Kristen Weber’s background is in OBGYN nursing, and she had helped many pregnant and postpartum moms. Even with that background, she struggled nursing her first two kids.
“My breastfeeding journey started off horrible, couldn’t have been any worse,” she said.
However, local lactation consultants helped her to find joy in feeding her children which inspired Weber to become a certified lactation consultant herself.
Milk and Honeysuckle Lactation services
Weber is not alone in her struggles with breastfeeding. Ashley Bush, the owner and founder of Bloom Women’s Counseling, Consulting and Wellness, decided to begin offering lactation services after hearing so often from new mothers in counseling about their serious breastfeeding struggles.
Ashley Bush found Kristen Weber and they began working together to provide lactation services and founded Milk and Honeysuckle Lactation and Wellness. The lactation services are affiliated with Bloom, but are open to any mother, not just those who are receiving counseling services.
Individualized feeding plans
Lactation consulting at Milk and Honeysuckle is not just about successful breastfeeding. Breastfeeding isn’t always the right choice for every new mom. Breastfeeding is the best nutrition, but other factors are also important such as mental health, family dynamics and goals.
“My philosophy is we’re going to develop a plan that works for you, your baby, your family and encompasses your specific goals regarding feeding your baby…It’s very different for everybody, but it does not have to be an all or nothing journey,” Weber said.
She helps parents exploring a variety of options such as:
- Exclusively breastfeeding
- Exclusively pumping/bottle feeding
- A mixture of bottle feeding and breastfeeding with breast milk
- A mixture of formula and breastfeeding or breast milk
Breastfeeding awareness and education
Many parents take classes that prepare them for pregnancy and birth, but fewer resources are available to prepare parents for breastfeeding.
“A lot of people assume that breastfeeding is natural. But one thing I like to tell my patients is lactation is natural and breastfeeding is learned,” Weber said.
Not only can Weber provide education as an experienced OBGYN nurse and certified lactation consultant, but she can also empathize as a mother of five. “I’m a mom, just like you are, and I understand,” she said.
Postpartum support group
A postpartum support group meets at the Maumee Public Library every other Friday from 11:30am–1:30pm
This group is free and open to anyone feeding infants 12 months and younger. It is meant to be a safe place to meet other moms that are in the same stage as life whether you are breastfeeding or not.
Parents of toddlers support group
This group meets at The Millie Venue in Bowling Green; dates and times are posted on Facebook.
There is a $20 admission fee to this co-working space designed for mothers. The support group meets in the venue while the toddlers can enjoy the activities and supervision is provided for them.
Individual visits
Consultation visits span any feeding issues including prenatal visit, post-partum in-home, back to work, bottle feeding, weaning and pumping.
Getting connected
Kristen Weber encourages pregnant and new moms to reach out early. “We can almost always fix whatever’s going on if we intervene early enough.”
Currently, Milk and Honeysuckle accepts most insurance.
To make appointments, call 419-326-5732.
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