We are so thrilled to introduce you to our newest lactation consultant at SDBFC! Meghan joined us on November 18th and started seeing her own clients on January 12th! Here is our interview with Meghan We can't wait for you all to meet her!
meghan, tell us about yourself!
I would describe myself as a fun-loving, hard-working, family-centered daughter, sister, wife, friend, and lactation consultant. My friends and family would describe me as a positive, outgoing, grounded, and dedicated person. I was born and raised in Northern California and vacationed in San Diego as a child. When it came to college, I chose San Diego to call my new home and I have been here ever since. I moved around the county from College Area to Pacific Beach, East Village to University City, Carmel Valley to Carlsbad, and I have enjoyed many outdoor activities that San Diego has to offer. When I am not working, you can find me with a book on the beach or at a park, walking local trails or hiking, celebrating birthdays and weddings, or visiting family. I am an expert party-planner, power-napper, travel companion, and manifester. I am proud to call San Diego home, where watching the tide roll in and out creates instant inner peace for me.
What inspired you to become a lactation consultant?
In 2016, I was laid off from my first job out of college. I was working in advertising for a creative agency and formed great relationships with my coworkers, but I was lacking purpose in my day-to-day work. A month of unemployment turned into a month of reflection and personal development. I began a meditation practice and found it extremely helpful in gaining clarity around my priorities. I felt called to finding a career involving families and babies. Fast forward to 2020, after returning to the creative services world for another several years, staying open for life to unfold, I was introduced to the field of lactation consulting through an article about the benefits of breastmilk on the infant gut. The article lit a spark within me and further reading and conversations snowballed until I found myself on the path of transitioning my career. After completing pre-requisite college courses, I began full-time lactation education and training and embraced my new career with deep passion to support chest/breastfeeding parents and their partners to provide human milk to their babies and impact societal health from infancy.
What are you most excited about working for the SDBFC?
I am delighted to be a member of the San Diego Breastfeeding Center and honored to work alongside Robin Kaplan, and the entire team of skilled consultants. I am grateful for the continued education that SDBFC provides for our team to stay up to date on the latest research in the field and to bring expanded knowledge to our clients, such as plant medicine for milk supply and postpartum support. Behind the scenes of SDBFC is a team of passionate consultants working together to bring the best support possible to the families in our care.
I am looking forward to serving families in my local community and surrounding areas in North County with home visits. I have heard from many mothers how having a consultant come to their home creates ease and comfort. They’ve shared that it increases their confidence after having their questions answered, their baby’s weight and milk transfer assessed, and having an action plan to move forward with. I’m excited to be an integral part of that journey and continue to support and work through chest/breastfeeding challenges.
What are your top 3 tips for a brand new chest/breastfeeding parent?
There are three things to keep top-of-mind for a new chest/breastfeeding parent.
Your why. If you have chosen to chest/breastfeed, what were the reasons why? Maybe it was something your doctor said, or your sister-in-law told you, like how breastmilk protects babies from infection and disease. What have you discovered that cemented your desire to chest/breastfeed? What fun facts get you excited about breastmilk?
Your resources. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a baby, so it is helpful to identify your inner circle of support. Who will be your cheerleader, your helper with laundry and meals, your listening ear? If feeding challenges arise, what providers can you lean on for chest/breastfeeding support? Along with identifying your people resources, having prenatal education resources can play a significant role in the first few days and weeks of lactation. Aiming for skin-to-skin time and frequent nipple stimulation in the early days will lay the foundation for long-term lactation.
Yourself! In the first few months, you and your partner may feel like you are in survival mode. What supportive practices have you leaned on in past challenging times? What affirmations would you say to your best friend, and can you say those to yourself? That could sound like, you’ve got this. You are the best mom for this baby. Tomorrow is a new day. You are doing a great job. Check in and give yourself some big loving because a healthy mom is of utmost importance.