Marta Kowalska, BS, MPH, CLC

I'm a mother of an almost eight year old girl who was breastfed until 2.5 years, exclusively the first six months.

I have been a breastfeeding peer counselor for about 3-4 years after my daughter was born, which required me getting a special 9 week training for WIC peer counselors.

When completing my Masters of Public Health my focus throughout my courses was breastfeeding, so I learned a lot from different perspectives.

I received my Certified Lactation Counselor training and certification in May of last year. In June I started working as a Breastfeeding Initiatives Coordinator for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where I am still currently.

In my job I sometimes work with moms, but most of my work is with implementing breastfeeding programs around NYC.

I was born outside of United States and I speak Polish fluently. I am involved with Polish American Maternity Assistance where I specialize in breastfeeding and contraception advice to Polish-American women. Soon I will also be one of the teachers for a childbirth class and I am hoping to conduct breastfeeding workshops.

My personal experience is mostly responsible for why I know so much about breastfeeding and why I want to help moms who need that help. Throughout the years I have learned a lot of information and I often say to myself , "If only someone told me that then..." I want to be that someone to a mom who has a question, who needs a little encouragement, who is trying to work things out.

Each life is different and no circumstance is ever the same and that is why a very individual approach in necessary to help a mother be successful in breastfeeding.