About Me
My name is Emily Peden and I am an aspiring International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Since 2022, I have worked to complete prerequisites while managing a full-time job, parenthood, and a number of immense changes for my family. As I write this post, I have accumulated 679 hours of experience working with families: one-on-one counseling, support group facilitation, and educational classes. I am looking to complete the 1,000 hours of required to sit the IBCLC exam for candidates without a medical background.
A beginning...
In 2022, my parental leave expired and I returned to my corporate job as a process analyst. For the first time, I was separated from my son longer than a couple of hours at a time. Pumping and transporting milk was a huge point of stress for me even though things were going objectively well. At the end of the year, an enormous formula recall was announced. In theory, this didn't impact me. Ultimately, it changed my life.
First, I experienced a massive cortisol overload and was unable to pump any milk. What followed was a massive push for formula from almost everyone around me. But there was none to be had. Then as I read the news and followed along, I saw so many commentators asking why people didn't just breastfeed. As someone in the thick of it, I knew exactly why!
It was in this moment I realized that misinformation about breastfeeding was so much more widespread than I ever could have imagined. Not only that, but it was hurting people. I set out to learn everything I could. Inspired by my reassuring visits with a Lactation Consultant, I was moved to begin studying to become an IBCLC myself.
A journey...
What followed has been a transformative process in every way. Professionally, I left behind a steady career parth in financial services to tread a totally new and (seemingly) unrelated path. I started by taking night classes at the local community college.
When I was laid off in 2023, I worked at Women Infants and Children (WIC). This direct work with families filled me with an incredible passion equitable access to breastfeeding and infant feeding information. Every baby deserves whatever milk their parents can give them. Every parent deserves information and support to make the right choices for their family.
After leaving WIC, I completed the required 95 hours of lactation specific education required to sit for the IBCLC exam. At the end of this process, I took exams to become a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS) and a Certified Lactation Consultant (CLC).
Personally, I've found a drive and determination that I didn't know I had. Working with parents to help feed their babies has become my passion and my dream. The courage to put myself out there offering services and looking for opportunities has carried over to so many other places in my life. I am so grateful to have found this calling and I absolutely cannot wait to see what opportunities comes next.
Philosophy of Practice
My approach is rooted in the belief that every family deserves evidence-based, compassionate support that respects their unique journey and goals.
Person-Centered Approach
Each parent and baby is a unique individual. Through my work at WIC and with La Leche League, I've learned that some scenarios can make breastfeeding so difficult as to be impossible. It is critical to understand each individual's circumstance. This is the only way to create goals and support that will work for them.
Dose Dependent Goals
Every single drop of breastmilk has immense value to a baby and the lactating person. I aim to provide families with plans that maximize their opportunities to make that happen. Only by meeting families where they are will we normalize breasteeding in the 21st century.
Empowerment through Education
By helping families understand how their body makes and delivers milk, they gain more than just classroom experience. The ability to ask root level questions and troubleshoot their own issues provides imense confidence and the ability to pass on their knowledge.
Practice Areas
Focus Areas and Expertise
1-on-1 Counseling
Meeting with prenatal and fourth trimester families to set up and support a breastfeeding goal that works for their family
Underresourced Populations
Offering all services in a free or low-cost environment to ensure that the highest quality care regardless of ability to pay
Support Groups
Facilitating groups organized by affinity with the goal of sharing experiences and perspectives from an immense variety of families
Prenatal Classes
Designing and delivering courses for a prenatal audience to empower parents with a holistic and physiologic understanding of their biology and their baby's development.