We are so thrilled to introduce you to our newest lactation consultant (pending) at SDBFC! Heather joined us on November 18th and started seeing her own clients on December 27th! Here is our interview with Heather. We can't wait for you all to meet her!
Heather, tell us about yourself!
I'm originally from upstate New York. After meeting my husband in 2004 I married into Navy life. We moved around the country quite a bit and have lived in Philadelphia, Central Pennsylvania, Northern Virginia, Virginia Beach, Monterey, and Memphis. In 2019 we moved to San Diego and it immediately became home. I have three sons who keep me very busy. But, I also love to paddleboard, sew clothing, knit all the things, read fiction, watch movies with my family, go to baseball games, and walk my dog on the beach.
What inspired you to become a lactation consultant?
I felt disempowered and out of touch with my body after a traumatic birth experience with my first son. In many ways I felt my body had failed me because the birth hadn't turned out how I had expected. I immediately turned my focus to the breastfeeding relationship and put a lot of energy into working through my initial difficulties. Breastfeeding helped me restore my faith in my body and bond with my son after birth trauma. With my next son I had a home birth attended by an amazing midwife, which really completed my healing. For me these experiences underscored the importance of a great support system and how healthcare providers can make a huge difference in parents' experience during the perinatal period. After becoming a parent I spent a lot of my free time connecting with and supporting other parents, both casually and in support groups, and learning as much as I could about birth and lactation.
What are you most excited about working for the SDBFC?
I am so grateful to work alongside and learn from the incredibly talented IBCLCs at SDBFC. It is so exciting to join a team that provides the kind of compassionate, inclusive, and quality care that makes a positive impact on so many families in our community.
What are your top 3 tips for a brand new chest/breastfeeding parent?
1Take a chest/breastfeeding class while you or your partner is still pregnant or schedule a prenatal lactation consultation. It is so helpful to learn the basics of good positioning and latch before giving birth. Getting this information early on helps set realistic expectations about what your first few days and weeks with your baby will be like. Bring your partner or major support person! It is important that partners and major support people also learn chest/breastfeeding basics and understand how they can be helpful and supportive when you are chest/breastfeeding.
2. Identify your personal support team and cheerleaders. Meeting your chest/breastfeeding goals can be impacted by the support you get, or don't get, from your partner, family, social circle, and healthcare providers. Keep your cheerleaders close and set loving boundaries with well-meaning folks who may not understand or support your goals. Choose OBGYNs, midwives, pediatricians, and lactation consultants who respect your choices and make you feel heard and supported.
3. Be prepared to be flexible. Sometimes we get very attached to how we think things "should" be. It is wonderful when things work exactly how we hoped. But, if you hit a bump in the road you can still have a positive feeding relationship with your baby. Work with your lactation consultant to explore all of your options and choose the one that feels best for you and your family.