Nurture From Scratch is dedicated to the highest quality of Postpartum Care & Lactation Support delivered with trust, care and thoughtfulness. I am here to Help. Support. Guide. Encourage. I am here to embrace every goal you have and help you achieve them. Postpartum and Breastfeeding experiences are not one size fits all. Every experience and every baby is different. I am here for your new baby, your family, and especially you.

You deserve support!

It wasn't until experiencing pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and breastfeeding with my second daughter did I realize I. WAS. MADE. FOR. THIS.

But my story of what lead me to this career path was anything but rainbows and butterflies, so let me back up...

I had my oldest daughter just weeks after turning 17. I just assumed moms breastfed their baby's, so that's what I was going to do. At 17 I didn't have money for bottles and formula, and breastfeeding didn't cost anything, it was the logical choice. However, this attempt came with ZERO education, ZERO support, ZERO community. Before the days of jumping on Google, joining Facebook Support Groups, and watching YouTube video's, I just assumed breastfeeding HURT and was miserable... but that's what I signed up for, right?... and no one told me otherwise. Not only was I so young myself and not prepared for postpartum, let alone a baby, but I was lacking the education, skills, and knowledge to breastfeed. After countless pediatrician appointments with a result of my baby not gaining enough weight, I was told to formula feed with not even a recommendation to see a professional lactation support person (which I didn't even know was a thing back then). SO I made the switch, I gave her formula, and she grew and thrived and was perfectly healthy. While I, on the other hand, deteriorated mentally and emotionally. Post-partum depression hit HARD - and at 17, I didn't even know that's what I was experiencing until many, many years later. I was disconnected from my baby, and still trying to be a teenager and do fun things with my friends. But again, this is what I signed up for, right?... and no one told me otherwise.

Fast forward 13 years and I'm married to the man who raised my firstborn as his own, happy, thriving, and growing our family by another daughter! But deep inside I was TERRIFIED. In my mind, this is how having a baby is meant to happen - in love, happy, with an amazing support system and community surrounding me - but I constantly battled with the fear of history repeating itself and I was DETERMINED not to let it. 

The difference? I was more mature and had some life under my belt. I knew I needed to educate myself and learn as much as possible about postpartum and breastfeeding so I didn't have another horrible experience. But, HELLO COVID-19 PANDEMIC... the whole world stopped and I felt like 17 year old me again, alone and trying to figure out how to have this baby without any professional help. So I took to the internet and talked to friends and family friends, and I researched EVERY. DAY. 

And  just like that, we welcomed a new baby girl into our family and it was the best experience of my life. I was prepared this time, I had educated myself, I had the support of my husband and our family. I was on cloud 9!

But our baby wasn't gaining weight and was dehydrated. My milk still hadn't come it at 4 days postpartum, and I was kicked right back into being a scared 17 year old not knowing what to do. Confused. But I studied this, why isn't it working? I knew enough throughout my studies and preparation, something wasn't quite right, but I didn't know how to fix it on my own. Virtual support only goes so far, and it's hard to learn position and latch from printed documents and a computer screen.  But we were living in a pandemic world and in-home or in-office visits weren't an option. We had to supplement with formula until my milk supply was established, then it was relatively smooth sailing from there, physically... until I went back to work, but that's another story! Emotionally there was still ups and downs, and SO MUCH self doubt.

Overall though, I was connected to my baby and so in love with her, so in love with breastfeeding. It's such an indescribable feeling. I knew how to care for myself during the postpartum period and the basics of breastfeeding, and we made it though. However, I still would have LOVED to have been able to reach out and get some in-home support, for at least some reassurance. Confirmation I was, in fact, doing everything correctly.  For someone to understand the ins and outs of the 'Fourth Trimester' to put some of my worries and doubts aside. For someone who's educated to encourage me when I was feeling overwhelmed. Someone who wasn't my husband, who knew just as much from Google as I did. I needed someone who invested their time and money, and their heart, into their education to help during this unknown and difficult adjustment into parenthood. 

So, if I've kept your attention this long... THAT'S WHERE I COME IN! 

I would be honored to care for you and your family through your postpartum/lactation journey and look forward to providing you the care you DESERVE.