Help Maya become a Lactation Consultant!

What if I tell you that empowering postpartum care and lactation education can help improve family outcomes, breastfeeding rates, and make healthier parents and babies?

Hello! Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about me and why I am here! My name is Maya and I have been a midwife in the beautiful Washington State for the past 5 years. I was born and raised in Brazil and I did graduate in Brazil as a midwife! This profession is so rewarding and full of challenges. I am honored to see families grow big and healthy through pregnancy, birth, and after birth. Since I have been on a break from attending births after my daughter was born, I have realized how much I have learned during my own postpartum time and I became very interested in the after-birth period including postpartum healing, support, and lactation. I struggled with a tongue-tied baby, engorgement, and breastfeeding difficulties. Lactation consultants helped me through my journey and I am so thankful for them. Midwives are very excited about lactation, but I have noticed over the years a gap in education and practice. As my wish is to help people achieve their postpartum goals, I have decided to further my studies and become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). My goal is to serve people in both languages, English and Portuguese (Portuguese-speaking immigrants in Washington State). The IBCLC certification will allow me to be skilled in lactation techniques beyond the midwifery scope of practice (help with twins, premature babies, induced lactation, etc.) and help to improve breastfeeding rates amongst communities of color and immigrants. My plan is to serve families in clinical settings and at home.

To become an IBCLC, I have to do several hours of education, and well, that costs a little too much for this full-time mom's budget. Here is the breakdown:

Lactation Consultant Training from GOLD Lactation Academy (It is necessary to have 95 hours of lactation and communication classes for the certification) - $999

IBCLC certification test fee (required for initial certification) - $660

IBCLC retake test fee (as needed) - $330

Total: $1989 (My birth year!)

I have added one retake test since I get test anxiety and I always feel that way before a big certification. However, if I pass at first (my hope), I will move those $330 for two immigrant families who are in need of lactation support and go to their home visits at no cost to them. I will be happy to keep everyone posted on my journey!

Please, help this midwife bring access to holistic postpartum care, education, and resources to people, especially communities of color and immigrants! Thank you for taking the time to read my campaign and consider supporting my cause!

Feel free to contribute any amount and share this link. Thank you for being part of this process.

Maya Johnson, LM, CPM, MA

Image description: Maya is wearing a red and floral dress watching the sunset beach while breastfeeding her 7-month-old daughter Olivia.