Made of GOLD Lactation

Made of GOLD Lactation Make an Appointment (781) 579-8167
RN, IBCLC, private practice supporting lactation from prenatal to weaning.

I'm a Registered Nurse (RN), International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and a Neonatal Touch & Massage Specialist. Based in the South Shore, I have been supporting and helping families in Massachusetts for over 17 years. We will work together to develop a breastfeeding plan that works for your life and your family's needs. Let's not forget some time for infant massage education.

The Best Testimony straight from the boss! 💛 When your tiniest client gives you a thumbs up, you know the hard work paid...
10/30/2025

The Best Testimony straight from the boss!

💛 When your tiniest client gives you a thumbs up, you know the hard work paid off. 💛

This little one worked through latch pain, transfer difficulties, and a tongue tie release with pre- and post-support — and came out thriving. Moments like this remind me how resilient babies and families truly are.

My role is to help families rebuild trust in their bodies, their babies, and the feeding journey.

Looking for lactation support that meets you where you are?

At Made of Gold Lactation, I offer trauma-informed care to help families navigate latch pain, tongue ties, milk transfer issues, and the emotional layers that come with feeding challenges. You don’t have to do this alone — compassionate, expert help is here.

www.madeofgoldlactation.com


💛5 Tips to Set Yourself Up for Breastfeeding Success — Before Baby Arrives 💛Step 1 — Prenatal Breastfeeding EducationBre...
10/26/2025

💛5 Tips to Set Yourself Up for Breastfeeding Success — Before Baby Arrives 💛

Step 1 — Prenatal Breastfeeding Education
Breastfeeding is natural — but it’s a learned skill for both you and baby.
Taking a prenatal breastfeeding class or meeting with an IBCLc prior to baby arrival can help you:

⭐️Understand how supply works
⭐️Know what’s normal vs. what needs help
⭐️Build confidence heading into birth + postpartum

💛When you know what to expect, you’re already one step ahead.

Step 2 — Build Your Support Team
You shouldn’t have to figure this out alone.
Include an IBCLC as part of your birth + postpartum team 💪

✨ The right team helps you protect your goals when you need it most.

Step 3 — Learn Hand Expression
A skill that makes a BIG difference:
✔ Helps stimulate milk in the early days
✔ Can relieve engorgement
✔ Supports baby if they’re sleepy or need extra drops

Antenatal expression (AFTER 37 weeks, with OB approval) can help you collect colostrum — but hand expression is also key in the first few days to kickstart supply and get milk to baby when latching is still new.
Your hands are the most powerful tool you always have with you!

Step 4 — Understand Normal Newborn Feeding Behavior

Knowing what’s normal prevents panic
👶 First feeds: baby is often alert and ready to learn
👶Then: sleepy baby in the first 24 hours — normal!
👶Night 2: CLUSTER FEEDING — baby feeds very frequently —This isn’t hunger or “not enough milk” ! This is your baby building your milk supply and strengthening your breastfeeding relationship.
Colostrum is enough.

Step 5 — Find Community + Peer Support Early
Motherhood can feel overwhelming — community makes it easier.

Join support groups and breastfeeding circles before baby arrives so when you need the village… it’s already there.

You were never meant to do this by yourself. 🫶

10/25/2025

💛 Mastitis = Inflammation 💛

Mastitis isn’t always caused by infection — most often, it’s inflammation of the breast. That inflammation can make milk flow more difficult, leading to pain, swelling, and sometimes flu-like symptoms.

Here are some simple, supportive steps you can start at home

Ice:
Apply ice or a cold compress for 15–20 minutes, several times a day to help reduce swelling + discomfort.

Gentle lymphatic drainage:
Use light sweeping motions from the breast toward the armpit or collarbone to help move inflammation where the lymph system can clear it.
It should feel soft + soothing — never painful.

Hand express for comfort:
If you’re feeling too full or tight, try gentle hand expression just until the pressure eases.
💛 Focus on comfort — not complete emptying.

No extra feeds or pumps:
Avoid “power emptying” or increasing stimulation.
More milk removal = more milk production = more inflammation.

Pain + inflammation meds:
Over-the-counter options like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help — always check with your healthcare provider first.

Call in support:
An IBCLC can assess latch, milk flow, and inflammation patterns and help prevent recurrence.

You are not alone in this — support is here.
🧡

🌸 Milk Ducts & Pregnancy 🌸Did you know that your very first placenta builds the milk ducts your body needs to breastfeed...
10/25/2025

🌸 Milk Ducts & Pregnancy 🌸

Did you know that your very first placenta builds the milk ducts your body needs to breastfeed? During your first pregnancy, your body creates the entire lactation system from scratch.

With every subsequent pregnancy, those milk ducts increase, expand, and become more efficient—resulting in fuller milk production and a more responsive milk-making system.

