Meet the IBCLC: Jenna Forrester

I’ve been an IBCLC for 8 years, and a nurse for 12 years. I’ve always loved Women’s Health and started my career as a Labor and Delivery nurse. I loved helping families welcome their new babies into the world. During my time working on Labor and Delivery, we welcomed our first daughter, Isabelle, into the world. I got to experience returning to work at 9 weeks postpartum, pumping during a 12 hour shift and managing working and being a new mom. I was very lucky that our childcare provider was an experienced breastfeeding mom and really helped build my confidence and supported me tremendously during our daughter’s first year. It was at that point that I knew I wanted to be that support for other parents.

In 2013 I became an IBCLC and since then have added two additional daughters, Caroline and Amelia, to our family.  I think my own experience helps me to empathize with new families and the struggles that many families face in the early weeks and months. Having a baby during the pandemic this past year has also really helped me understand first hand so many of the things that have been difficult for families during this time, as I’ve experienced so many of those ups and downs as well!

What is YOUR favorite aspect of being an IBCLC?

One of my most favorite aspects of being an IBCLC is helping families meet their breastfeeding/chestfeeding goals.  The joy a family experiences when a baby that has had difficulties latching finally latches for the first time is one of my favorite moments.

One thing you wish people knew about IBCLCs or the IBCLC profession?

One thing I wish people knew about IBCLC’s is that we are here to help, no matter how small or large the problem! I love giving new families the confidence to continue moving forward in their feeding journey, whatever that may be.  I wish families knew that IBCLC’s are here for many different reasons- we can help with things like difficulty latching, pain with feeding, bottle feeding, returning to work, along with many many other things!  

I love being an IBCLC and love learning new things to help families that I work with.  Continuously working to think outside the box and add new skills to my tool box is something that I feel like is very important.  Building trust with the families I work with is very important as well- we all know we are being invited into a very special and sometimes scary or difficult time in their lives, so I consider it a privilege to get to be invited into that space!