Hello, my name is Mitchell (she/her/hers).

I always knew that I would attempt breastfeeding. My grandmother breastfed all five of her children for at least a period of time; my mom and aunts did the same. I never doubted that I would start my parenting journey with breastfeeding. Of course, that’s just what you do when you have a baby (hindsight has me questioning how natural this was).

In 2014, I became a mom for the first time. I latched her right on and thought, “OWWWWWW!” I assumed this is how it would be: just painful. Everyone said, “‘it gets better, just wait it out,’ or ‘let your nipples toughen up,” you know—all of the things. The nurses in the hospital “helped” by grabbing my daughter’s head and my breast, just kind of shoving us together. Despite my complaints of pain, I kept hearing, “the latch looks amazing, just give it time.”

By the time we left the hospital, she was two days old, and my nipples looked like raw hamburgers. We went to her two-week checkup. She was hungry, so I started to nurse her. I remember the doctor saying, “What are you doing?!?” She seemed horrified that I would be nursing in her office space. Instantly, I started defending my rights. She quickly interrupted me, saying, “No, why do you look like you are in severe pain? It shouldn’t hurt!!” I had seen several home workers and hospital lactation throughout these two weeks. This was the first time anyone told me that it was not supposed to hurt. After a great deal of research, I found a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) and then an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) to help us correct her latch and TEACH me how to latch her properly without assistance.

When my second daughter was born, I breastfed for the full 21 months of my first daughter’s life through my whole pregnancy, and then tandem nursed our girls within the first hour of being a mom of two. At this time, I was a stay-at-home mom who was giving advice to other moms on Facebook just for fun. I eventually received a phone call from WIC offering the opportunity to do everything that I was already doing for free as a paid position. I applied, got offered the position, and began my career as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor (BFPC). I had found my passion in life: helping other Mommas just like me to extend their breastfeeding journeys, making sure that their journey goes how they want it to, and making sure they feel respected in their journey, no matter how long.

In 2018, I became a Certified Lactation Counselor through the WIC program. Upon having my son,  and graduating with my bachelor’s of science in Human nutrition and dietetics, in 2022, I realized that I would like to offer my services to non-WIC clients as well. Thus opening Livin’ the Breast Life, LLC in August of 2022. As of July 1, 2024, I am also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.

I absolutely love being able to assist any and all families, and I look forward to being part of your nursing journey.

Disclaimer: My preference is the term breastfeeding/nursing. If you prefer different terminology, I am more than happy to use it for you.