Why I became a Lactation Consultant!

When I first joined the military in 1988, I often heard the phrase, “See one, do one, teach one.” It was a phrase used by senior enlisted personnel to motivate junior enlisted members to learn their jobs quickly and well. As a junior service member, it was such a confidence builder to learn how to do a task, then do the task and then be able to teach someone else how to do that same task. As junior enlisted personnel, we longed to be knowledgeable and proficient in our jobs. I initially thought this phrase or wording was specific to the Navy, like geedunk (a sailor’s junk food) and sickbay ( a sailor’s medical clinic). It was not until years later that I learned the phrase “See one, do one, teach one”, was first used in 1890 by William Stewart Halstead, the first chief surgeon at John Hopkins Hospital (Hoddinott et al., 2009).

During Halstead’s time, after medical school, the surgery residents were taught to see a procedure done, do it themselves and then be able to teach other residents. In the 1890’s, medical doctors did not receive the same type of training that doctors receive today (Hoddinott et al., 2009) . Back then, they basically learned as they worked on their jobs. Halstead’s methodology has since evolved into, “See many procedures, then do many procedures under supervision, then once the resident is proficient he can teach other residents” (Rodrich, 2006). Doctors of today go through many years of extensive training to become proficient in what they do. However, even in the evolution of the phrase “seeing, doing and teaching”, it’s foundational meaning is still relevant today (Hoddinott et al., 2009).

Our vision at Lactating Well, LLC is to support and provide education on the normalcy of women providing human milk to their offspring by continuing to increase the visibility of lactating women amongst our families, friends, and within our communities. There is research that reveals women may be influenced to choose to breastfeed their future children, even if they are not pregnant, if they see other women have a positive attitude while breastfeeding (Kotsis & Chung, 2013). I believe that my journey to becoming a lactation consultant began over 40 years ago , when I was a young girl watching women in my family breastfeed.

( 3rd grade picture. I did my hair myself, 1979)

Seeing Breastfeeding

My Early Breastfeeding Exposure.

I remember as a school age child seeing my older cousin breastfeed. She and her husband came to visit our home during the summer. Her first child was less than 1 year old and she was breastfeeding him. She made it seem so natural and easy. My cousin later revealed to me that she chose to breastfeed because she joined a church and she saw all the women at her church breastfeed. So, she chose to breastfeed.

( Early teenage years. I am on the right, 1995)

My next exposure to breastfeeding was when I was around 14 years old. My niece was born premature. I remember coming to the hospital to visit her mother. As I was walking past the nurse’s station, one of the nurses was complaining about my niece’s mother wanting to breastfeed. I was a young teenager, so they did not even realize I had walked by and overheard their conversation. However, that nurse’s lack of approval did not deter my niece’s mother from breastfeeding. She breastfed my niece and then 2 years later she breastfed my nephew.

(Graduation Day! Associate of Arts in Nursing, 1994)

In 1994, my registered nurse school practicum was on a postpartum unit. The practicum was assigned to nursing students at the end of nursing school, prior to graduation. It was during this time the nursing student followed a preceptor for about 3-4 weeks to be guided on how to transition into the registered nurse role. Though I was caring for women who just delivered their babies, I did not see any breastfeeding. Breastfeeding was not really mentioned. The only topics I remember about breastfeeding were teaching the new moms how to hinder their breastmilk from coming in and managing engorgement. I assisted mothers with applying breast binders, and I also administered a lot of a drug called Parlodel to suppress the new mothers’ milk production. Parlodel is no longer routinely used for breastmilk suppression.

(Graduation Day! Bachelor of Arts in Nursing and commissioned as a Naval Officer, 1995)

In 1995, I graduated from Norfolk State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Nursing. I then joined the United States Navy Nurse Corps as a commissioned officer. I was stationed at Naval Hospital Camp Lejuene in Camp Lejeune, NC. It is there I began supporting breastfeeding mothers and their infants.

