Meet Meredith Barba | WHNP, IBCLC & Owner of Milk Mentor CO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Meredith Barba and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meredith, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Breastfeeding is SO multifaceted! And by “breastfeeding”, I mean all things feeding: milk production, pumping, bottle feeding, etc.

For a topic that is so heavily judged, there is hardly ANY education given to women and new parents. Hurtful statements such as, “it’s the most natural thing in the world, why are you struggling?”, and “breast is best/fed is best”, and “just give the baby a bottle, he’s starving”, and “cover up!” all float freely.

So how can we expect anyone to be successful (however that looks for them), if we don’t give them the proper tools and support?

There is not just ONE way to feed your child. Aside from rare scenarios, it IS possible to breastfeed and provide breastmilk to your child in a way that is enjoyable and SUSTAINABLE for you and your family’s needs.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Milk Mentor CO was not an “end goal” that I had been working toward for years. It was built organically and truly draws from the very diverse path that brought me here.

My first career was running an oncology camp for cancer patients, survivors, and family members. Creating a sense of community and understanding (of both the highs and the lows) is a core value I continue to instill with my families.

Then, I became an EMT and ended up *accidentally* joining a rural fire department. During my time there, I assisted in teaching the EMT course to the new recruits. Though 18 year old boys are NOT the same as sleep-deprived new parents, with both audiences, it’s important that they genuinely understand what you’re teaching – not just hearing you lecture and spew facts.

As an L&D nurse-turned-Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, I saw the gaps in our care and how we weren’t making things easier for women and families. I can’t change the entire system, but I can do everything in my power to make sure each family I work with has access to evidence-based information, feels safe asking questions, and can then make informed decisions.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’re still new to town, so I’m counting on reading everyone else’s answers to build my own itinerary!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My “shoutout” is dedicated to my husband, Jason.

If I had to trace my success back to one decision, it would probably be marrying someone who is my polar opposite when it comes to my tendency to overthink things. Jason can listen to me go down a rabbit hole and somehow just sum it up into one action sentence – “It sounds like you want XYZ, so just do it.”… like it’s the easiest, most obvious solution in the world!

Website: https://www.MilkMentorCO.com

Other: Send me an email, I’d love to hear from you!
Meredith@MilkMentorCO.com

Image Credits
K. Sharp Photo
A+A Photography