August 2022 | Interviewed and edited by Jessie Colbert, Executive Director, Mass. PPD Fund
The Mass. PPD Fund has been lucky to have Shenell Ford, BS, IBCLC, CPE as a partner since 2019, when she helped us reconceptualize our training opportunities to better include other family support professionals outside mental health providers. Shenell is the founder of the community-based lactation practice Heart2Heartbeat Lactation and Wellness, and serves in a range of leadership roles including as the Chair of the City of Springfield MA’s Maternal Child Health Commission. For Breastfeeding Awareness Month and Black Breastfeeding Week ’22, I was honored to sit down with her and hear about her personal and professional journeys, including her take on breastfeeding and perinatal mental health.
Can you share your personal journey with breastfeeding? Had you planned to nurse? Was it what you expected, or were there bumps in the road?
As a pregnant mom, I had a few people in my family locally that had breastfed. But even still I didn’t really know too much. Honestly, I talked to a cousin of mine who was breastfeeding, and she was just explaining to me that breastmilk is the healthiest option. I was like, Stop right there – no more convincing is needed!
I kind of did my own research. I’m very inquisitive anyway – just my nature. My doctor [helped] after I would come consistently with all these questions. And I ended up on WIC as well. So then I was paired up with a breastfeeding peer counselor and she offered amazing information and really opened my eyes to even more.
When I gave birth in the hospital, I had a negative experience as far as support goes. I remember being in the hospital room with my baby, family’s all over the place. I hear [the nurses] out in the hall saying, Oh, you know, just give her some formula, she’s not going to breastfeed anyway.
I thank God that my son didn’t have a lot of the issues that we hear about so often – he didn’t experience any latch trouble, I didn’t have any supply issues, I didn’t experience any nipple pain, cracking, any of those things. I was like, Oh, this is great! It was just that beautiful experience. Early postpartum was rough getting used to his cycle, but the fact that I was able to get the information ahead of time made it that much easier.
With my second, though, I struggled. He tore me up. By that point, I was in the field myself. I was a peer counselor, I was pursuing my CLC [Certified Lactation Counselor] certification at the time, but even still. You know, looking to my community I didn’t really see too many people promoting and encouraging breastfeeding. All you really saw was, Oh, here’s formula. Like, that was the expectation, that was the norm. With my second I requested the LC in the hospital. I’m like, Okay, I know who to ask for. They never came. And honestly, it turned into a motivating opportunity. I knew I wanted to make a difference.
You have been an important leader locally and nationally on breastfeeding, and on culturally sensitive support for Black and Brown moms. How did you get to where you are today with your career? What inspired you?
My own personal journey was really the main inspiration. You know, just having a breastfeeding peer counselor that I could access while I was pregnant, while I had millions of questions racing through my mind – what to expect, letting me know I had options.
So yeah, I started as a breastfeeding peer counselor and I fell in love with it. And then six months later I had the opportunity to go for my CLC and I absolutely jumped on it. Just the exposure and actually getting to know that, Oh wait, this is a whole field? Like, this is an actual career people do for a living?!
And with the CLC, I set my sights on the IBCLC [International Board Certified Lactation Consulant]. I’m like, What is the top tier? Where can I make the most difference? I’m like, Okay, yep, I need that. With those letters, I can do so much more for the community. Making sure that the community is centered and supported, and especially those that have been historically marginalized, disenfranchised and minoritized. And making sure that those priority groups have adequate and equitable support. Even if it’s just one family, I feel like I’ve done my job.
We know that breastfeeding is beneficial for babies, but what about for moms and birthing people? Since our organization is focused on mental health, can you talk the positive impact of breastfeeding on parents’ mental health and wellbeing?
The breastfeeding relationship really allows for this unspeakable bond. Just how it allows time and space with baby, how chemically you are bonded. Breastfeeding is love. It’s a beautiful way to express that and to show that and to experience that. Not to say that families that choose not to incorporate breastmilk or can’t for whatever reason don’t have a beautiful bond with their baby. But it’s such a beautiful experience and a beautiful journey!
And how that manifests with mental health. There are decreases in postpartum depression and just overall PMADs [Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders] associated with the breastfeeding experience. It affirms us in a lot of ways, too. I think throughout parenting we’re constantly questioning ourselves. I mean, my sons are ten and eight now and I’m like, Okay, am I making the right decision? Am I doing everything that I should be doing for them? And I always reflect back on my breastfeeding experience and think, I’m so proud of what I was able to do for my babies. It serves as a beautiful reminder that we are worthy.
That is something that I tell my families: in the midst of all the crazy, and our minds are all over the place, recognize and focus on what’s happening right now in this moment. Look at your baby, look at your baby looking back at you. And just center yourself in that moment and let that moment carry you through to the next one. We have so many things that tell us that we’re not enough, but we look at our babies and we know that we are.
What barriers to breastfeeding do you find are the most challenging for moms? For Black moms in particular? Are there things we can do systemically to make things easier?
The top two things that really come to mind are availability of services and access. Making sure that services are actually there, that they exist. And making sure that they’re accessible to everyone. And again, really factoring in equity and making sure that those specific populations that have not had adequate support have it. And weaving in representation and making sure to offer support in a specialized kind of manner.
And, you know, making sure that families have what they need in order to succeed. For Black and Brown families, it’s no different. Making sure that the services are appropriate and that the spaces are welcoming. And making sure that the community’s voice is heard, that it’s centered, recognizing that there’s expertise within the families, the community. And including them in conversations and in the decision-making as well.
What is your favorite part of being an IBCLC?
Do I have to pick one [laughs]? So, of course getting to work with the families. Getting to know them, getting to see the babies. Who doesn’t love that!? Knowing and understanding the mantle that I carry is something that I say all the time. And honestly, it’s a blessing to be able to serve in such a beautiful way. And just to know the impact that I have the potential to make — I don’t even have words for that! The fact that I can serve somewhat as a gatekeeper. That is such a profound honor and I find so much joy operating in that space.
Another favorite part of mine is when I get the feedback from a family that I’ve been working with. Just to be able to celebrate the small joys — and the big ones! Like, Oh my gosh, I got the baby to latch today. You know what, I am cheering and crying along with you! When I get those comments, and those texts, when I get those pictures it takes it right over the top. It’s like, Without you, I wouldn’t be here. My baby wouldn’t be breastfed. I just got one of those texts. And this baby is now almost eight months. And mama struggled and struggled at the beginning. She was giving up a few times, where she’s like, No, because of you, I couldn’t give up. I love those moments.
What is advice would you give about breastfeeding to those who are considering it?
Number one, give yourself grace. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with your baby. Definitely do your own research. But seek out those professionals in your area that you feel you can trust. Reach out to your support systems and lean into those that you love and that love you, and that will love on your baby. But your overall, trust yourself. And that’s really hard to do in some instances, especially when you don’t know what you don’t know. But lean into the fact that you love your baby, and that you’re always going to do what’s best for your baby. And, you know, let the opinions of others fall to the wayside. Absolutely know that you can do it. Just try it! Try and then call me [laughs]. Reach out to somebody!
Lactation resources:
https://www.instagram.com/h2hbeatlw/
https://www.mass.gov/wic-breastfeeding-support
https://bostonbreastfeeding.weebly.com/
https://www.usbreastfeeding.org/