When it comes to figuring out the ups and downs of early parenthood, Jessica is the kind of person every new family could use in their corner! Based in Longmont, Colorado, Jessica has spent the last 15 years helping parents feel confident and supported as they care for their little ones. “I’m Jessica, Mom to two amazing kids, lucky enough to have lived in the Front Range my whole life and serve new families as their Lactation Counselor and New Parent Coach,” she shares.
How It All Started
Jessica’s journey into this work wasn’t exactly planned. “I started out doing the traditional college thing but realized after my first two years that I just wasn’t finding something that sparked joy for me to study,” she recalls.
During a break from school, Jessica worked at her dad’s chiropractic and functional medicine office. “It was there that I realized my passion. I loved being able to work one-on-one with patients and see the difference it made in their life to feel their best and be confident in the health care choices they made.”
Jessica also discovered her love for birth work after supporting friends during their labor and births. “I had always loved birth and had been asked by a couple of friends to be present when they brought their baby into this world. I realized that becoming a doula and lactation counselor is what sparked my joy after attending my second birth as a friend offering support,” she explains.
What Jessica Loves Most About Being A Lactation and New Parent Coach
Jessica says “I will never take for granted that I get invited into clients’ homes during the most sacred and intimate transition of their life.”
“Giving new parents the confidence to know how to feed their baby and listen to their intuition and offer guidance as questions arise about how to ‘do all the things’ is my absolute favorite part of this job,” Jessica shares. “Being their community as they welcome parenthood is such a privilege.”
Memorable Moments
Jessica told me a little bit about what she finds the most rewarding in her work: “I often get new moms that are ‘triple feeding’ for various reasons and feeling beyond exhausted and frustrated. When I can help them get off that schedule while still getting their baby all the milk it needs and they finally take that big sigh of relief, it is very rewarding.”
She also has a soft spot for NICU families. “I really love when NICU babies get to come home and we get to help mom and baby figure out what feeding will look like from the comfort of their own space,” she says.
Busting Myths About Lactation Support
There are a few common misconceptions about Jessica’s work. “That I don’t just support breastfeeding mothers,” she says. “I support women that want to formula feed, cup feed, pump exclusively, or have started out breastfeeding and need to transition to formula feeding. Breastfeeding exclusively is not the best choice for every woman, and I will support your feeding journey no matter how that looks.”
Jessica also notes that her support isn’t limited to newborns. “I often help clients 6 months or a year down the road when they want to wean, introduce solids, increase or decrease supply based on sleep patterns and childcare needs,” she explains.
A Memorable Challenge
Jessica remembers a time when she helped a family navigate an unusual situation. “I had one amazing couple with a baby that had a limb difference and wanted to babywear and nurse, but they were unsure how to make the carrier work. Honestly, so was I, and I told them that. But, I offered to YouTube it, see what I could find, and try to help them. Within that session, we had baby nursing from the carrier and a big sigh of relief all around. I still think about that and how cool it was they were willing to let me learn with them and trust the process,” she shares.
Top Tips From A New Parent Coach
Jessica offers these three simple tips for new parents:
- “Breastfeeding is hard for almost everyone to some degree. You are not doing anything wrong.”
- “Stay off Google and ignore the horror stories well-meaning friends and family will tell you.”
- “Trust your intuition, it’s often right.”
Life Beyond Work
When she’s not supporting families, Jessica loves tackling house projects with her husband. “My husband and I are always painting or redesigning or ripping something out in our house,” she says. If she wasn’t doing this super important work, she says she’d probably be doing interior design. “I’m always down to help get a nursery or primary bedroom space ready!
Her family also loves to travel. “I hybrid homeschool my kids and my husband works from home, so we relocate in our camper or with a home swap as often as we can. We love the adventure of travel!”
To learn more about Jessica and her services, visit Wild Motherhood or Sage Birth and Wellness, or connect with her on Instagram at @wildmotherhood, or connect with her on Instagram at @wildmotherhood.
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