Nurturing Transitions

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My interest and fascination with pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn period blossomed as I studied Psychology as my undergraduate major. Child development captured my interest and I directed my passion toward learning more about development during pregnancy and the process of childbirth. While a graduate student at the University of Maine I learned more about infant development and wrote my Master's Thesis about women's childbirth experiences.

 

Following graduate school I worked for a non-profit agency as a home visitor for first-time parents and their babies. Through this universal program I met with many different families providing them education around parenting and child development and offering them support throughout this often challenging period. It was a wonderful experience getting to know these families and learning from them, too. During this time I also became a Certified Lactation Counselor through The Center for Breastfeeding.

 

From 2006-2009 I lived in San Francisco and gained a wealth of wonderful experience in the Bay Area. I taught Newborn Parenting and Breastfeeding classes through California Pacific Medical Center's Newborn Connections for three years. I also provided postpartum doula support services to over 30 families in two years before I enrolled in the UCSD Lactation Consultant program. This academic year program prepared me to sit for the IBCLC exam in July 2009 after hundreds of hours of studying and clinical time in the hospital. I am finally officially a Board Certified Lactation Consultant!

 

Throughout my education and varied experiences I've come to value the transition into parenthood more than ever. It is my goal as a Lactation Consultant and Postpartum Doula to make this transition as comfortable as possible for new and growing families!