Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany Bourgoin Markfort
Hi Bethany, 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?
when my son was born, we had a really long labor, and he ended up in the NICU for 7 days — there was concern of brain damage initially, so he was on a cooling blanket for 72 hours. in order for him to get any breastmilk, and to keep up my supply while he was receiving his nutrition by IV — i had to exclusively pump. i got a little help in the hospital, but mostly i had to figure it out on my own, and also had to navigate how to manage an oversupply of milk as well! this lead me to sharing my story more on instagram and my social media platform, sharing more exclusive pumping resources, creating a safe community of pumping parents who had experienced birth trauma or not gotten to nurse the way they anticipated! i went on to need to make more of an impact on my community both online and in my local community — i am now (as of last week) qualified as a Certified Lactation Counselor! my focus is on helping parents pump successfully either through exclusive pumping, or returning to work, and also managing their oversupply.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
birth trauma is hard. and holding space for parents who are also navigating their own birth experiences (whether positive or negative) is so hard. it can be the most soul-fulfilling thing, or it can also be one of extreme darkness. i also have ADHD, and i hesitated in pursing my lactation education for a while because it is hard understanding if this interest was one of a short term “hyperfixation”, or something that was going to be long term and that i could truly be successful in. i’m so glad i listened to myself and did go to get my certification!
one of the hardest parts about this work in general is that there is very little education on successful pumping, even in lactation counseling spaces. it is frustrating for me as a professional as i see SO many false statements online that lead my clients down a much harder road than it needs to be. and also accessibility — yes, the hope is that nursing can be initiated. but some parents either choose not to nurse, or their babies have a hard time due to medical conditions or NICU starts to life, or even returning to work! nursing parents who return to work have very little correct support on how to pump correctly to support their supply when away from their babies. pumping allows extended breastfeeding practices when done correctly!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
i’m a lactation professional who focuses on educating parents how to breast pump correctly and successfully! most of my clients are exclusively pumping and either
1. dealing with oversupply and need to know how to manage their supply with ease, and without feeling like they are hooked up to a pump all hours of the day, or
2. parents who WANT to become oversuppliers and increase their supply, to decrease supplementing with formula.
in the lactation and breastfeeding spaces, there are very little resources for overproducers, parents who have an abundance of breast milk. either there is a collective shame for producing so much and they are pushed to donate their own milk that their body created, or there are no resources on how to handle this large supply, while also finding joy in their breastfeeding journey!
i’m so proud of the community I have created online (instagram @oversupplymama) — there is this feeling of positivity, of holding space for big and very valid emotions, especially when dealing with birth work and potentially birth trauma. all of my moms are the kindest people and they lift each other up constantly. i’m just so proud to create a space that not only feels supportive for oversuppliers, but also parents who may not create enough.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
this sounds so silly, i can’t remember one exact memory, but more of a feeling. sitting with my family around our dinner table every night. my mom, dad, my brother and sister and me. us kids are all around 2-2.5 years apart, and i remember this feeling of laughter and connection around our table. or if we didn’t sit down right at the table, i loved movie nights! my dad would make the biggest batch of popcorn, cook it right on the stove, and my mom would cut up apple slices, cheese and crackers, and peanut butter. i remember seeing Star Wars for the first time this way, and now my son is named after a Star Wars character, so i guess it has come full circle!
Pricing:
- 1:1 Pumping Consults = $125
- (currently being created) The Basics to Successful Pumping Course = $39
- (currently being created) No More Mastitis Weaning Course = $49
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bethanybourgoin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oversupplymama/
