More About The Hearth Mother, LLC
I am Kaci Godbehere, a Certified Lactation Counselor, Postpartum Doula small-business owner, and mother of three! My journey to becoming a lactation consultant and postpartum doula started when I became a mother, and breastfeeding and postpartum care became something I was passionate about.
Along the way my personal journey with motherhood, including breastfeeding, has run a pretty full gambit of experiences! I have experienced fertility issues, followed by getting pregnant on the first try, I have experienced breastfeeding twins, and then learning to feed a singleton, I have endured a high risk pregnancy with a cesarean delivery, with my next being a healing pregnancy with a beautiful home birth. I have witnessed great lactation support both in the hospital, and in private practice, and overcome latch issues, oversupply, plugged ducts, mastitis, and even perceived under supply. I have been the working mom who pumped constantly, as well as the stay-at-home mom who was able to feed on-demand, and I have fed my babies purees as well as homemade baby food, and baby led weaning. I have co-slept, bed shared, and utilized gentle sleep training, and still successfully let them each self-wean, and moved them all to their own beds before they entered kindergarten! Not perfect by any means, but I feel like I have (and still am) living motherhood to the fullest!
Not surprisingly, I didn't grow up around breastfeeding mothers, and if I did, it definitely was not discussed or explained. While I knew that breastfeeding classes were available, their importance was not stressed, I assumed "I will just know how to do it!" Even once I had the basics of breastfeeding in practice, I was never taught about my pump, the importance of pumping, or even how to maintain my pump or make sure I had a good fit. When I went back to work, I didn't have a hospital grade pump, and I struggled to keep up my supply to be able to feed my twins without supplementing with formula. None of these things were discussed at my prenatal appointments, explained to me in the hospital, nor did I have any previous experiences to rely on, save for some sharing from my older sister all the way over in Colorado! To sum up, I am passionate about breastfeeding, because I hope that other mother's can avoid the obstacles that I had to work to overcome simply because I didn't know better! I was fortunate to have good lactation care available to me, and support from a wonderful group of like-minded moms that grew from breastfeeding groups and blossomed into beautiful friendships.
I am honored to get to offer that same support, and give that same care! The best part of my work, is meeting moms, finding out their goals, and helping them meet those goals in the comfort of their home!
Because home is where the Hearth Mother is!
My Credentials
During your time at The Hearth Mother, LLC, your comfort and privacy are of utmost importance; I have linked the websites that provided my lactation coursework, and that certifies my competency as a Lactation Counselor. Please take some time and look over the organizations below and reach out if you require any further information.
The Center for Breastfeeding’s Lactation Counselor Training Course is a college-level course designed to provide up-to-date, research-based information and clinical competency validation for the provision of professional lactation care. This five-day course is offered at a variety of locations throughout the United States and around the world, training over 4,500 participants annually. On the final day, the CLC® examination, the premier national certification in lactation management for the United States, is administered by the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice (ALPP).
"The Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice’s mission is to promote evidence-based knowledge and clinical competencies of lactation professionals.
Our vision is of a world where all families have access to quality, interdisciplinary, culturally sensitive lactation care, thereby promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding and human lactation for individuals and the society of the United States."
Birth Arts International - Postpartum Doula
Postpartum Doulas are trained professionals that provide physical, emotional, and educational support and guidance to a new parent and the rest of the family. The Postpartum Doula is a reference point, assistant, and resource for the family in the postpartum period. Also, the Postpartum Doula will provide infant feeding support and light household chores. They nurture and advise when the family has questions about newborn care and support other family members.
Additional Professional Qualifications
In addition to my coursework and certifying organizations, here are some other standards of care I provide:
HIPAA compliant booking and documentation for your privacy
Healthcare CPR/AED certified
Fully insured
Bachelor's of Science degree in International Business