Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Swilling.
Hi Kayla, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I became a mom in 2020, and with the lack of available resources for moms during the Covid lockdown I struggled with learning to breastfeed. I received a lot of bad and wrong advice and treatments and made a lot of painful mistakes. It was miserable. I felt like the people I turned to for help weren’t listening or didn’t know what to do to help. Having been a nurse for nearly a decade I knew there had to be resources available, but I wasn’t finding what I needed.
After my maternity leave was over, we moved to Knoxville and I started working at a hospital and made the switch to working as a postpartum nurse. Almost immediately after training I was approached by the Lactation Department and asked if I was interested in an opening they had. Was I?! I was ecstatic! Finally, a chance to learn all that I knew I still didn’t know, even after having muddled my way into breastfeeding for over a year! I would be able to help others avoid those mistakes I made and fill knowledge gaps. If nothing else I wanted that.
I was delighted to start the journey of getting my IBCLC – the international and highest standard of lactation certification. I started spreading everything I was learning in real time. Friends, family, and of course my patients and co-workers at the time, were all the (sometimes surprised by the subject) beneficiaries of my new knowledge and understanding of how lactation worked. Some things were so simple and I just never knew, and other things were so complex that I was astounded at all the considerations that were involved. I still love learning something new about breastfeeding and lactation. It amazes me what both a baby’s and a parent’s body are capable of doing and of doing together.
Along the way I lost a pregnancy and then had another child. This was my second time struggling with breastfeeding and it felt so disheartening to know the information and still have difficulties. I had postpartum depression and anxiety with both my kids. Those experiences all color the way I interact with others – it felt so right to try and hide how much I was struggling with what I felt I shouldn’t struggle with or didn’t want to be pitied for. I received training and then passed the test for a Perinatal Mental Health Certification from Postpartum Support International so I could have more than just personal experience to be able to educate parents on one of the most common pitfalls when you struggle to feed your baby – neglecting your mental health or excusing how you feel when you are struggling.
I reached out for help and found it this time. I learned the hardest way that it wasn’t just new-to-breastfeeding parents that would struggle with breastfeeding or pumping. I found support was the most stabilizing commodity in life and that having supportive and connected providers made a huge difference.
I wanted to see that happen for more parents and I wanted to be involved. I began Drink Deeply Lactation LLC to be able to focus with parents on what made my journey a success: individually-focused care, research and evidence-based practices, knowledge, and experience. I had a need to be able to help others see what I’ve learned: their worth is more than feeding a baby, support can allow you to make educated decisions through knowing your options, and that struggles don’t mean you are less than an excellent parent at the same moment.
I’m certainly not done yet. My current goal is getting insurance contracts with all the TennCare insurance companies to make sure access to care isn’t hindered for those who should be able to get covered care. I have 1 of 3 already signed and the 2nd contract I’ve been told is heading my way! Next I will be working on signing contracts directly with insurance companies. I’m still expanding my local resources list and love meeting with all the amazing locals that support parents during pregnancy and after birth. The more families I’m invited to support the more I want to see the community support our parents more and am looking into more ways to continue to do that with others in the community. It feels like a lovely beginning.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Professionally I was able to obtain my classes and certifications as I was working part time in the hospital while being the primary caregiver to two young kids. It was a matter of motivation for me – this felt important enough to dedicate the time needed to be qualified. Utilizing insurance companies is never easy work. Laws and requirements change regularly and plans vary by individual plan within the larger type of plan under the same insurance. I continue to adapt to do what I can to offer care that is fully covered by insurance and make things as easy as possible on parents who are often already learning how to care for a baby.
Because of my personal breastfeeding difficulties I really try to focus my education and what I offer to be information before you are struggling and to quickly resolve whatever struggles you are facing utilizing the amazing community we have here in Knoxville.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an Internationally Board Certificated Lactation Consultant and Registered Nurse with my own business that primarily does in-home visits in Knox and Anderson counties. I am certified in Perinatal Mental Health so that I can help educate parents and support their mental health while focusing on breastfeeding or lactating education and difficulties. My personal philosophy is: The most important part of parenting is loving your child. I aim to give parents the support and resources to be able to feed their baby or babies as stress-free, confident, and relaxed as possible. I would say I’m most proud of trying to be as realistic as possible. You need to be available for your family for more than just your milk and I want to help you find how you can best do that while meeting your feeding goals. It’s very much my focus that I’m here to help you learn and try new things but you are the one who makes the decisions. I hope to always be respectful of the fact that you’ve invited me into your home to help with the most precious thing in your life – your family.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I’ve found taking an honest interest in what others are doing in the community and wanting to be able to have the knowledge of who does what has helped me with networking. I want to be able to give the families I work with options and that includes other locals! For finding a mentor I just didn’t give up. Talk to the people who are established that you hear good things about and find someone who can make the time for you that also wants to.
Pricing:
- Most of my visits are fully covered by insurance!
- Prenatal consults $150 if out of pocket
- In-home visits $175 if out of pocket
- Tele-health/virtual visits $125 if out of pocket
- Quick virtual “check in” $50 if out of pocket
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drinkdeeplylactation.com
