Why I Became an IBCLC: Jennie’s Story

I thought being an IBCLC meant I would know exactly what to do when it was my turn to breastfeed.

After all, I had spent years helping families navigate feeding challenges. I understood milk supply, latch, pumping, and infant feeding. I had supported countless parents through the early weeks of breastfeeding.

Surely I’d be prepared for my own journey.

Then I became a mother.

Like so many new parents, I quickly realized that knowledge and lived experience are two very different things.

In those early days, I struggled with my milk supply.

I remember feeling the weight of that experience in a way I never expected. For a moment, I hesitated to ask for help.

As lactation consultants, we’re so often the ones providing reassurance, answering questions, and helping families find their footing. Admitting that I needed support myself felt surprisingly vulnerable.

But I’m so grateful I reached out.

My coworkers showed up for me with the same compassion they show every family we care for. They listened without judgment, encouraged me when I needed it most, and reminded me that I didn’t have to carry the weight of those early weeks alone.

One of my coworkers even came to my home, met my in-laws, and held my newborn son while helping me navigate feeding.

I’ll never forget that.

That experience changed me.

Not because I suddenly learned something I didn’t already know clinically.

It changed me because I finally understood, firsthand, what it feels like to be the parent sitting on the other side of the visit.

I understood how vulnerable it feels to ask for help.

How emotional it is when feeding isn’t going the way you hoped.

How comforting it is when someone meets you with kindness instead of judgment.

Becoming a mother reminded me that breastfeeding was never meant to be something we figure out alone.

Whether you’re a first-time parent, breastfeeding your fourth baby, or—even like me—an IBCLC yourself, needing support isn’t a sign that you’re doing something wrong.

It’s simply part of the journey.

Today, I care for families differently because of my own experience.

I know that every feeding journey is unique.

I know there is no such thing as a perfect breastfeeding experience.

And I know that sometimes the most important thing we can offer isn’t another tip or technique.

It’s helping a parent feel seen, heard, and supported.

If there’s one thing I hope every family remembers, it’s this:

You don’t have to have it all figured out.

You don’t have to do this alone.

Asking for help isn’t a sign of failure.

It’s one of the bravest things you can do.

As we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, I’m grateful for the families who trust me with their stories every day. It’s an honor to walk beside you, just as others once walked beside me.

By Jennie, RD, IBCLC | Whole Women Nutrition