Meet Rhonesha Isreal

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rhonesha Isreal. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rhonesha, so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?

In my field, burnout is a common thing, unfortunately. I’m a licensed social worker at an elementary school and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Having worked in the social work field for 11 years, I’ve learned to recognize when I’m reaching my capacity and set boundaries. The first thing I had to do was identify what my capacity was/is. Once I was able to do that, I felt a lot better because I knew when enough was enough. The issue with that is the guilt you feel when things are left undone or actually needing to ask for help and delegate those tasks. With being a social worker, tasks are given to me and of course I have to complete them in a decent amount of time. As an IBCLC, I work for myself and set my own schedule. I decide how many clients I will serve at a time and how often. Creating my own schedule and being honest about what I’m capable of doing, in regard to time and energy, helps me to avoid burnout. I have to be firm in the boundary setting for myself because if I am not, I will overwork and burn myself out by the constant pouring of empathy, physical service providing, and time.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

As an IBCLC, I provide breastfeeding/chestfeeding help to lactating families via home visits and virtual appointments. Milking With Rho LLC services the Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio areas in person and virtually. I provide hands on lactation assistance to families in need. This can include assistance with latching, positioning, oral assessments, education and assistance with pumping, etc. I show up as me, Rhonesha. I am open, honest, and light hearted. I love to laugh. So when I visit with families, my goal is to bring joy to their home. The postpartum period for many families can be extremely stressful, especially while navigating breastfeeding/chestfeeding. I pride myself on going into homes and giving parents the space to be honest about how they feel and leaving them with the confidence and education they need to move along in their lactation journey. Those are the most exciting parts about the lactation work I am doing. To sit and read the reviews from the parents I’ve served makes the time commitment so worth it.
Professionally, I am working on the logistics of owning a business. One year later and Milking With Rho has grown and is doing great things. But, it is still very new to me.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

While on my journey to becoming a lactation consultant and business owner, I had to be diligent, have great communication skills, and personal experience with breastfeeding. Being able to stay consistent and advocate for myself while attempting to secure placement for an internship(s) is what took me to the finish line. I had to be diligent in finding clients for my community based hours as well as the effort I put into learning the ins and outs of lactation education and the lactation world as a whole. I’m naturally an extraverted person. I’m pretty outgoing and love to engage with other. My personality mixed with being a social worker gave me amazing assessing skills. Because of this, I believe my communication skills top tier and allow me to build a great rapport with the families I serve. Lastly, my own breastfeeding experience allows me to service my clients from a different perspective. No, I do not believe a person has to have experience with something in order to help or guide a client. However, I do believe that it allows me to be the person I needed during that time. My personal experience also allows my clients to see me as a person, not just a professional.
I would tell someone who is looking to go on this journey to be persistent. Secure an amazing mentor who will allow you to take the lead and guide you along the way. Once you start seeing clients, do all things with your clients’ goals in mind. Show up and support them as they navigate the new breast/chestfeeding journey. Be honest with them about your concerns and suggestions. Lastly, love on your clients the way you would your grandparent. Everyone loves a grandparent.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I am always looking to collaborate with community partners. Being able to work with doulas, midwives, and other organizations who service birthing parents and infants in the community is not only great for my business, but great for theirs as well. We all have our own specialties with the same goal of helping families and babies thrive. Partnering with Milking With Rho gives your clients easy assess to lactation care without needing to search for it on their own. I can am very easy to reach and approachable. Speaking to me at community events, via email, or phone is the best way to reach out.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://milkingwithrho.com/
• Instagram: Milking_With_Rho
• Facebook: Milking With Rho lLC