Why Didn't I Think of That?
(because I'm not YOU)
{Relatable Moment Alert} When you’re pregnant, upon meeting someone new, and usually when talking to people you already know, they inevitably say “Enjoy your baby because the time goes by/they grow up so fast.”
The 35th time you hear it, you’re gritting your teeth.
Then, 2 weeks after you have the baby, you’re looking at pics from the day they were born and you’re like, oh no, they were right and this baby is already different, that’s why everyone says that (and you start saying it, too!)
{Here’s the bridge} When you first get into lactation work, if you’re fortunate enough to have mentors who care about your mindset and your future, many of them will say “We really ARE making a difference; we’ve come a long way since I started. Here’s how:…” followed by an explanation of how it’s changed.
And after a while you grit your teeth because all you see are today’s problems to be addressed and gaps to be filled.
My hope for you is that one day, you’ll look around and say to yourself, Wow, things are actually getting a little bit better. We have made a difference. Sure, maybe it’s slow, small, not as quick or as comprehensive as I’d have liked it to be, but we are on the right path. And I hope you’ll say it to the next generation.
See, that’s the key. We’ve got to retain the ability to zoom way out of our own little tunnel of focus and look at things from overhead.
{Bringing my message home for you now}
There are HUGE, seemingly intractable problems with pregnancy care, birth, lactation care, and postpartum care, as well as pediatric care in the U.S. We can see these problems because a)some of us lived them, and b)all of us work within this system.
We know how much better it can be - how much better it NEEDS to be.
We see the potential, and we get frustrated at not having the funding, the power, the resources, the time to do it all.
We cry with our clients over the stories they share, and we cry privately over the tragedies we see in the news.
There is a lot of work to do to make pregnancy, birth, lactation, and postpartum safe for everyone.
There is a lot of work to do to ensure babies not only survive infancy, but develop normally, grow normally, and thrive.
It’s what human beings deserve, and it’s actually an internationally-declared human right.
What I need for you to do is to zoom way out of your day for just a few minutes. Think about what you’ve seen over your career (6 months, 16 years, 36 years..however long it’s been)
Find something you’ve witnessed that’s changed for the better.
One law or policy.
One family transformed through the power of Centered Pregnancy care.
One parent/baby bond strengthened through adequate information about skin to skin care after the hospital.
One baby with improved jaw function and feeding.
One mother with a true understanding of how her body makes milk.
One father given the encouragement to share what he’s learned about parenting with his peers.
One course you’ve taught about the power of herbs and plants to shift health in a positive direction.
One peer breastfeeding support group you’ve built from the ground up into a reliable, trusted source in your community.
One full NICU staff trained and empowered to provide family-centered care.
One media outlet that gave you a platform to share accurate information about the importance of donor human milk.
Next: I want you to think about one idea or project that lives in your head (for now.) There’s something there.
Maybe it’s a policy re-write that is needed in the facility where you practice.
Maybe it’s a digital course you want to teach other lactation care providers.
Maybe it’s a series of social media posts with a very specific target audience in mind, something that would help them feel supported.
Maybe it’s a support group you want to start.
Maybe it’s a new credential or training you’ve thought about signing up to do.
Maybe it’s mentoring the next generation.
Maybe it’s doing Lives on Instagram or Facebook with colleagues.
Maybe it’s starting a podcast.
Your idea wouldn’t exist if you didn’t have hope that we can make it all better.
It wouldn’t exist if you weren’t educated enough to see the gaps that need to be filled.
It wouldn’t be possible for you to have this idea if you weren’t YOU.
Your passion, your commitment, your knowledge, your background, your perspective, your lens, your personality, your belief in humanity.
You are making a difference with all of those things, and with your (as of yet) undeveloped or untried) idea, you can make the next change.
We are on the right path, and we have each other to lean on. Stick with me. I’m always here to listen when you’re ready to share.
If you’re feeling pulled to channel your passion for lactation into a new direction or to make progress toward your larger vision, but you aren’t sure about your next steps, I offer lactation career coaching.
