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When did you decide to become an NP?
I was a registered nurse and practiced in Jackson, Wyoming and Washington, D.C. for four years before wanting to become a nurse practitioner by my 30th birthday. I was a board certified NP by age 28. I always wanted to be involved in medicine since becoming an emergency medical technician in high school and volunteering on the local ambulance. My experience and a teenager and young adult have helped shape the career I have, and I am so grateful to have found what I love to do. 

 
As a Family Nurse Practitioner, what is your best advice for new moms?
Time for self-care is really hard, but it must be a priority. Exercising in any capacity, meditating, learning to deep breathe and finding ways to multitask to keep your days free is helpful, but also very hard. Working on your marriage and friendships when your new baby is hard but essential to building the support you need. Improving how to communicate your needs and learning to say “no” is a much-needed skill. Things that help me are the ClassPass, Headspace App, and Feel Good Effect pod cast. 
 
We know that pregnancy is complicated, but if there’s one point you want to get across to expecting mothers, what is it. 
 
When you are pregnant you are not sick, your body is changing dramatically, but it is not an illness. There will be many aches and pains, but your daily routine of exercise and sleep should not suffer or change too much. Know that there will be changes that will be hard to deal with, and may feel unexpected, but it does end, and the gift at the tend is all worth it 
 
How did you get involved with Newborn Care Specialists?
I cofounded Stork Childbirth Education with my dear friend and colleague, Lauren, after teaching new families childbirth ed since 2014. We wanted to serve our families better by covering evidence-based prenatal classes. We offer families out Survival Guide full of postpartum resources and in it refer to companies that employ qualified Newborn Care Specialists. It is important to us to refer to companies that we trust and who are experts in their field. Knowing the ICNCS certification is behind my referrals makes us confident in the safety and skills of our newborn care providers. 
 
The standards of newborn care are always evolving. What are some of your favorite resources for staying up to date?
Since I work in Women’s Health, I rely on my fellow pediatric NP and nurses. They help me learn updates in their field that I do not see daily. I use Up To Date daily for my patient care needs and lean on those with experience in the field like the providers at Spring Valley Pediatrics, Metropolitan Breastfeeding, and Hush Hush Little Baby. I am always asking questions and learning something new. 
 
Why do you believe that certification is necessary for Newborn Care Specialists?
I am a board-certified registered nurse since 2003 and board-certified nurse practitioner since 2008, we must hold our care providers to the same standards. If no trustworthy certification exists, then parents are at a loss for who to trust caring for their children. This also makes collaboration among care providers easier as an International Certified Newborn Care Specialist can be trusted and held to standards of care.