A little about me! I am a Certified Lactation Counselor, Certified Pilates Instructor, former professional ballet dancer, and most importantly mama to two incredible girls. I spent the first chapter of my life studying classical ballet and performing and teaching along with my husband in ballet companies and dance programs across the country. After retiring from performing, my husband and I focused on growing our family and settled in the Traverse City area.
I was inspired to study lactation by my own breastfeeding experiences with my two girls. Becoming a mother was a total and world shifting revelation for me. Women are magic. Birth is magic. And breastfeeding is magic! When I became pregnant with my first daughter, I was in total awe of the incredible transformation our bodies undergo during pregnancy and the truly remarkable feats we can achieve during birth and lactation.
However, as magical as breastfeeding is, I learned firsthand that it is not instinctive. It is indeed the most natural of biological processes, but that doesn’t mean that mothers or babies have the automatic skills they need to breastfeed successfully. I breastfed my first daughter for 16 months and my second daughter for 28 months. Each of these experiences was unique and brought me so many treasured moments of joy, attachment, and bonding—and also at times pain, frustration, and overwhelm. Every mother’s breastfeeding journey is just that—a journey—with unique high points and bumps along the way. I have learned through my experience that knowledge is power and support is survival. This is why I became a CLC, so that I could provide the support system mamas need for guidance, reassurance, and help that is tailored to their specific needs.
Education and support are the key ingredients to make your breastfeeding journey a positive one. As a Certified Lactation Counselor I can give you the information you need during pregnancy to get breastfeeding off to a great start. I can help you form realistic expectations and build the skills and confidence you need to achieve a good latch. I am here to help you navigate any feeding challenges that may arise postpartum, and to make individualized recommendations. Most importantly, I am here to LISTEN and to give you the support you need to meet your personal goals, and to help you find the confidence you need to believe in and access your PROFOUND abilities as a mother.
Thank you for being here, mama! I am so excited and honored to be a part of your motherhood journey.
