The Story of My Lactation Business
I had an amazing opportunity to share about my life, my testimony, and the story of my business. Alec Gonzales of @The Redline Podcast interviewed me a few months ago asking me about my childhood, the arc of my faith, my mentors, and what led me to starting my business, Milk and Grace.
I grew up in South LA in a lower middle class neighborhood. As the oldest daughter of five children, I helped raise my younger siblings. My home life wasn’t perfect, but there was a lot of love.
When my parents divorced, the foundation of my faith was shattered. At the same time, a pastor in my youth group was found guilty of molestation, and I no longer trusted the church. I did not yet understand that all people are fallible, even those in the church.
The further I walked away from the Lord, the more out of control my life became. For about a decade, I ignored the Holy Spirit and lived according to my flesh.
In 2009, a dear childhood mentor came to visit me. Like a grandpa to me, my Uncle Mac accepted me and did not cast judgement on me when I opened up to him about my struggles. He gave me the love and acceptance I needed to truly understand grace.
After the birth of my daughter and twins, I became obsessed with all things breastfeeding. I would spend countless hours of the day researching and supporting breastfeeding families. One day my husband asked me, “Is there a business in this field?”
His question lit a fire under me. When my twins were 6 months old, I went back to school doing coursework in the middle of the night. I would not give up until I had accomplished my goal of becoming an IBCLC. It took 3 years to achieve that milestone and I have never looked back.
One of the best parts of my job is also the hardest part. I get to walk with women through grief. Despite the best laid plans, efforts, and support, many of the families I work with struggle. Having a newborn is not easy and things often do not go as planned.
But God. God redeems every hard situation. He walks alongside each of us and gives us just what we need. He turns ashes into glory.
Jeanette DeMeis, IBCLC
