Erica Manners Lactation

Erica Manners Lactation Erica Manners Clark, RN
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
Providing in-home & virtual lactation and postpartum support
Niagara Region

Nurtured Beginnings Niagara offers gentle, evidence-based lactation, newborn, and postpartum support for families across the Niagara Region. Care is available in-home, in clinic, and virtually. Founded by Erica Manners-Clark, RPN, BScN, IBCLC candidate, Nurtured Beginnings was created to bring calm, confidence, and compassionate support to the early days with a new baby.

05/15/2026

We send parents home with stacks of papers, resources, and information…
and somehow expect them to know what actually matters most.

It’s a lot.
And when you’re tired, emotional, and just trying to care for your baby it can feel overwhelming to figure out where to even start.

So if you take anything with you, let it be this:

✨ Your baby won’t follow a strict schedule
✨ Feeding is a learning process for both of you
✨ Diapers will tell you more than the clock
✨ Cluster feeding is normal (even if it feels like a lot)
✨ Pain is a sign something might need to be adjusted

You don’t have to push through pain or guess your way through feeding your baby. Dedicated and individualized hands-on support can make all the difference.

Start there 🤍

05/05/2026

Today we celebrate the incredible work of midwives 🤍

As a nurse, I’ve always felt so supported working alongside midwives. They are fierce advocates for evidence-based, patient-centred care, and I’ve learned so much from them throughout my nursing journey.

I learned how to do newborn blood work skin-to-skin because a midwife took the time to teach me, support me, and help me feel confident.

The other day, I experienced caring for a patient with an unmedicated birth(my first) working alongside a midwife, and watching their calmness, advocacy, and support for the patient made such an impact on me as a new nurse. Their presence helped the patient feel safe and honestly helped me feel more confident in both my patient and myself.

And as someone passionate about infant feeding support, I’m always grateful for the collaboration we have. When midwives ask for my support with a difficult latch or feeding plan after trying everything they can, I know those families will continue to be followed closely, supported, and cared for long after I leave the room or home. That continuity and trust means so much to families — and to me as a provider too.

Collaborative care matters, and families truly feel the difference.

Happy International Day of the Midwife to all the incredible midwives supporting families every single day ❤️

MaternalHealth BirthWork EvidenceBasedCare PatientCentredCare BreastfeedingSupport PostpartumCare

04/27/2026

One of the most common questions I get:
“How often should I feed my baby?”

Most of us are taught: every 2–3 hours.

But then reality hits…
Your baby wants to feed again 45 minutes later.
Then again.
And suddenly you’re wondering if something is wrong.

This is where the confusion starts.

Because feeding isn’t meant to follow a strict schedule.
it’s meant to follow your baby.

Cluster feeding, frequent feeds, short feeds…
this is all normal newborn behaviour, especially in the early weeks.

And what you’re seeing in this video? 👇
Those are early feeding cues.

This is your baby saying: “I’m ready again.”

✨ Cue-based feeding means:
• Feeding when your baby shows signs like this
• Not waiting for a set time
• Not second-guessing every short or frequent feed

Because your baby doesn’t need the same amount every time
and your body responds to frequent, effective feeding.
So if your baby just ate and is showing cues again…
you’re not doing anything wrong.

You’re responding exactly the way they’re designed for.

The schedule didn’t fail you.
It just doesn’t fit newborns.

Watch your baby, not the clock. That’s where it gets easier.

04/17/2026

An interesting thing I’ve learned about peanut balls in labour…
they’re doing a lot more than people think 👀

This “weird” ball isn’t just for comfort.
We use it to help open the pelvis, encourage baby to descend, and keep labour progressing—especially when you have an epidural and can’t move around as much.

And yes… this is where the funny positions come in 😂

Side-lying with one leg up
Almost on your stomach with the ball tucked in
Leg draped over it at a very questionable angle

Sometimes it feels awkward, sometimes it looks ridiculous…
but there’s a reason we’re doing it.

Labour is all about positioning + space.
Even small changes can make a big difference in how baby moves down.

So if your nurse starts putting you into some ✨creative✨ positions with a peanut ball…
just know there’s a method to the madness 🤍

03/21/2026

Pregnant? Take this breastfeeding class before your baby arrives. 🤍

Feel confident, not overwhelmed—when it comes to feeding your baby.

✨ B***s, Bottles & Better Latches
📅 Thursday, April 9th
⏰ 6:30–8:30pm
💻 Online
💛 $20 suggested donation (supporting The NEST Centre Niagara)

Real guidance. No pressure. Just support.

⬇️ Register in bio

03/07/2026

Passed the NCLEX. 🩺

After years of school, shift work, raising babies, and studying whenever I could squeeze it in… I’m officially an RN.

