Why I Became a Lactation Counselor

One of the first questions I hear from moms is, "Why did you become a lactation counselor?"

My answer is always the same: because of my own breastfeeding journey.

My son was a NICU baby. Although he was born full-term, an emergency C-section brought him into the world under difficult circumstances. He was born not breathing and spent his first five days in the NICU. During that time, he received every drop of colostrum I could produce, along with formula supplementation.

What I didn't know then was that many mothers who deliver by C-section experience a delay in milk production. Determined to establish my supply, I pumped around the clock—setting alarms every three hours, day and night, and pumping for 20 minutes at a time.

The challenges didn't stop when we came home.

For the first six months, my son could not latch without a nipple shield. That tiny piece of silicone became both a lifeline and a source of constant stress. If it was misplaced, wrapped in a blanket, or forgotten in another room, feeding suddenly became impossible. I remember crying and wondering why something that seemed so natural felt so hard.

Along the way, I faced painful latch issues, Raynaud's syndrome, mastitis, exhaustion, and countless moments of self-doubt. More than once, I found myself saying, "I don't think I can do this one more day."

But somehow, one day at a time, we kept going.

We breastfed until he was 27 months old. The struggles that once felt overwhelming eventually became a distant memory, and our breastfeeding journey turned into one of the most rewarding experiences of motherhood. Today, breastfeeding is long behind us, and he is a happy, healthy 5-year-old who keeps me on my toes every day.

That journey taught me something important: no mother should feel alone, unsupported, or inadequate when facing feeding challenges. Every mother deserves compassionate, knowledgeable support that is accessible, affordable, and easy to find.

As an educator for 18 years, helping others has always been at the heart of who I am. Becoming a Certified Lactation Counselor allowed me to combine my passion for teaching with my personal experience as a breastfeeding mother. It is truly an honor to support families through one of the most important and vulnerable seasons of their lives.

Whether your journey is just beginning or you're facing unexpected challenges, I am here to help you feel informed, confident, and empowered every step of the way.