Alicia Chalk
" I personally come from a breastfeeding family. My mom breastfed every single one of her children, me included. My sisters all breastfed their babies and so there was never a question of if I would breastfeed when I got pregnant. I was going to breastfeed. As a matter of fact, I was born prematurely and was admitted to NICU right after I was born. My mom told me of how breastfeeding me saved my life and helped to bring me home much sooner than the doctors had anticipated. I thrived off of my mother's milk. So again, there was no question for me. My baby would get the best I had to offer. After I delivered baby Eliza, the nurse brought her to me and she immediately attempted to latch on. I was super thrilled and couldn't wait to begin our journey together. When they relocated us and the nurse brought Eliza to me to be fed, we had a difficult time getting her to latch. The nurse revealed to me that she had given my Eliza a pacifier during her hearing test and for a blood draw which made me think she wouldn't want to go for the harder work of feeding from me. I immediately requested the breastfeeding consultant. It took the consultant so long to come to my room because there was only one breastfeeding consultant in the whole unit for over 50 beds. She was stretched so thin she couldn't spend as much time with us as we needed, if she was able to spend any at all. I was hurt. I didn't want my baby to miss out on such an amazing opportunity to thrive. When I got home, I called my old supervisor, colleague and friend, Anjanette Davenport Hatter, who had recently become a certified lactation consultant (CLC). She came to my home and worked with me and Eliza, referred me to plenty of resources, including the Pacify app and WIC and supported us through our journey. It was so helpful to receive that kind of support during a time that I thought we wouldn't make it. When I connected with WIC, IBCLC Kirsten Douglass carried us the rest of the way. Kirsten has been great, encouraging us every step of they way. Although, the hospital staff dropped the ball and did not provide as much support and assistance as we needed, I can say I am blessed to have been surrounded by such great breastfeeding consultants who supported me and my baby through my feelings of being overwhelmed and all of my tears and fears. I will never forget all that they did for me and as a result, I am looking forward to becoming a CLC very soon. I want to make sure that all women who desire to breastfeed, receive the support they need, especially within the black community."