Many people believe that once you become a mother, your career is over. I’m here to testify that it’s quite the opposite—motherhood inspired and fueled my career as a lactation professional.

My interest in becoming a lactation professional sparked after the birth of my first child, although I didn’t know the sparks were taking place at the time. I had always known that I wanted to breastfeed my babies. Nourishing my babies with my own body sounded like the most joyous task a mother could partake in. However, the birth was the opposite of what I had originally imagined and resulted in an unplanned emergency c-section with a five-day hospital stay due to injuries to my son during the birth. Medical interventions spawned more medical interventions, which led to an unideal start to our breastfeeding journey. I thought that breastfeeding was supposed to be the most natural thing in the world. Why was it proving to be so difficult?

The hospital staff was less than supportive of my desire to breastfeed and told me that I was not able to continue trying and had to choose between giving my son donor milk or formula. I chose donor milk, but felt completely defeated in my attempt to nurse my son. What was I doing wrong? Why couldn’t I feed him like he was meant to be fed?

Nearing my breaking point, like an angel of light, entered the lactation consultant. She assured me my feelings and experience were common and that she believed I could breastfeed my son. She was the only hospital staff member to say this to me, to show that she really believed in me. After her visit, I felt a surge of hope and a new drive to tackle the challenges of breastfeeding my baby. This is what I wanted. It would be hard, but I can do hard things.

After leaving the hospital, breastfeeding my son improved, but there were still many challenges that arose in the next year and a half of nursing him. With each challenge, I faced it head-on, educated myself on the problem and solution, and worked with consistency to overcome each issue. At the time, I didn’t realize the resources available to me as a breastfeeding mom. I had thought I was on my own in this journey, so I overcame each challenge alone.

It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my second baby that I realized I knew a lot about breastfeeding—maybe even more than most breastfeeding moms. I realized that I could educate and support other moms in their breastfeeding experience. After my second baby was born, I felt much more equipped to breastfeed her and started to feel a strong pull toward a career shift. I started researching how to become a lactation consultant.

I reached out to one of my midwife friends, and she connected me with their center’s lactation consultant. From there, we began a mentorship relationship, and I enrolled in my first class that summer. I began formally mentoring under the same lactation practice the following year. Since starting my career in lactation, I have worked in various settings including a birthing center, private practice, and the St. Johns County Department of Health. I am finally able to focus on my own practice after receiving my IBCLC certification in 2025.

I am thankful for the negative experiences I had in early motherhood because I know they are what sparked and fueled my career as a lactation professional. I am excited to take my education and experience to help families grow and thrive. If I can be an “angel of light” to other moms in despair, even by just showing that I believe in their ability to do hard things, I will see it as a job well done.

My approach to care is holistic, family-centered, and parent-led. I look at the whole picture—supporting both parent and baby—while providing guidance, education, and reassurance. My goal is to reduce overwhelm, empower families, and honor their feeding choices. I live by the motto: supported is best.

With Love,
Sarah, BA, IBCLC, CBS