Monday, June 23, 2008

Something New

Today I got an offer from a Pregnancy Help Center to become a Lactation Educator!  I am so excited.  For awhile I wanted to become a certified lactation consultant but I got scared off when I found out all that involved and all of the hours necessary to become licensed.  But this is perfect for me!  The Help Center was given 4 scholarships to put people through the program, and they asked if I would be interested.  Basically I will take an online course for 3 months, where I will also get to do homework assignments like "diagnosing" people (which I already love to do!) :) and then I will need to complete some hours (but it is only like 8 hours), then I start teaching a class. My class will be taught with another educator and will be one time a month, for pregnant women or new mothers.  

This will be a great "outlet" for me, I think, because this has been a passion of mine ever since I had my first-born.  I had every known breast-feeding problem in the book, from plugged ducts, to mastitis, to nursing strikes, to chronic thrush with both boys.  By God's grace I was able to continue breast-feeding both boys for almost 11 months.  I definitely feel for women who are having problems nursing and have been wanting to share all of the things I've learned so far.  

This also may open a door for me to help teach a course at a continuation high school across the street from my house, where about 15-20 pregnant teen girls go to school.  Every day I see them walk around my block during their P.E. class.  Two weeks ago I finally got the nerve to go on the campus (walking past 3 guys cat-calling me the whole way) and I found their classroom, and asked if they needed any donations.  This past Monday I brought them about 15 bags of donated baby items.  So, today when I got an email from the Pregnancy Help Center asking if I want to do the lactation educator class and possibly help start a support group at the high school by my house, I knew it was God.  The director at the help center (who I last spoke with over a year ago) had no idea I had just been to that high school just last week.  Amazing.  I am so excited to see what God will do!

2 comments:

  1. How cool! That will be great for you =) I nursed forever (4 years of constant pregnancy or nursing) and hand no real difficulties. And my milk came within 36 hours of delivery! Happy babies =)

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  2. that is SO awesome!!! you will be great at it. and sweet about the jogger! you'll have to let me know what you think of it.

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