:: GET TO KNOW ME
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When I started working as a nurse, I was passionate about the adult intensive care setting. When I got pregnant with my first baby, I thought that I would stay home for a few months, and then go back to work because I would be bored, staying home with a baby.
Nobody told me that I would fall in love, and never want to leave my sweet baby, my daughter Vanessa.
I had some small difficulties with breastfeeding and called La Leche League for help. They were wonderful. I got involved with my local group as librarian which was the start of my career as a breastfeeding helper. Click here to learn more about my work as a lactation consultant.
Along the way, my dear friend Fran Kuber invited me to work at Booth Maternity Hospital, in Philadelphia. It was paradise: a birthing hospital run by women, for women. Midwives caught most of the babies. the midwives hired the back-up doctors. If the back-up doctor was not good enough, he was fired!
I was drawn towards adult education while working at Booth, and began to teach a variety of prenatal education classes: childbirth preparation, breastfeeding, breastfeeding and the working mother, VBAC, Siblings at birth, Big Brother/Big Sister, and early discharge. Click here to learn more about my work as childbirth educator. |
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As I learned more about breastfeeding, I wanted to learn more about other ways to help mothers and babies. I heard from many lactation consultants that craniosacral therapy made breastfeeding recovery easier. About the same time, my mother bought me a gift of a craniosacral therapy session. I believe that the Universe sends messages and provides what is needed; these two events moved me to learn how to do craniosacral therapy. Click here to learn more about my work with CST.
Massage is a wonderful way for mothers and fathers to deepen the connection with their babies. (Babies massage their mother's breast to help with breastfeeding too!)I became certified in infant massage. Click here to learn more about my work as a Infant Massage Therapist.
Mothers and babies have taught me so much; I became a public speaker to share this with my community. I have many different presentations and have had the honor of meeting audiences all over the continental US. Click here to see my most recent public speaking engagements.
My next goal is to learn more about infant oral-motor assessment. I have taken a two-day workshop with occupational therapists Lynn S. Wolf and Robin P. Glass, which made me feel that finally I had enough organized material to call myself a lactation consultant. (Prior to that time, my learning had been from every mother and baby, and a variety of workshops, books, and self-study modules.) I was permitted to follow Vania Falen, SLP around at Thomas Jefferson University and learned more about infant oral-motor assessment and treatment. (Thank you, Vania!!) My plan is to do some study with Debra Beckman, in Florida.
(See http://www.beckmanoralmotor.com for details of Ms Beckman's amazing work!)
I love living and learning. Every day is truly a blessing to enjoy.
