About
Hi, I’m Jessica.
I’ve been where you are: navigating both the messiness and joy of motherhood from breastfeeding through a painful latch to slowly figuring out a new identity. Believe me when I say, I get it.
My biggest dream as a child was to become a mother. And I made that dream come true- twice! What I hadn’t dreamt about was feeling lost, confused, frustrated and overwhelmed.
Sure it was joyful, rewarding, awe-inspiring too, but I hadn’t anticipated how much time, energy and problem solving my very first job as a mother would require; I had to feed my baby and I had to do it well.
I ultimately breastfed my daughters for almost 4 years combined. It certainly wasn’t easy, but I realized it was the support and company of other moms and professionals I trusted that made me believe I could do it, and figure things out when I had doubts or challenges.
That was a turning point.
With more than a decade of experience as an occupational therapist (OTR), I decided to return to school (yet again!) to find my passion and purpose to work with moms. In the fall of 2023, I graduated with my post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD).
It was also during this time that I realized my passion in lactation.
In 2022, I began working exclusively with moms and babies as an occupational therapist and realized that much had changed with the Pandemic— where there once was opportunity for community and support for those earliest months of motherhood, there was now more isolation. This made breastfeeding an especially lonely, confusing, and difficult experience for many.
To specialize in maternal health and lactation as an occupational therapist, I have consumed over 300 hours of professional development (and counting!), ultimately earning my Certificate in Lactation Counseling (CLC), Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) and I am currently in the process of becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
All those letters are a fancy way of saying my life’s work is advocating for and encouraging moms everywhere– and I’m 100% dedicated to the cause.
Education
BA in Psychology, University of California Riverside 2009
MS in Occupational Therapy, San Jose State University 2011
Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD), Boston University 2023
Specialized Trainings and Certifications
Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) ALPP
Certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) PSI
Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM) Infant Massage USA
Sensory Beginning Master Course
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Certificate
Lactation Support | Infant Feeding Therapy | Occupational Therapy | Infant Massage & Bodywork
Things I can help with:
Postpartum healing, tongue and lip tie, latch difficulties, milk supply, transition to solids, bottle refusal, feeding aversion, head turn preference, delayed milestones, pumping, perinatal mood changes, postpartum anxiety and/or depression, parental stress, oral dysfunction, returning to work, sleep routines, mindfulness-based stress reduction, creative expression and processing, alternative feeding methods such as cups, syringes, spoons, Supplemental Nursing Systems (SNS), nipple shields