Huge thank you to everyone who shared study tips along the way. Archer question banks, Mark K lectures, and lots of 85-question practice tests made a huge difference.

Tomorrow I start orientation for my new RN role (still feels surreal)… and I also just turned 30 — so I guess I’m officially a real adult now. Even though I’ve clearly been faking it for the last 10 years.

Alongside this new chapter, I’ll still be offering lactation support through my business with limited availability for in-home visits in Niagara and virtual check-ins.

And if you’re expecting… I’m working on something very special for soon-to-be parents that I can’t wait to share. Stay tuned. 🤍.






Today I officially became Erica Manners, RN.This road was not easy.Nursing school required more than just studying. It m...
03/04/2026

Today I officially became Erica Manners, RN.

This road was not easy.

Nursing school required more than just studying. It meant raising babies while pursuing a full-time university degree, balancing shift work, long nights of studying after everyone else was asleep, early mornings, and more sacrifice than most people ever saw.

There were many moments of exhaustion, doubt, and pushing through when it would have been easier to stop. But this dream meant too much.

To my family and friends, thank you for supporting me through the chaos of this journey. Your patience, encouragement, and belief in me carried me through the hardest days.

To the nurses who mentored and guided me along the way, thank you for shaping the nurse I am becoming.

And to every patient who trusted me while I was still learning, thank you for allowing me to be part of your care.

I am incredibly proud to say that I passed the NCLEX and am officially an RN.

A dream years in the making and only the beginning. 🤍

02/26/2026

I love giving a sweet newborn bath.

The tiny toes.
The warm water.
The fresh little sleeper after.

It feels nurturing. It feels “complete.”

But I stopped doing them in the first 24 hours.

Because it’s not what’s best for the baby.

Early bathing can:
• Disrupt temperature stability
• Increase stress
• Remove protective vernix
• Interfere with early feeding + skin-to-skin

And in those first hours, stability matters more than cute.

Newborns don’t need to be clean.
They need to be warm.
Fed.
Regulated.
On their parent’s chest.

I still love a cozy baby bath.

I just love evidence-based care more.

Delay it. Soak it in later. 🤍

02/26/2026

Before You Buy Another Pump…
It’s probably not the pump.

I see this all the time.

Low output → frustration → late night Amazon scroll → new pump in the cart.

But most pumping issues come down to:

• Incorrect fl**ge sizing
• Suction settings that aren’t optimized
• Not enough stimulation before expression
• Inconsistent removal
• Early postpartum supply not fully established

A $500 pump won’t fix a 24mm fl**ge that doesn’t fit your body.

And it definitely won’t fix a plan that doesn’t match your stage of lactation.

Before you spend more money, let’s assess:
✔️ Fit
✔️ Settings
✔️ Frequency
✔️ Milk removal effectiveness
✔️ Your goals

Clear data. Personalized strategy. Real results.

Stop blaming your body. Let’s fix the setup.

If you’re in Niagara and struggling with pumping output, book a fl**ge fitting + pumping plan consult 🤍

**gefitting

Looking for connection and breastfeeding support in Niagara?Join our free virtual breastfeeding support group, where we ...
02/25/2026

Looking for connection and breastfeeding support in Niagara?

Join our free virtual breastfeeding support group, where we meet online to chat, ask questions, and share real-life experiences in a safe, supportive space.

Whether you're working on latch, milk supply, pumping, or just adjusting to life with a newborn..you’re welcome here.

This is personalized, nurse-led guidance combined with community support from other local moms who truly understand.

Embrace your feeding journey with encouragement, evidence-based advice, and connection.

👉 Learn more and join us at ericamannerslactation.com

My journey into lactation support began at the bedside as a hospital nurse, where I saw firsthand how overwhelming the e...
02/23/2026

My journey into lactation support began at the bedside as a hospital nurse, where I saw firsthand how overwhelming the early postpartum days can feel. I often had just 30 minutes to assess, teach, and troubleshoot before families were discharged and I knew they deserved more.

What started as a passion for supporting breastfeeding became a deeper commitment: creating space for unhurried, personalized care.

Today, I provide in-home and virtual breastfeeding support in Niagara as a nurse and breastfeeding specialist. I spend the time watching, assessing, guiding, and empowering families in their own homes where real life happens.

This work isn’t just clinical for me. It’s personal. It’s about nurturing confidence, protecting milk supply, easing pain, and helping families feel supported in their earliest days together.

If you're looking for compassionate, evidence-based lactation support in Niagara, I would be honoured to walk alongside you.

👉 Learn more at ericamannerslactation.com

Address

Saint Catharines, ON

Telephone

+12899693110

Website

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