Stephanie Sigler, LGSW, PMH-C, CLC, CD-L, C-CBE

I grew up in Graceville, MN and even though I swore I never would - I returned home and married my husband, Cody, who is also from the area. I have been Licensed Social Worker since 2013. Following the birth of my boys, Henry (5), Alvin (3), and William (1), I developed an obsession with all things birth related. 

Being a mother is everything that I ever wanted and it is my favorite job that I've ever had. But it has never been easy! When my boys were born, I realized just how little we prepare women for birth and what comes next. I chose to have unmedicated, hospital births and had three extremely different labors. Breastfeeding was a test of my stubbornness and all of my ideas of what motherhood would be like. My oldest would not latch, so I went down the path of exclusive pumping and was able to do that for a year. My second latched like a rockstar, but I struggled with a low milk supply (for the second time) and he lost a lot of weight. So we went right back to exclusive pumping and I was able to do this for about 6 1/2 months. My youngest struggled with a lip/tongue tie and eventually refused to nurse, despite reversal. So for a third time, I decided to exclusively pump.

I decided to pursue my doula certification through ProDoula & DONA and my Lactation Counselor certification through Healthy Children's Project & Lactation Education Resources. I recently completed my Master's in Social Work, in an effort to offer therapy services, which included extensive training in Perinatal Mental Health from Postpartum Support International and completion of their national certification exam. I still work full time as a licensed social worker within a school. 

I am amazed at the ability of the human body to create new life and support children. I have a passion for bringing conversations about birth and breastfeeding to the forefront of our society, where in the past it was an unmentioned topic. Even though we have decided to live in "rural Minnesota", I feel that mothers should have access to the same types of services available in the "big city". I drove over two hours to see a specialized lactation consultant when I was struggling with my own breastfeeding journey. 

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my boys, which includes learning more about construction vehicles and dinosaurs. I am not going to pretend that I have a lot of time for other activities, but I do love sneaking away to the movies for a night and online shopping during nap time!