Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Rosales.
Hi Kara , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey to becoming an IBCLC started 18 years ago. My oldest and I struggled with breastfeeding, and he ended up being combo-fed my breastmilk, donor breastmilk, and formula. Breastfeeding has always been important to me after seeing my mother breastfeed my younger brother, so it was hard for me to come to terms with the fact that he needed to be supplemented. I am so glad that I did, and that experience truly shaped my future in unexpected ways.
I was a SAHM until my second child was born in 2010, and seeing the difference in my feeding experiences between my two children, and how much easier my second experience was because I knew where to find support and had access to it so much earlier and more consistently than I had with my first child. That really cemented for me that I wanted to give others that support and be a non-judgmental, inclusive place of support, no matter what someone’s ideal infant feeding journey or family looks like.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with anything worth it in life, there were struggles. I started school while I was still staying home with both of my kids. I was a La Leche League Leader to begin with, which meant I could bring my kids to meetings, and they got to play with other kids. I did online classes for my required college credits during naptime, and scheduled my in-person classes for times when I could find childcare for my youngest and my oldest was in pre-k.
This was also a financially hard time, since we had only one income. I was so fortunate to receive FAFSA grants for most of my schooling, which really helped me finish my studies and sit for the IBCLC exam in 2015.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My primary focus in my practice is to be inclusive. I am open to any feeding styles, and often see families that are exclusively bottle feeding formula rather than breastfeeding. All families and parents deserve support in the community, and parenting is already frequently isolating and hard. I never want parents to feel like they have no one but their Pediatrician to ask infant feeding questions.
I am also inclusive of family styles. Not all families look the same, and that is OK. Everyone deserves support and respect, and to have the best feeding journey possible with their baby.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There are way too many people to list! When I started my journey, I had two amazing mentors who helped me. I joined their practice and stayed until 2022, when I decided to branch out and open my own practice. I am still so thankful to them for giving me the start that they did.
My family has also been amazing at sharing so much of me with my business. Business owners put so much of themselves into their work, and when you add the layer of caring for others in your profession to owning a business, it frequently takes a village to make it work. My children are always patient with me when I am replying to texts late at night and have to step away to answer client phone calls!
Lastly, I love my clients! They have been with me through everything, and still, most of my clients find me through word of mouth. I am so thankful to all of them for being my cheerleaders and continuing to trust me with their subsequent babies and their friends’ feeding journeys as well!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kararosalesibclc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boobwhispereribclc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085819297632
- Other: https://KaraRosales.intakeq.com/booking
Image Credits
Bonnie Bee Photography https://www.bonnielehr.com/
