On Saturday morning at 9 a.m., Wendy Wheatcroft put the finishing touches on a table set with a digital infant scale, sign-in sheet, and coupons for free prenatal yoga classes. The cozy, cheerful atmosphere of Kidology, a children’s play space, made a welcoming backdrop for her second breastfeeding support class in Coronado.
Wendy is the mother of three young children, a Second Grade teacher at Christ Church School in Coronado, and a brand new Certified Lactation Educator and Counselor (CLEC). She has over four years of breastfeeding experience, beginning with her own daughter ten years ago. “My experiences with the challenges of breastfeeding started when my oldest child was a newborn in 2005. The hospital staff were aggressively pushing formula, as they said that my daughter was crying because she was ‘starving.'” Wendy herself cried that night in the hospital, overwhelmed and discouraged, until a kind nurse gave her some guidance.
“I have struggled with breastfeeding my own children — all in different ways. The support (or lack of) that I received with each played heavily in my ability to nurse and continue nursing each of them.” Even the guidance she received was conflicting, though, and sometimes led to more confusion.
“My third child Joe was always fussy, and never slept well. I was too busy with my other two children and work to ever see a Lactation Consultant. Now I sure wish that I had! He went on to grow healthy and strong, but always had tummy problems and didn’t sleep well (and nor did I!). Fast forward to now. During my breastfeeding studies, I realized that he had a undiagnosed upper lip tie and all the symptoms that went along with it.”
Wendy’s goal is clear: “I never want another mom to suffer as he and I did.”
Recently, Wendy had a different experience with breastfeeding, which was the ultimate inspiration for pursuing lactation education. “A dear friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer while she was pregnant with her second baby. Her baby girl needed to be delivered very early so that my friend could start her chemo as soon as possible. Obviously the chemo treatment also meant that she was unable to breastfeed her baby. I wanted to help out in any way possible, and made it my goal to ensure my friend’s daughter always had a supply of breast milk, to give her the best possible start in life.”
Wendy has now completed her CLEC training, started a lactation consulting business called Mama Milk Baby Love, and hopes to enter a program in Fall 2016 to become a International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). “I hope to eventually have my own office where I can have open walk-in clinic hours, many support groups throughout the week, breastfeeding classes, and then also make home visits as well.”
This past Saturday morning, three moms came into the breastfeeding support group together. They were all juggling babies around the same age, and explained that they worked for the Navy in the same office. Each weighed their baby on the scale before taking a seat to nurse and talk with Wendy.
“Do you feel like he clicks a lot?” Wendy asked, referring to one baby’s eating style.
“He always clicks!” the mom replied, seeming grateful that someone had noticed. “Some days more than others, but he always does.”
Another mom asked about tongue tie, and Wendy shared her own experience with her son, Joe. She listened, observed, and offered advice. She was careful not to diagnose any issues, but instead referred to her own breastfeeding experience or recent learning. She also emphasized that “if anything is beyond my expertise, I will refer you to the San Diego Breastfeeding Center,” a group of Lactation Consultants that has been very helpful to Wendy in her training.
As the women left, Wendy invited them to contact her with any questions, and reminded them that she will be at Kidology in Coronado every Saturday at 9 a.m.
“Our society has lost its “village” in many ways, and the lack of support available to many breastfeeding moms is a manifestation of this,” she concludes. “I hope to be that cheerleader rallying mamas on when they feel like they can’t [breastfeed] anymore, and educating with the truth and most current research available.”
Feel free to drop in to see Wendy every Saturday at 9 a.m. at Kidology (1011 C Avenue in Coronado) or contact her through her website.
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Becca Garber
Staff Writer
eCoronado.com
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