Meet Rhonesha Isreal | International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rhonesha Isreal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rhonesha, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Honestly, Milking With Rho being an entire “business” was at the back of my mind. When I started this journey, my only thought was that I wanted to help moms breastfeed their babies. It wasn’t until I started completing all the necessary steps to becoming an IBCLC that I realized I was also working towards entrepreneurship. I realized I was going to be doing more than JUST helping moms with breastfeeding. The thought of marketing, time, financial output, and income all started to fill my head. Truthfully, it made me very anxious. Allowing anxiety to win was not going to happen. I thought about who I wanted to serve, how I wanted my services to be offered, and sat in who I am; who I am as a former breastfeeding mom, a social worker, a caregiver, and friend. I am a natural nurturer. I wanted this business to not only be comfortable for me, but comfortable for my clients. I show up as myself 100% of the time and pour into my clients in attempt to make their lives easier.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a licensed social worker and 1 of 5 Black IBCLCs in my city. Entering a field of predominately white individuals has caused a bit of imposter syndrome. I type that, but I also believe I belong here. I know who my population is and I serve each client confidently. As a social worker, building a relationships comes naturally to me. Working as a lactation consultant, I am easily able to meet these moms where they are. I don’t find any difficulty with talking to moms, assessing, or evening providing the support and care they need to reach their goals. This career is for me and I am owning the space I am taking up. One thing that is difficult for me in this new profession is marketing. We live in a world of social media. I just want to meet with my clients, work with them and their babies, pour into them, give them what they need, and go home. Owning a business that needs marketing is so much more than that. I am learning that I must put myself in every room for every opportunity. I have to show up for myself!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Whew chile!!!! Lol I am a homebody but I enjoy getting out sometimes. Let’s start the evening at Pins Mechanical in OTR in downtown Cincinnati. There are some arcade games, mini bowling, and of course drinks. After enjoying some fun there, we can walk to Bakersfield for some really good tacos. They have some amazing loaded queso dip too!! After that, we’re going to end the night at Nostalgia Wine and Jazz Lounge. Hopefully they have a live band playing. If not, we will absolutely be able to enjoy some good music and even better drinks!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In order to complete the steps of becoming an IBCLC, I had to complete 500 contact hours. Mrs. Chris Auer gave me my first “yes.” Finding a mentor to complete my contact hours was a bit difficult. She gave me an immediate yes. For over a year, she dedicated a few nights a week to supervise me while doing virtual consultation. She helped me form care plans, use proper lactation “lingo,” and was overall an amazing support throughout this journey. I still reach out to her when I’m unsure of something. Outside of doing virtual consultations for contact hours, I also interned on a mother-baby unit of a hospital as well as in an outpatient lactation clinic at a children’s hospital. Suzanne Crable, Sarah Rowe, Amber Clary, Lauren Schmidt, and Brittany Wilcox were amazing and trusted me to work with their clients on the mother-baby unit. I was allowed to take the lead during consultations as they supervised the interaction. I believe working with Anne Brower and Katie Dulap at the children’s hospital was the best placement. The babies were no longer brand new and we were working through issues that could make or break a mom’s breastfeeding experience.
Danielle Freeman, Dani. I appreciate her more than she knows. Dani formed a study group and allowed me to have access to study material that I was not able to afford. Yes, I studied very hard, however I believe I passed my test because she welcomed me into her study group and gave me access to the tools I needed.

Website: https://milkingwithrho.com/

Instagram: Milking_With_Rho

Linkedin: Rhonesha Isreal

Facebook: Milking With Rho LLC