713-496-BABE (2223) welovebabies@bayareabreastfeeding.net
Bay Area Breastfeeding & Education ® Pearland, Texas and League City, Texas
BABE Bios
My journey towards Lactation consultant work started with my love for science. I grew up thrilled with anything science and nature. I explored my world with the eyes of a scientist. I was so interested in the natural course of life and as I moved through my school aged years my interest grew and I was drawn into science as a career path in college. I began college sure I wanted to work with animals but after a year of veterinary nursing school I was not so sure, I found my self more drawn to human life and sciences. So I transferred to University of Houston Clear-Lake and acquired a degree in Biology.
In my last year of college I met and married my husband. We started our family a year later. My first breastfeeding experience came when my first son arrived and due to his oral motor hypotonia, we struggled a great deal and with a lack of support to continue through the struggles, we only had 4 weeks of breastfeeding. I was devastated and determined to have a different experience the next time. When my second arrive, in 2003, after a very traumatic birth, breastfeeding started on another difficult path. Determined to not give up, I sought the support of my local La Leche League group and this is where it all began. Even though we still had a very difficult time breastfeeding, the support and encouragement made it all so much easier! After a year with the group, I began my work to become a leader.
We had two more children, in 2005 and 2009 and with each one my breastfeeding experiences became more and more positive and less difficult. I continued my work with La Leche League and loved helping moms achieve their breastfeeding goals. I was so reward to give back what was given to me! In the fall of 2010 I decided I want to be able to help moms even more and made plans to sit for the 2011 IBCLC exam. I met Misti through our La Leche League work and we decided to become study partners…..well the rest is history!! My dreams have come true beyond measure! I absolutely love working as an IBCLC. I love empowering moms to listen to their own voice and their baby. It is a joy to be part of such a special part of the mothering journey! Daily, I am amazed at the strength and perseverance of mothers. I look forward to many years of working with moms and babies!
For as long as I can remember (early childhood), I have been fascinated with mommas and babies. My earliest memory of this fascination is when I was about 4 years old after I must have seen a mom breastfeed...I tucked myself in a little corner of our living room with a blanket and my baby doll and proceeded to nurse my doll!
These early experiences fostered a desire to help mommas and babies in my adult years as I attended nursing school and specialized in obstetrics after I graduated. My career was my passion. Once I had my foot in the door, though, I plunged head long into my primary goal in life: getting married and having a family of my own!
My wonderful husband and I were married in 1999...baby number one was born the summer of 2001. My sweet little daughter was born at home with the assistance of my now life long friend and midwife, Jackie Griggs. She nursed right away. I was in mommy heaven! Then, day #3 hit...the challenges! Nothing was going to keep me from nursing my baby, so I persisted through, and by 6 weeks we were nursing comfortably, and it was pure bliss!
As a labor and delivery nurse, I knew that after my own personal breastfeeding experience I was in a unique position to help moms avoid the problems I had in the beginning of my breastfeeding journey. I took the childbirth educator position when it became available and added a breastfeeding class to the repertoire soon after. My job evolved, and I gradually began counseling inpatient breastfeeding moms as an educator. I made it my personal mission to educate myself on all things breastfeeding and the dream of becoming a lactation consultant was born.
La Leche League played a big role in my breastfeeding success as well as my dream. I became a leader shortly after the birth of my 2nd daughter in 2004 and have been co-leading the Pasadena group since then.
My family grew rapidly, a son in 2003, another daughter in 2004, third daughter in 2006, and a surprise daughter in 2009...all natural births and all breastfed. Needless to say, I stayed busy, and each year that passed I patiently postponed making the commitment to apply for the IBCLC exam. Then, in the fall of 2010 I met Leah Jolly while working on our La Leche League groups' treasuries. The rest is history, and here I sit...my dream realized.
I believe mommas are strong. I believe babies are smart. I believe birth is a dance. I believe breastfeeding is natural. And I am so excited to be a part. Let the adventure begin!
Misti....
Leah...
