The month of August is National Breastfeeding Month, and we just finished a whirlwind World Breastfeeding Week during the first week of the month. In honor and celebration of this month of recognition, I’d like to take a moment to tell you what, as a Breastfeeding Medicine Physician, I am grateful for:

1. FINDING MY NICHE. Life takes you in interesting directions. I am cringing looking at the above photo of my learning how to breastfeed my first little nursling. Now that I know a thing or two about it, I would definitely be repositioning both of us so that we would be more comfortable! Though breastfeeding was hard for me, I am thankful that it led me to such a fulfilling specialization that allows me to help others navigate their breastfeeding journeys with strength, knowledge, support, and confidence.

2. FINDING MY NERVE. I’m so happy I finally got up the guts to leave a job and system that was no longer making me happy and to create my own medical practice on my terms.

3. THE SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY. I can’t thank my family enough for their support and patience through this journey. They are my “why” and I hope I am doing them proud. I know they are constantly making ME proud of them. And I want to put in a shout out to MY mom who paved the way by creating her own practice many years ago, and supporting me in so many ways as I navigate through my experience.

4. MY AMAZING COLLEAGUES. I am thankful for truly amazing colleagues - from my fellow pediatricians who mentored me through years of being a general pediatrician, to my lactation teachers and mentors, to the DPC docs who planted the seed in my mind that grew into my current practice, to my current lactation and perinatal support colleagues who I am honored to work with and learn from as we build up better supports for new families in the Chicagoland area.

5. MY PATIENTS. I learn from my patients every day. I am so honored that I have patients who have trusted me to enter their homes and lives and to walk with them through such an intimate and important chapter in their lives.

6. THE EVER-EVOLVING WORLD WE LIVE IN. I am thankful for the direction we are moving in as a society to better support new families. Though the process is very slow, it is moving in the right direction and I am proud and grateful to be part of this movement towards providing more comprehensive, accessible, and equitable perinatal support.