About Me

On a personal note:

As a mother to three boys, I know that balancing family and work life can be challenging; however, it can
be done. Many parents today struggle with finding the best way to parent their children and attachment
parenting has always worked best for me.

What is Attachment Parenting?

Many people feel that if you do not breastfeed, babywear (wear/carry your baby), co-sleep, and
constantly coddle that you are not using attachment parenting; however, that could not be furthest from
the truth. Attachment parenting means something a little different for every parent. For me it meant follow
the baby's lead and to trust my instincts. No one knows more about my children then my husband and I.
I also recognize that there are no rules, and we need to find out what works best for us. Intuition and self
confidence are the tools needed for attachment parenting.

During the baby years, I knew that I needed to meet all the needs of my little ones; the need for food,
comfort, and love. Erick Erickson was the psychoanalyst who defined the eight stages of
social-emotional development. In the early months of an infant's life, they go through the stage
"TRUST V MISTRUST". I interpret this to mean that my goal is to identify myself to my children as a
provider. A provider of food, love, and security (Maslow's basic needs). If my children learn that I will meet
their basic needs, I will have laid a good foundation for the rest of their life.

I was not worried about setting bad habits or spoiling my babies. I do not believe babies can be spoiled;
nor do I believe babies manipulate. Granted all babies have different personalities, but this is not the
same thing.

Every issue you face as a new parent gives you an opportunity to use attachment parenting. You will find
your own way to be an attached parent. Let your instinct and love for your children guide you in your
parenting journey.

Click here to read "There is No Doctrine for Attachment Parenting: Being AP is a Frame of Mind!" by
Diana West

My Passionate Hobby:

RUNNING--I am a new runner; caught the bug in August 2009. I had NEVER run before. In fact, I was
pretty sure that I hated running; bamboo under the fingernails was more appealing to me. That being
said----I gave it a try. I started the couch 25K program (incremental running) and I was hooked. I love
running outside, I have a love/hate relationship with my treadmill, and I LOVE running with friends.

I am a mother of 3 boys, a nurse and lactation consultant (RN, MSN, LCCE, IBCLC), business owner
(http://www.thelactationlady.com/), wife, and I AM A RUNNER!---Follow my running antics here,
http://racyrunners.blogspot.com/

Professional History:

Owner of The Lactation Lady, LLC.

As a master's prepared Registered Nurse with an advanced degree in Nursing
Administration/Managment, an undergraduate degree in Economics and
International Relations, and a true love for teaching, owning my own health care
consulting company was always my goal.

I began my career in the field of maternal/child services as a Labor & Delivery
Room nurse in a Single Room Maternity Care (SRMC) unit in a level III neonatal
hospital. In this setting my responsibilities included nursing care of the high risk
antepartum patient, care of the high risk pregnancies, labor and delivery, operating
room circulating nurse, and post partum care of the maternal/child dyad. I have
always used a family centered care approach in my nursing career, focusing on
the entire family unit.

I have been a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator since 2000. In this capacity, I
teach Childbirth Education, Refresher Childbirth, Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
(VBAC), Infant Care, Sibling Classes, and Breastfeeding Classes. Empowering
new families during this exciting time in their lives is a pleasure. (I also am a Safe
Sitter instructor, working with young adults in an effort to improve babysitting
safety.)

As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), I have worked in
the hospital setting, educating, assessing, and assisting new families with their
chosen method of infant feeding. As private community member Lactation
Consultant, I offer new families education and support services in my office or in
the comfort of their own homes, assisting them with their transition into parenthood
in order to ensure the success of their breastfeeding experience.

Casi Leahy,
BA, RN, MSN, LCCE, IBCLC