Nice to meet you! We're glad you're here!
Southwest Minnesota Lactation & Beyond is a collaboration between Jenna and Jess, we provide many lactation services together as Jess works towards becoming an IBCLC. We each provide doula services and act as each other's back-up doulas.
Jenna Erickson, RN, IBCLC
I grew up in Redwood Falls, MN and attended college at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, graduating with a nursing degree in 2009. After college, I returned to the area and now live with my husband, Joel and our two sweet boys, Cohen and Alec on a farm near Balaton, MN. In my spare time, I enjoy gardening, DIY home projects, running or going for walks with my boys, and reading. I've worked as an RN in the hospital for 11 years where I've learned alot of about caring for families during labor, birth and postpartum. It's also what helped me realize that parents need more support!
Having my own kids is what really started my passion for birth, lactation, and postpartum care. As I started thinking about ways I could help parents in our community, I pursued training to be a postpartum doula where I learned how to care for mothers in traditional ways after childbirth and the importance of helping mothers tune into themselves and their babies.
In 2020, I began providing birth doula services. I saw that there was a need in the area and being present and supporting families through labor and birth is something I've always enjoyed. As a doula, I see my role as being an advocate and resource for the birthing person and their partner. Your birth is something you'll remember for the rest of your life and my goal is that you can remember it as an empowered and supported experience.
Southwest Minnesota Lactation and Beyond is something I decided to start out of passion and the realization that there are just not enough support options for parents in our neck of the woods. My goal is to offer another option for supporting families through the early days of parenthood, an option that is all about meeting your goals and figuring out what works best for you.
I know that I will learn just as much from the families I am privileged to work with as they will learn from me. I truly believe that if more women enter motherhood supported and empowered to tune in to themselves and their babies, we will have happier, healthier families and a happier, healthier world.
Trainings and Certifications
As a birth worker and lactation professional, I never stop learning.
Here are some of the ways I continue to educate myself to better serve our community:
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Newborn Mothers Collective Postpartum Doula Training
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DONA International Birth Doula Training
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Spinning Babies workshop for practitioners
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IBCLC Masterclass - a holistic training on oral function and habilitation for the breastfeeding dyad
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Motivational Interviewing training for healthcare providers
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Evidence Based Birth - Professional Member
Every year, I take numerous other small trainings to stay up-to-date.
While birth, breastfeeding and postpartum have been happening for millions of years, we're always learning new ways to best support families and I very much believe in providing evidence-based care.
Jess Dressen, LPN, CLC
I was born and raised in Minnesota. I grew up outside of Saint Cloud and moved to Southwest MN (Canby) with my husband in 2017.
I am a mama to Clara (8) and Harlan (2). One of my favorite roles is being a mom. Motherhood is what created my passion for childbirth and breastfeeding. It was through this journey that I recognized the extreme need for support not only in pregnancy but in labor, postpartum and breastfeeding. Parenthood is a great transformation in one's life and the support needed to go through the change just isn't there.
I graduated in 2017 with my LPN from Saint Cloud Technical College. Since then, I have pursued my Lactation Counseling certification through Healthy Children's Project and doula training through DONA. I have also completed a Spinning Babies workshop. I love to learn about anything in the birth world and my knowledge is always increasing and growing.
Currently I am working as a midwife assistant, lactation counselor, childbirth ed instructor and doula through a non-profit organization, El Nido Birth and Family Ministry. I also co-run the Lactation Lounge breastfeeding support group in Marshall, MN and I am interning to receive contact hours to attain my IBCLC.
In my free time I enjoy working out, going for walks, being at the lake, learning new things, reading and spending time with friends and family.
I feel that it is so important to be supported through your journey of becoming a parent and be educated so you are able to make the best decisions for yourself and your baby. I want to help educate and empower pregnant, birthing and postpartum parents so they are prepared and have the best experience possible.