Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sydney White. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Sydney, thanks for joining us today. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?
The first nursing job I held was in a neurosurgery and otolaryngology step down unit at the University of Virginia. While I gained great experience there, my heart was in working with mothers and babies. One of my good friends was a charge nurse on our Mother/Baby unit, and connected me with the nurse manager. Right away, I felt like I had found my sweet spot, and quickly transferred to working in Mother/Baby. Our unit was a high-risk antepartum/postpartum unit, which meant we frequently had critically ill mothers or hospitalized for high risk pregnancies. Since these families were often in the hospital for many weeks, I deepened relationships with many of my patients. By creating a lasting relationship with these patients, I was able to give better and more personalized care. While the hospital environment can often give very standardized care, I came to appreciate how impactful tailored support can be in the intimate space of perinatal care.
Additionally, UVA’s Medical Center had the Baby Friendly designation, so we received additional breastfeeding education as the nursing staff. I frequently worked alongside our wonderful lactation consultants on the floor and witnessed the great impact they made to our families. I would often join them to observe and work through a feeding with a new mother to learn as much as I could. While working at UVA’s Medical Center, I became pregnant with our firstborn, and this passion to support mothers and babies became more personal. My own difficult breastfeeding journey with my firstborn was the final confirmation that I wanted to dedicate my career to supporting families to have confidence in feeding and caring for their babies.
Sydney, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My dedication lies in empowering mothers with confidence in feeding their babies, which is why I founded Cradle & Latch, LLC. I am passionate about prenatal and postpartum wellness, and offer in-home and virtual breastfeeding support. As a mom of two young children myself, I intimately understand the need for continual support and encouragement, appreciating the uniqueness of each breastfeeding journey. My personal and professional experiences drive my commitment to make a positive impact on the lives of families.
Cradle & Latch is dedicated to providing comprehensive care for moms and babies, specializing in breastfeeding support. I offer in-home and telehealth breastfeeding visits in San Diego county. As a postpartum Registered Nurse, I have an extensive understanding of maternal and infant health, allowing me to address a wide range of breastfeeding challenges with an evidence-based approach. I offer practical and empathetic support to create personalized care plans that address both immediate concerns and long-term breastfeeding goals. I am committed to equipping families with confidence in caring for and feeding their babies by providing continuous support through every stage of their breastfeeding experience. Additionally I host monthly group workshops in North County to provide breastfeeding education to my local community. I am also a TRICARE in-network provider.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
If I could do it over again, I would still go to nursing school. When I graduated, I started out working as a neurosurgery acute care nurse. While I gained valuable skills and confidence working in that unit, I wish I started out in labor and delivery instead. My passion has always been to work with young families and babies, and when I began working as a perinatal nurse, I felt like I found my sweet spot. While working as a perinatal nurse, I was fortunate to work at a hospital that held a Baby Friendly designation, which means they had to meet certain criteria to promote breastfeeding. Part of this designation meant that I received extra education specific to breastfeeding and supporting breastfeeding families. That is really when my passion for lactation began, as I witnessed how dedicated our lactation consultants were to supporting families and educating us as the nursing staff. Then when I became a mom myself and sought the support of a lactation consultant, I personally experienced how vital a role they can play in changing something that can be overwhelming and stressful into one that is positive and powerful. My personal experience with breastfeeding my two children equipped me with greater empathy for the families I cared for in a nursing role, knowing firsthand how different each journey can be.
I’m really thankful for where my career has taken me so far. I look forward to continuing my education in the lactation field, and am excited for what is ahead.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Where I am now is not where I thought I would be when I first started out as a nurse. I believed I would be a bedside nurse for the rest of my life. However, becoming a mother really changed what I wanted out of my career and for my family. If I was going to spend time away from my children, I wanted it to be something that I was passionate about, and where I had greater flexibility. After having my son in 2023, I stopped working at the bedside, and began thinking about starting my own business. As I processed ideas with trusted family, friends, and colleagues, I felt like my vision for supporting families in my community became very clear. I never expected to be an entrepreneur, but becoming a mom myself opened my eyes to how much support young families really need. When I sit beside a family in the fresh newborn days, I find myself so grateful that I get to enter into their sacred space.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cradleandlatch.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cradleandlatch/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cradleandlatch?_rdr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cradle-latch-llc/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cradleandlatch
Image Credits
Captis Visuals