about the lactation consultant

My Background

It took me some time to figure out exactly how my love for babies and their families would manifest as a career, supporting the bond and love between parents and their children has always been a passion of mine. After graduating college with a degree in social work, I went straight on to nursing school. Right after nursing school I worked on the oncology floor at Jefferson hospital where I honed my clinical assessment skills, supported families in intense times of transition and grew in my confidence as a health care provider.

In 2012, I gave birth to my first child. Becoming a mom was a big adjustment for me, from being active and always on the go, I had to learn to slow down and let go. I was surprised by how much support and learning it took to feel at ease nursing a child and growing into being a parent. Three short months of maternity leave passed, and I returned to my work in the hospital.

After a year and a half of learning to be a breastfeeding/pumping mom, working outside the house, and all that this juggle entails, I was ready to get back to where my passion was, supporting parents and babies. In 2014 I started working (and still work today) as maternal child nurse home visitor for the Nurse Family Partnership, an organization that had caught my heart when I first heard about it in nursing school. My role supporting first time families from pregnancy through the child’s second birthday allowed me to become intimately involved in each family’s struggles and joys, learning to follow their dreams of being the best parents they could be, while overcoming their own past and current struggles. This work further exposed and grew my passion for the multifaceted benefits of breastfeeding/human milk for all families.

Knowing that I would have endless learning and joy in working in the field of lactation, I pursued the education and clinical hours necessary to become a Registered Lactation Consultant. Shortly after the birth of my second child in 2016, I became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. 

My Approach

My approach is to listen deeply to understand your struggles, your goals, and to walk alongside you. I approach lactation support with a wide lens that considers incorporating body work, nutrition, mental health and relationships into the feeding journey. I do not offer “cookie cutter” care. When we work together you make decisions on your care based on informed, evidence-based information that I will provide.

I believe that navigating the barriers to breast/chest feeding that exist in our society, while cultivating knowledge and self efficacy to feel ready to nurse a baby is tied to so many parts of life. I love working to weave it all together, starting from what motivates the individual family.