Why I Became a Certified Lactation Counselor: Colleen’s Story

When my daughter was born in 2020, I thought breastfeeding would come naturally.

I’d heard the same message so many parents hear: Breastfeeding is natural. It shouldn’t hurt.

So when feeding my baby was painful from the very beginning, I didn’t know what to think.

Instead of feeling confident, I felt confused.

If this was supposed to be natural, why did it feel so hard?

I kept wondering if I was doing something wrong.

Like so many new parents, I wanted to give my daughter the very best. I was willing to work through the challenges, but I didn’t expect how isolating those early weeks would feel.

One interaction has stayed with me ever since.

When I shared how much pain I was experiencing, I was told that some people are simply “too sensitive” to breastfeed.

Those words stopped me in my tracks.

I didn’t feel heard.

I didn’t feel understood.

I didn’t feel like anyone was curious about why I was hurting.

Instead of receiving support, I was left feeling like my experience had been dismissed.

Part of me became determined to prove that I wasn’t someone who “just couldn’t do it.”

Looking back now, I realize what I was really searching for wasn’t someone to tell me to push through the pain.

I was searching for someone who would listen.

Someone who would believe me.

Someone who would help me understand what was happening without judgment.

Thankfully, I also had someone who did exactly that.

My husband never pressured me to breastfeed or made me feel like my worth depended on how I fed our daughter. Instead, he watched me with admiration as I breastfed, pumped, and cared for our baby. His quiet encouragement reminded me that even when feeding felt hard, I was doing something incredibly meaningful.

That experience changed me in ways I never expected.

After my daughter was born, I became fascinated by breastfeeding—not just the science of it, but the emotional experience of it.

The more I learned, the more I realized there was a gap.

Feeding isn’t just physical.

It’s emotional.

It’s relational.

It’s shaped by our past experiences, our expectations, our confidence, and the way the people around us respond when we’re struggling.

I couldn’t stop thinking about how different my experience might have felt if I had been met with more curiosity and compassion instead of dismissal.

That’s what inspired me to become a Certified Lactation Counselor.

Today, I strive to be the provider I needed during those early weeks.

I believe parents deserve to feel safe asking questions.

They deserve evidence-based information delivered with kindness.

They deserve support that honors their personal goals—not someone else’s definition of success.

Every feeding journey is different.

Every family’s story is different.

My role isn’t to tell you what your journey should look like.

It’s to walk alongside you, help you understand your options, and make sure you never feel alone or unheard.

If there’s one thing I hope every family I work with knows, it’s this:

Your experience matters.

Your feelings matter.

You deserve to be listened to.

And you deserve support that meets you with compassion every step of the way.

As we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, I’m grateful to be part of a team that believes every parent deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported. It is an honor to be a small part of your story.