Turns out, I wasn't quite done collecting letters after my name.

I'm happy to share that I've recently earned my Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International, complementing my existing credential as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

That's a lot of letters, I know. But I wanted to add them for a reason.

Over the past 17 years of providing in-home lactation support, I've had the privilege of being welcomed into the lives (and living rooms and bedrooms) of countless families navigating the early days of parenthood. While feeding the baby is typically what brings me through the door, it rarely takes long to see that there’s so much more going on.

There are the physical challenges of postpartum recovery, the exhaustion, the shifting relationships and family dynamics, the sometimes overwhelming responsibility of caring for a tiny human, and the enormous emotional adjustment that comes with all of it. Add feeding challenges to the mix, and things can get complicated pretty quickly.

I've always believed that supporting a family with infant feeding means supporting the whole family, not just focusing on what's happening at the breast or how many ounces the baby is taking in. Sometimes the most meaningful part of a visit has very little to do with latch or milk supply.

It's the conversation that happens when a parent finally feels comfortable admitting that they're struggling. Or the relief that comes when someone acknowledges that what they're experiencing is really hard, without immediately offering another list of things they should be doing.

Over the years, I've become increasingly aware of just how intertwined emotional well-being and infant feeding can be. I wanted to deepen my understanding of perinatal mental health so I could be more intentional and informed in the support I offer.

The PMH-C certification involved additional education and training in recognizing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), understanding the many ways emotional health can affect families during pregnancy and postpartum, and helping connect parents with appropriate mental health resources when additional support is needed.

To be clear, this doesn't mean I've become a therapist or that my lactation visits are turning into therapy sessions. It means I'm better equipped to recognize when something beyond the usual challenges of new parenthood may be happening and to help families find the support they deserve.

And perhaps just as importantly, it reinforces something I've believed throughout my career: There is no single definition of a successful feeding experience.

For some families, that's exclusive breastfeeding. For others, it's pumping, combination feeding, or formula feeding. Sometimes the original plan changes, and sometimes that change comes with complicated feelings. My job isn't to convince anyone that one path is better than another. It's to help parents find a way forward that supports both their baby's needs and their own well-being.

I'm proud to have earned this additional credential, but I don't see it as a change in the philosophy behind my work. If anything, it's an extension of what has always mattered most to me: meeting families where they are, offering evidence-based guidance without judgment, and recognizing that the emotional experience of becoming a parent deserves just as much consideration as the practical details of feeding a baby.

Because taking care of the baby matters enormously.

And so does taking care of the people doing the caring.