Who is Leslie Owens?
I would like to introduce myself as your friendly neighborhood IBCLC! My name is Leslie Owens and I’m a mother, wife, nurse, friend, sister, and lover of all things breastfeeding!
My passion for breastfeeding started when my oldest son, Caleb was a baby. The nurse in me knew I wanted to do it and why it was important, but what I wasn’t prepared for was how difficult something that is supposedly so natural could be, and how many negative connotations are associated with breastfeeding for many people. I wasn’t prepared for well meaning family to not know how to best support me, but not want to see me struggle so the best solution to them was “just give him a bottle.”
Well, not only did I NOT give him a bottle of anything other than breastmilk(the stubborn part of me where if anyone tries to talk me out of doing anything I have my heart set on, or worse, imply that I can’t do it, I will do it or die trying to prove I can lol), I continued nursing him for two years. When I became a labor and delivery/Mother-baby nurse, I had the opportunity to assist and guide new mothers with breastfeeding and I loved it, so I became a lactation counselor while I chipped away at the hours needed to be eligible to sit for the IBCLC exam.
In 2014, I officially became an IBCLC. I continued to work as an OB nurse and IBCLC as well until the past couple of years when I took a full time hospital lactation position. I intended to start a private practice when we moved here to Atlanta back then, but I got pregnant with my twin boys Cameron and Orion which has kept me pretty busy!
The twins turned 1 in June and continue to breastfeed with no end in sight. Lately I’ve had moments of clarity and a clear vision of my future goals and the first one in this chapter will be starting my private lactation practice! Mother Nurture Maternity is officially launching this month and I will be offering private in home lactation consults, breastfeeding education, and postpartum doula services. Stay tuned!