I’m so grateful for them all.
Pricing:
- Early Gender Testing $95
- Heartbeats $45
- A Peek for Peace $65
- Gender Confirmation $95
- Gender Reveal Celebration (Price Varies)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.the-baby-suite.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.baby.suite/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the.baby.suite21
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.ca/biz/the-baby-suite-cincinnati
