Lactation Consultant

For as far back as I can remember, I loved anything that had to do with babies and children. That’s why I pursued a career as a teacher.  I worked for years with infants, toddlers, and preschool age children.  I then went on to teach first grade. I enjoyed every minute of it, but could not wait to have a baby of my own. When I became pregnant with my first, I knew I wanted to breastfeed him. The reasons I had were it’s healthy for me, my baby, and it’s free. I also knew I didn’t want to give him something processed in a factory.  

Nothing could have prepared me for all the other benefits breastfeeding has. The special closeness and intimacy of breastfeeding made me focus on my baby and being his Mom and that was all that mattered.  I needed him as much as he needed me.  We depended on each other and for me it became much more than giving milk to my baby.  It was part of who I was and how I parent.  I honestly wouldn’t know how to be a Mom with out it.  Before I had my son, I had always thought of it as just a feeding method.  It made me wonder – why didn’t I know this already?  Why didn’t anyone tell me how life-changing this would be or how my heart would melt when my newborn looked up in my eyes while nursing.  It made me want to tell other people about it, to spread the good news so that others could experience this too!  So that’s just what I did.  

I talked about it with my friends and family A LOT and then I started reading and reading and reading! Before long I was unofficially helping friends and family members with their breastfeeding goals.  I went on to have three more beautiful breastfed babies.  During this time, I realized that I had found my passion in life- birthing, breastfeeding, and being a mom.  I always thought I would go back to teaching when my kids were older and who knows, maybe one day I will, but my babies inspired me to do something else.  So I went back to school and worked as a part time lactation intern.  Once I had enough clinical hours, I sat for the IBCLC exam and here I am today ready to help moms, babies, and families fall in love with breastfeeding too!  I love that my children taught me something about myself I never knew was there.