Creating a Private Practice for Lactation

Sometimes you just jump. I would not say I am a risk-taker by any means. I’ve lived in the same community I grew up in, have continued working in the same hospital where I first began my nursing career, and never manage to stray too far from working with moms and babies. I’ve added different things throughout the seasons of raising babies and then kiddos—children’s ministry, Christian home-based marketing, and I even did some college campus nursing. Thankfully, with maternal-child nursing, I have always had my foot in the door in one way or another.

To be honest, lactation consulting wasn’t a clear direction for me. I had looked into it right after I had Landon and that is about as far as it went. Fast forward to 2015 when an opportunity presented itself at the hospital. It was a hard decision for me–mostly because I did not feel qualified at the time. And beyond that, a committed work schedule in a “real position” and not just “as needed” as I had done for so long made for lots of prayer and discussion with not only Steve, but the kids as well. Mom working in a bigger capacity was going to change quite a few things in our life.

Me and my trusty breastfeeding doll heading to a training in Colorado in 2015.

We made a family vacation out of my training in Colorado. They had some fun while I was sitting in class…

Fast forward to the last 8 years, and like most big, scary decisions, I could not be more blessed and thankful for the opportunity I was given. I dove right into learning as much as I possibly could about lactation and quickly started down the path to becoming a lactation consultant. Thanks to my director, the hospital, and grants through breastfeeding organizations, I became certified as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. (IBCLC)

As a lactation consultant, breastfeeding education is an important aspect of what I do. In addition to teaching moms and families, I found a passion for teaching other nurses and healthcare professionals the importance of understanding the role breastfeeding has in the health of moms and babies. In doing this, I have taught for the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition for the last few years.

Private practice lactation was always somewhat in the back of my mind, but never something I was actually pursuing. Until just a few months ago, I decided to jump. Which brings us to Shine Lactation + Postpartum Support. The best thing about starting this business is the flexibility it brings to serve even more families in surrounding communities while still working with families at the hospital.

Just a sampling of what Shine offers for moms, babies, and families…

So, as with many things in life (parenting at the top of this list!) I am learning as I go. But I hope to support as many families as possible through this learning process. Shine Lactation + Postpartum Support specializes in “in-home” visits for the newborn through age 6 weeks. This is my “sweet” spot, so they say, as it is where I have the most experience and expertise! With the presence of an office space, I am excited to reach breastfeeding moms and babies of all stages, including infant massage education for families, and offer guidance and counsel to moms who return to work and begin implementing pumping strategies. I am thankful for an opportunity to open an office in my hometown of Moundridge, KS where I hope to support families from surrounding communities and beyond.