Karen Ware Bell, IBCLC
Breast Is Best Lactation Services LLC
About Me
Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
My Philosophy
Simply put, education is the most important element in achieving successful, long-term breastfeeding. Not only is the education piece important prenatally, once transitional milk arrives, every breastfeeding couplet should have an assessment that assures mom and baby that positioning and latch are correct and that mom understands when to pump her breasts as well as understanding that breastfeeding is never timed, always on demand.
In addition to offering prenatal education, I am available for postnatal support. I offer a consult that I refer to as our "Momi, Baby Assessment". The best time for this consult may be as early as the end of day two or beginning of day three. During your birth center, home birth or hospital stay your baby is consuming colostrum, which means your transitional milk has not "come in" yet. In other words, once your milk transitions breastfeeding will possibly change. It is at this time the "Momi, Baby Assessment" is most important. Breastfeeding is most successful when mom and baby get off to a good start. A good start, by the way NEVER entails sore nipples. Not ever.
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My Training
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners 2010
Breastfeeding Educator
Texas Department of State Health Services
I have been helping women breastfeed their babies for some time now.. This wonderful journey began in 2001, just after the birth of my second daughter. I had previously been a WIC recipient and decided to visit the local WIC breastfeeding program. After having had the opportunity to exclusively breastfeed my oldest daughter for 18 months I was interested in finding resources that might be available to support my goal to once again breastfeed exclusively. At that time I was given an opportunity to become a Volunteer Breastfeeding Peer Counselor for Seminole County's WIC Program in Sanford, Florida. Ultimately, being hired as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor in 2004.
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From there, myself and 11 other Breastfeeding Peer Counselors were taken under the wings of our Breastfeeding Coordinator. We were trained with a huge amount of love and passion. In 2006,we were given the opportunity to become Certified Lactation Counselors.
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I had the opportunity to train Peer Counselors, teach a comprehensive, prenatal breastfeeding class, and with the support of our Program Director, develop a "Three Step Counseling Strategy". This strategy is designed to encourage and support breastfeeding families that are interested in reaching long- term exclusive breastfeeding goals.
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I went into Private Practice as a Certified Lactation Counselor in 2009. I named my Private Practice "Breast Is Best Lactation Services".
In 2010, I sat for the boards and became an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). During the course of my time working in the community in Orlando, I had the opportunity to work with Midwives, Chiropractors, Doulas and many supporters of all that is natural in birth. During this journey, I discovered that black infant mortality is incredibly disproportionate to other races. My focus early on was to influence the number of African American families that I could reach with the education that encourages increased numbers in breastfeeding exclusivity.
I was employed by Methodist Charlton Medical Center, a hospital in South Dallas from 2015 until May of 2019.During this 5 year period I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to offer hands- on instruction to anywhere from 15 to 20 or more couplets, every 12 hour shift. It was my pleasure to help many mothers breastfeed their babies. I had the ability to hone my skills extensively during that period of time.
In May 2019 I had the awesome opportunity to re- launch my private practice, Breast Is Best Lactation Services on a full time basis. I am happy to have the opportunity to offer lactation consultations and our Prenatal Breastfeeding 101 course to families in the Dallas Fort Worth and North Dallas Communities. Currently, also in the Killeen/Austin/Temple Communities of Central Texas.
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As Always!! we look forward to "Helping Each Family Reach It's Breastfeeding Goal" See You Soon!!!
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