About MOTM developer & author
Molly Veltz, RN, BSN, IBCLC

I grew up in Columbia, Missouri but moved to "the big city" of St. Louis to attend St. Louis University, where I earned my bachelor's of science in nursing. Then I got married and moved to Germany where my husband was stationed in the Air Force. It was so unhelpful that I took French in school for 7 years, and have zero aptitude for speaking other languages. About all I can manage in German, even after living there for three years, is ordering a beer. (Bitte ein Bit, anyone?) While living in Germany, I had my first child, a girl. After experiencing extreme morning sickness (hyperemesis) with my pregnancy, I could not wait to evict her from my body, which I managed to do on her actual due date, after 34 hours of labor. Not even scabbed and bleeding nipples for three weeks could dampen my enthusiasm for being able to eat without throwing up. My Mother coached me on how to breastfeed, and for once in my life I followed all her instructions; this resulted in a robust supply and a baby who only wore newborn clothes for about a minute. However, our breastfeeding journey was cut short at 12 months by the development of rheumatoid arthritis, and my need to take contraindicated medication. I never imagined that I would breastfeed beyond 6 months, let alone be reluctant to wean at a year. By then, we had moved to Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, where I endured a stint as a medical/surgical nurse. Taking care of sick people was humbling, but was not my calling.

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My dream to become a Labor & Delivery nurse came true when we moved back to St. Louis. That position was just as exciting as I had imagined, and initially I fought back tears of awe and joy at every delivery that I was privileged enough to witness. However, the birth of my son prompted the difficult decision to quit my favorite job, and mainly stay at home, (he still owes me for that) except for teaching childbirth classes and leading La Leche League meetings. After my third and final baby started school, I channeled my passion for lactation into becoming an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant, (IBCLC) and joined the lactation team on one of the busiest maternity floors here in St. Louis. Shortly afterward, I started a hospital-based breastfeeding support group, which is where I am inspired every week by this amazing generation of parents, to whom I owe much of my professional development. They work so hard to establish lactation, despite many challenges, and early returns to work. They have taught me that breastfeeding success looks different for everyone, and that moms' well-being is as important as healthy babies, in fact, the two are dependent on one another. Breastfeeding support has to be offered in a way that recognizes parental limits, and never shames parents when breast milk substitutes need to be utilized.  

 

I love meeting new parents in the hospital and I absolutely treasure my support group moms. Their humility and humor make me laugh, and they frequently move me to tears by sharing their struggles so openly and honestly. Many of them have fought to become parents in the first place; then, they not only make milk for their baby, pump on the job, and occasionally donate milk, but they also keep up with monthly social media posts of their growing babies! Watching these new moms find their footing, problem-solve, gain confidence and become empowered through what they have achieved, is the most rewarding thing ever. I feel so fortunate that my job allows me to witness this process; it's a privilege I hold with respect and gratitude.