(Pregnant with my first child, 1996)

Doing Breastfeeding

My Personal Breastfeeding Journey

In 1996, I had my first child and I began breastfeeding. I had a painful beginning. I had a vaginal delivery, but refused an epidural because I wanted to do everything “natural”. However, I did receive a few rounds of IV pain medications prior to delivery. After 14 hours of labor, a vacuum assist and episiotomy, my “natural” perfect birth plan was no more. After delivery, I tried to breastfeed an extremely sleepy newborn. My son was sleepy likely due to the IV pain meds I received during labor. Breastfeeding was not going well. I was crying and my baby was crying. My nurse did what she could to help. But, I was still struggling to breastfeed, and my nipples were extremely sore. However, there was an RN, IBCLC on the unit, Susan Diana Fowler. She came in and gave me guidance, reassurance and confidence. She was so knowledgeable and supportive. It was because of her support, I was able to begin a successful breastfeeding journey.

(Taking a break from an operations training during active duty, 1998)

After I came off of maternity leave, I began working in the maternal infant unit, level II nursery and then labor and delivery. So, I began not only my personal breastfeeding journey, but I also supported other women in their breastfeeding journeys. I continued to breastfeed my first child for about 4 months. As an active duty Navy Nurse, I had a difficult time navigating breastfeeding after going back to full duty, so I stopped breastfeeding. However, I continued to enjoy helping my patients with breastfeeding. I provided nursing care to both active duty women and military dependent women. I worked along side Susan Diana Fowler, RN, IBCLC, who was once my lactation consultant, but later became my mentor. It was in the maternal- infant department at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, that I began to develop a passion for helping breastfeeding women.

(Breastfeeding my 2nd child, 2002)

I eventually had 4 additional children between 2002 and 2007. My breastfeeding experience got better and better with each subsequent child. I breastfed my last child for 15 months. I saw an IBCLC once again to help me with my strong let down. She taught me the laid back/Australian hold. I never forgot it.

After breastfeeding 5 children, I am sorry to say this is the only picture that I have of me breastfeeding. I wish I had taken more breastfeeding pictures. So, my advice to breastfeeding mothers, is to take some pictures and videos of you breastfeeding your little one. These are special moments in time that you will want to remember..

(Graduation Day! Master of Science in Nursing, 2013)

In 2013, I graduated from Augusta State University with a Master of Science in Nursing. I obtained my certification as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. I began working in pediatric primary care. After I became more comfortable in my role as a nurse practitioner, I very quickly was drawn to supporting new mothers and infants with breastfeeding. My colleagues began to refer mothers and their infants to me for breastfeeding and lactation support in our pediatric clinic. In 2018, I became a Certified Lactation Counselor.

(In my office, 2023)

Teaching Breastfeeding

Helping Others to Breastfeed

Since 1996, I have been helping breastfeeding mothers who are either breastfeeding and/or maintaining their breastmilk supply through pumping. I finally decided to become credentialed as an IBCLC in 2020. I now provide lactation support as an IBCLC in both the inpatient hospital setting and outpatient clinic setting. I am thankful for my early childhood exposure to seeing breastfeeding in which empowered me to breastfeed my own children. I am now continuing to assist and support mothers along their breastfeeding journeys.

My desire is to assist mothers with breastfeeding in the early days and weeks after they deliver. The support I received from Mrs. Fowler, IBCLC, shortly after delivering my first child, was significant in building my confidence and knowledge about breastfeeding. The sooner a new mother seeks help with breastfeeding will likely improve her chances of success in her breastfeeding journey.

Lactating Well, LLC is a support system for breastfeeding and lactating women in our community. We are here to support you on your lactation journey and providing care to your little one(s). It is an honor for us to provide the support that is needed for women during this beautiful, but sometimes challenging moment in their lives. Contact us today for support. We are here for you!

Resources:

Hoddinott, P., Kroll, T., Raja, A., & Lee, A. (2009, Apr 27).  Seeing Other Women Breastfeed: How vicarious Experience Relates to Breastfeeding Intention and Behavior.  Maternal & Child Nutrition, 6(2), 134–146. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6860610/#:~:text=That%20study%20of%20early%20school,more%20likely%20to%20initiate%20breastfeeding.

Kotsis, S.V and Chung, K.C. (2013, May).  Application of See One, Do One, Teach One Concept in Surgical Training. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 131(5), 1194-1201. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4785880/

Rohrich, R. (2006, Jul). See One, Do One, Teach One”: An Old Adage with a New Twist. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 118(1), 2257-258.  https://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/fulltext/2006/07000/_see_one,_do_one,_teach_one___an_old_adage_with_a.45.aspx