What is Lactation Counseling and WHY??

I never really thought about it until I had my first daughter. Learning to breastfeed is one of the hardest things I've done. There was pain, bleeding, me kicking things through the latch until she was comfortable. Often in the night we would have a hard time, both of us in tear because she couldn't latch and I didn't know why.

She was born by c-section because she was breech. Good thing we scheduled it, because we wouldn't have made it through labor anyway. I was worried I wouldn't get my milk in properly because of the surgery. As it turns out I didn't have to worry about anything because I had such an abundant supply I probably could have fed all of Rhode Island.

What I didn't realize until it was too late, was that I had such a big supply and forceful letdown (when the milk comes in at the beginning of the feeding session) that she just couldn't latch on and keep up with what was coming out. I learned that I needed to hand express or pump just enough to make the breast soft and the milk flowing not spraying like a hose.

When I had my second daughter, I was like "I got this"! I still had a Lactation Consultant come out and evaluate her latch, just in case. Lucky for me she was super impressed with the amount she took in despite just eating 20 minutes prior lol. We fixed her latch on one side and good to go.

I began looking into breastfeeding more and more to help other mothers find resources. When my youngest was a year old we were in Ireland visiting family. Talking to my SIL's friend, I encouraged her to get trained as a lactation consultant or at least a peer group because she would be amazing at it. It dawned on me that I was telling her to do this, when I really wanted to. I hadn't realized it until that conversation, but I knew right then that my new path would be there. So I went home, did some research and talked to my husband. I found a group called Healthy Children's Project: Center for Breastfeeding. I received my training and became a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC).

I have spent the last year completing the work required to complete the requirements to take my education further to become an internationally board certified Lactation Consultant.

For most of that year I was working full time, taking care of my two babies and then started growing a human. I left my FT job in June to FINALLY start my dream as a practicing Licensed Massage Therapist and Lactation Counselor. It hasn't been easy getting started, but I'm plugging away and won't quit. I'm looking forward to

my continued journey!