Meet Leah K. Brown, IBCLC | International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with Nashville Birth and Babies

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leah K. Brown, IBCLC and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leah K., what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Hiring an IBCLC Lactation Consultant gets you way more than some simple guidance of latching baby to the breast.

We are here for moms from prenatal to weaning. It’s wise to seek guidance BEFORE baby arrives. A “Prenatal Lactation Consult” can do just that to discuss health history as it pertains to lactation. We may find red flags for low milk production, and then create a plan based on findings. An IBCLC can help make sense of low milk production, when no one else seems to have an answer.

An IBCLC meets mom where they are and wants to help mom meet her feeding goals. We help guide mothers in their decisions of exclusive breastfeeding, exclusive pumping or combination feeding, and then help with weaning when the time is right for mom/baby.

An IBCLC can advise mothers when it comes to medications and the safety of her milk. We are there for mom and baby when there are symptoms of nipple pain, breast issues, weight gain struggles, anxiety during breastfeeding, history of abuse for mom, and many more issues that pertain to breastfeeding, lactation and the postpartum season.

I have personally noted over the years of being an IBCLC, the impact I’ve had on mothers and their babies. I would love for ALL moms to have the opportunity to meet with an IBCLC before and during lactation/breastfeeding. It can make all the difference in how breastfeeding turns out for these families.

Many moms are able to use their health insurance to pay for multiple sessions with a private practice IBCLC, through a billing program called The Lactation Network (TLN). My colleagues and I are all contracted with TLN and are ready to help moms with feeding struggles and lactation issues of all kinds!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Being an IBCLC in private practice can be mentally exhausting if one allows themself to drain fully. I make sure to set time for self care so I can be my best during consultations with each mom I work with. I frequently see a mom and her baby 3-4 visits as we work through her and/or baby’s struggles. It’s not a race. I want to make sure mom and/or baby is well on their way to successfully meeting their goal before I graduate them. My clients have unlimited access to me via email to ask questions throughout the process, and they can contact me anytime in the future if something new pops up and they need a new visit. I’m here until they wean! I love when I receive a message with a precious photo of one of “my babies” and it’s to say thanks for helping. My heart is full.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, I’m not much for the city. I live in a rural area outside of Nashville, so I’d take my friend to Winding Stairs Park for some hiking up to a few waterfalls, in Macon County, TN, then we could have a picnic lunch to rest. We could end our day in downtown Hartsville at the local “speakeasy” for a seasonal cocktail, and then head to the Square to catch some live bluegrass music during “Downtown Sound”, an outdoor music event held every Thursday evening during the summer months. The next day, we could go fishing, creek stomping, kayaking or 4-wheeling by the Cumberland River and Old Hickory Lake. It’s all about enjoying the outdoors around here!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mentor and colleagues of Nashville Birth and Babies will always be my rock. I owe A LOT to my mentor, Kate Cropp, IBCLC for accepting my inquiry of internship over 10 years ago, sticking with me through the years of clinical hours and then guiding me through the process of passing the dreaded board exam. I still depend on her and my colleagues to this day for guidance and support. I love my work family! This field of lactation would surely be lonely without them.

Website: www.NashvilleBirthAndBabies.com

Instagram: @leah_k_brown_ibclc

Linkedin: Leah Brown

Facebook: Leah K. Brown, IBCLC