Meet the Swedish Hospital Breastfeeding Peer Counselor: Daisy Ortiz
Why did you become a peer counselor?
I became a peer counselor as a result of my path towards midwifery. After ten years in labor and delivery rooms accompanying families as a doula, I became interested in filling the gaps in spaces where I felt less confident, namely supporting with initiating breastfeeding. My own breastfeeding journey inspired me to learn more. My first go at breastfeeding was incredibly challenging with many sessions ending with me and baby in tears. It took a couple visits with lactation consultants to get me on a better path and that eventually lead to me exclusive breastfeeding for three years. Two more children later and I now have seven years of exclusive breastfeeding experience under my nursing bra!
How do you foster a comfortable environment for your patients?
I firmly stand by the saying that you may not remember what a person says to you but you will always remember how that person made you feel. That is my north star when working with any pregnant or postpartum person. My intention is always to make a parent feel seen, empowered and celebrated because ever little win counts!
Are there any memorable patient experiences from your time on the FEEDS team that reaffirmed your passion for peer counseling?
There have been many memorable experiences but above all I am grateful to these patients who have opened up to be in space of collaborative care and learning. I have information about breastfeeding but I’ve learned about so much from patients, from how to talk to my new teen or mom hacks for travelling with multiple children. I meet people at their humanity but most importantly at their motherhood, and there is no better feeling than one mom looking out for another.
What keeps you excited about your job on a day-to-day basis?
What keeps me excited about this work is continuing to learn and grow alongside the patients and building bridges with people in my community. I may not be in touch with some patients who are 6+ months postpartum but it’s always so great to be able to run into them at the grocery store or to get the random messages with picture updates!
What changes would you like to see in healthcare?
So many, but above all, I hope healthcare shifts towards true partnerships, where providers lead with humility and recognize patients’ expertise about their own bodies. Too often white coat authority overshadows patients’ voices, and I’d like to see clinicians genuinely listen and collaborate rather than instruct without hearing.