Breastfeeding your baby might not come as naturally as you think. If you’re struggling with painful nursing or low milk supply, believe me — I’ll get to the bottom of your problem. (It could be a million different reasons, and I bring 20 years of lactation experience to the table!) Breastfeeding is downright hard sometimes. It helps to have a compassionate expert lifting you up.
You probably want to give up when you’re sitting on the floor, tears rolling down your cheeks, trying to soothe your fussy newborn in the middle of the night. As hopeless as it feels, you can do this. You just need a little guidance and support to get you through.
Hi there. I’m Heather, owner of Beyond The Breast, mom of 7, and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). I’ve been on the floor myself, and know what it takes to get back up and keep moving toward those personal feeding goals. I can help you write a new breastfeeding story — one you love.
Get Care From An Experienced IBCLC & Mom Who Gets It
Two pieces of advice to new parents?First, …everything looks a little better with sunshine. Seriously, the nights feel longer than normal at the start — but you got this! Second, it’s okay to take a moment for yourself. Breathe deep, let out a good scream or cry, and know it’s okay to ask for help.
I always liked taking care of other kids, and as a child, thought I’d end up as either a nurse or a teacher. In Girl Scouts, I often assisted the younger troops because it brought me so much joy to help others. I was born in Maine but grew up in Germany because my dad was in the Air Force, and I met my husband there. Funny enough, we ended up meeting later in life in Oklahoma. We've been married almost 25 years — and to say I'm lucky would be an understatement. He's the peanut butter to my jam!
We’ve got 7 children, we better love each other, right? All jokes aside, our family of 9 brings us both so much joy. We love being parents. We've been homeschooling since 2004, and love the close-knit ties it's creating. Each one of our kids brought challenges when it came to feeding, including our twins.
You name it, we went through it (latch problems, bottle refusal, tongue tie, supply issues). As a parent, we want options. Because of all the struggles we faced, I’m well-versed in what’s available. In my practice, I’m happy to offer both mainstream and holistic choices for your specific feeding concerns.
You know yourself and your baby best. It’s my job to give you the support and resources to have the breastfeeding experience of your dreams — however that looks!
Before having our first child, my husband and I moved back to Fort Worth from Germany. When she was born, I knew I wanted to support other mothers feeding their babies. To be honest, it was an accidental epiphany how I became an IBCLC…
I wanted to make friends after leaving our life in Germany (what new mom doesn’t need friends, right?). My oldest was too little for Girl Scouts and there wasn’t a toddler story time at the library. I decided to join the local La Leche League group and fell in love with the community. After a few years, I was helping at meetings because it brought me so much joy.
Soon I became a Leader, and a guest speaker encouraged me to become an IBCLC. She saw my passion and drive to help others and continue to educate myself to provide the best for families. In 2011, I became an IBCLC! This new career path was a natural progression and extension of my love for supporting families.
With me as your guide, you can begin writing the breastfeeding story of your dreams. I’m constantly educating myself to bring you the most beneficial solutions. Not every lactation consultant takes additional courses or expands their knowledge to deal with specialized issues like tongue tie. Working with me, you’re choosing a compassionate expert — with experience in every aspect — to help you reach your feeding goals.
My Additional Lactation Training:
Oral Habilitation for the Breastfeeding Dyad (IBCLC Masterclass)
Aromatherapy Certification
Dynamic Body Balancing
Gut Health for IBCLCs
Cranial Nerve Dysfunction of the PreCrawling Infant
Don’t lose out on breastfeeding support when you have a compassionate expert nearby.
5 Fun Facts About Me & My Family
Yes, I have 7 children. Our oldest is 21 (how?!) and the youngest is 7. We went through 5 years of secondary infertility after number 2. But as you see, no issues after that!
I’ve got 12 years of experience with tongue-tie and personal experience with my 4th child. We had a frenectomy and it instantly improved our breastfeeding experience and she was able to feed more efficiently.(Moving from hours long feedings to under 30 mins made a huge difference!)
My family’s down for pizza or tacos any night of the week! You’ll frequently find these two classic favorites in our home.
I have a deep interest in herbs and plants, and can talk about them all day if you let me.
Fort Worth has been home for over 20 years. I love serving local families and adorable squishy babies!
What Other Moms Are Saying…
"Thank you so much! Our meeting is just what I needed! Our daughter is thriving and growing so strong. It truly helps to have your support!" Linda C.
"When my daughter was born, she had difficulty latching. I thought this was normal and we would get the hang of it eventually, so we persevered... I was in constant pain and very unsure how long I could continue breastfeeding my daughter. I was referred to Heather by my midwife, and without even meeting her face to face, she made me feel hopeful about my situation as we set up a time to meet over the phone. At our appointment, she was very thorough — looking at myself, my daughter, and our latch. She gave us a plan of action for the tears, thrush, and plugged ducts that included modern and alternative medicine options. She also gave me more positions to use while breastfeeding and referrals. Heather's expertise really made a difference in my and my daughter's breastfeeding relationship. I was always able to call her with any questions I had, and she came to my house for a follow-up to see the progress. I am blessed to have met her." Sarah P.
Seven different breastfeeding journeys,
A Million reasons why I do what I do
Stop Worrying & Love Breastfeeding — It IS Achievable! Get Lactation Support You Deserve
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