Baby and the Breast
Lactation Consulting in Tampa Bay
Monica Simpson, BA, CLC, IBCLC
About me
My goal
I want to help moms who want to breastfeed to succeed, and to provide them with up to date, research-based information for the practices that insure that success. Letting moms know what's normal, what that looks and feels like is a big part of of what I do. So often breastfeeding is working like it should, but moms need reassurance and support to have confidence that they truly have the ability to provide all the nutrition their baby needs. Other times a minor adjustment is all that's needed to transform anxiety filled, painful feeding sessions into an enjoyable, relaxed experience. And when there are more serious challenges, it's an honor to support and guide mothers to the solutions they seek.
Current Practice
I’m the IBCLC at three Baby Café clinics in the Tampa area, as part of the ABC program with Champions for Children. Please check the Services tab for locations and schedules.
I am also available for private consults.
I truly love working with moms and their babies, providing education, support and guidance at whatever point they may need it, from letting them know in the first days that "the milk IS in!" to suggestions for gentle weaning. The joy of effectively teaching what moms need to know and the drama of meeting breastfeeding challenges are not really that far removed from my experience as a communicator in my acting days! I can happily say, I love my job!
How I became a Lactation Consultant
Before becoming a Lactation Consultant, I spent 19 years as an actress in NYC, working Off Broadway, at Regional Theatres, and supplementing my “stage habit” with a successful career in TV commercials, and a bit of film and soaps. The birth of my two children launched an equally passionate vocation as a mother, and the experience of breastfeeding them was powerful, meaningful and deeply rewarding. My husband’s career triggered a move to Tampa, FL where I was happy to devote myself to raising the kids, having already travelled the world and experienced the thrill of a life in the theater. They took center stage, and I felt lucky to be fully present for these extraordinary beings. Once they grew up and launched their lives, I started looking for a meaningful way to fill the next chapter of my own life. A friend of mine, head of Outpatient Lactation at a Tampa Hospital, suggested I look into Lactation Counseling. “I love my job!” I remember her saying. I remembered how much I had loved my own breastfeeding experience, and that set me on my new path.
My Training
Certified Lactation Counselor 2011
I took the Certified Lactation Counselor course as a first step, and fell head over heels in love with the idea of making it possible for moms who want to breastfeed to succeed in their efforts! I maintain that certification, and continue to benefit from their conferences and resource materials.
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant 2014
Qualifying to sit for the IBCLC exam meant filling in all the health and science university level courses which had not been part of my BA in Theater Arts. At the same time, I went to work as a Peer Counselor for WIC in Pinellas County, where I was mentored for 2 years, logging well over 1,000 hours of the required clinical practice. I am so grateful for all that WIC mothers and their babies taught me.
One of my WIC moms:
"Dear Monica, thanks for all your help and support, and for helping my baby grow!" Brandie