About Me:

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I believe that breastfeeding is truly where healthcare and equity start. There is a sense of joy unlike any other that comes with being able to help mothers and families overcome adversity and define their own breastfeeding journey. Breastfeeding can be an emotional and rewarding experience and I take pride and look forward to helping families finally make breastfeeding work for them. Even as an IBCLC I struggled with breastfeeding. After experiencing an emergency C-section (40+ weeks with meconium), delayed milk supply (I didn't have a full milk supply until day 5!), tongue and lip tie (release was not immediately effective), exclusive pumping for 5 months, nipple blisters (I have to pictures to prove it), nipple shields (that didn't work for me), oversupply (from pumping 50 oz/day), thrush, and mastitis (twice!) to finally being able to breastfeed directly at 5 months. I am still breastfeeding at almost 3 years. 

 
I am sometimes reluctant to share my breastfeeding story because I literally had every issue in the book, but I often realize that so many mothers and families go through very similar experiences. I want these families to know that I deeply understand the range of emotion and frustration that comes with breastfeeding challenges, but also the resiliency and success that is possible with access to resources, education, and support. I have learned so much and continue to grow with every breastfeeding family I encounter, and I love being able to bring the breadth of information and experience I have and provide optimal breastfeeding and lactation care to my clients and their family. I am truly honored to do the work I am doing. 

I have been working with families to improve breastfeeding and nutrition outcomes since I began my professional career.  From assisting newborns and at-risk breastfeeding infants in outpatient offices, to facilitating access to quality breast pumps and professional lactation education in public health, I have worked in a variety of settings and have a broad prospective on the importance of having access to breastfeeding education, support, resources, and lactation care. I started as a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) and Nutritionist in 2010 working in public health and became a Registered Dietitian in 2015. I opened Truly Nourished in 2018 primarily with nutrition focused clients, but expanded services as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2019.  

Qualifications and professional experience:

• Bachelor's (nutrition/dietetics) and master's (health sciences) degrees from Georgia State University in Atlanta
• Registered and Licensed Dietitian
• International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
• Clinical Dietitian and Lactation Consultant at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
• Strong4Life Certified Registered Dietitian for Childhood Obesity (Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta)
• Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
• USATF Level 1 Certified Track and Field Coach
• NCAA Division I track and field athlete (2004-2008)
• Georgia Department of Public Health Nutrition Program Consultant (2015-2022)
• Consultant dietitian at NutriFit Sport Therapy, Inc.  providing nutrition counseling to clients for general health and wellness,  weight management, maternal nutrition, pediatric nutrition, disordered  eating, and sports nutrition (2015-2018)
• Public Health Nutritionist/Dietitian providing      nutrition assessments and counseling to participants on the Georgia Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (2010-2015)

"I can see the changes to my body and I am very happy. I really like the meal plan that you set up for me." 

"Denice comes from a nonjudgemental place giving you the tools to be successful."

"Denice is very easy to talk to was able to explain everything in words I could understand and create a meal plan. She also didn't try to change my entire way of eating, but rather added beneficial foods to style of eating I already had."