Think of it like this: your first baby built the factory, and each baby after enhances production. 💪


10/25/2025

If you’re experiencing symptoms of mastitis, here are a few evidence-based tips to support healing and help you stay as comfortable as possible:

1️⃣ Ice
Apply a cold pack or ice wrapped in a cloth to the area for 15-20 minutes several times a day. This helps decrease swelling and inflammation.

2️⃣ Anti-inflammatory medications
Over-the-counter options like ibuprofen can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation but always check with your healthcare provider if you’re unsure what’s safe for you.

3️⃣ Keep feeding or pumping on your normal schedule
Continue nursing or pumping just as you have been, no extra “emptying” and try not to skip sessions. Keeping a regular rhythm supports healing.

💛 You may see advice online suggesting deep massage, heat, or pumping to fully empty the breast. These can actually increase inflammation, reduce lymphatic drainage, and may raise the risk of abscess development. Gentle, supportive care is key.

💛 If you have any signs of mastitis, connecting with your local IBCLC is one of the best things you can do. You don’t have to navigate this alone.

💛 Mastitis is painful and stressful — but with the right care, most people feel relief quickly. If symptoms worsen or don’t improve, please reach out to your healthcare provider.

You deserve comfort, healing, and support. 💛

10/24/2025

✨ A Special Thank You ✨

Every time a family welcomes me into their feeding journey, I get to bring along something extra special… a little piece of my heart stitched lovingly by my Auntie 🧶💛

She hand-crochets the cutest boob hats for Made of Gold Lactation families. Each one is unique, just like every baby I support. When I drop them off to new parents, it feels like delivering a tiny gift of comfort, joy, and a reminder that breastfeeding doesn’t have to be all stress and struggle. It can have silly, sweet, joy-filled moments too.

These hats represent exactly what I want this work to feel like: nurturing, personal, full of warmth, and a whole lot of love. My aunt pours so much intention into every stitch, knowing they will land in the hands of families who are trying their absolute best each day.

To every family receiving one… I hope it brings a smile during the hard feeds, the late nights, the tears, and the triumphs. You deserve delight in this season. And to my aunt… thank you for helping me spread that joy far and wide through Made of Gold Lactation!
You are Made of Gold ✨💛

Tag us with a photo of your cutie with our boob hats.. Auntie Dee would would to see you all!

10/13/2025

It is Meet a Mom Monday and I’m so excited to introduce Joanne Gagnon, mom of two older boys and Founder of Made of Gold Lactation.

Joanna has over 24 years of experience supporting families who are welcoming a new baby. Her passion lies in helping families navigate feeding, whether that be through their first breastfeeding session or helping troubleshoot any challenges with difficult feeders.

Joanne has a wealth of knowledge including expertise as a trauma-informed clinician. She is here to support parents and understands that every baby is different.

Head to our site to learn more Joanne, including her hidden talent. 💃🏼

Next week we will also be featuring an editorial about Made of Gold Lactation that will dive more into the services that Joanne offers.

And make sure to give a follow!

It’s called breastfeeding — not nipple feeding When we talk about breastfeeding, we’re talking about so much more than w...
10/10/2025

It’s called breastfeeding — not nipple feeding

When we talk about breastfeeding, we’re talking about so much more than what happens at the nipple.

Feeding at the breast involves the whole breast, the baby’s mouth and body, and even the emotional connection between parent and baby.

💡 A few reminders:
• Babies breastfeed, not nipple feed — they need a deep, comfortable latch that draws in more than just the nipple.
• Pain is not “normal.” If feeding hurts, it’s a sign that something can be adjusted or supported.
• The breast isn’t just a milk tap — it’s a complex system designed for comfort, bonding, and nourishment.
• Every feeding journey is unique — whether at breast, chest, bottle, or combo — you deserve support, not judgment.

If you’re struggling with latch, pain, or milk transfer, reach out. There are answers, and you don’t have to figure it out alone. 💛



10/08/2025

Lactation Professionals are more than just “breastfeeding experts.”

The idea that we only exist to push breastfeeding is an older way of thinking.

Yes, we’re here to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding — but our role goes far beyond that.

We are:
✨ Educators
✨ Counselors
✨ Medication & feeding resources
✨ Advocates
✨ Bottle refusal helpers
✨ Safe formula feeding teachers
✨ Prenatal feeding educators
✨ Maternal mental health supporters
✨ Tongue tie assessors 🙂
✨ Emotional supporters
✨ And your trusted breastfeeding specialists

We’re here to help you navigate all feeding challenges — no matter what that looks like for your family.

We’re an important part of your maternal care team.

Don’t skip our support just because you think all we do is “breastfeeding.” 💛

You have a new baby… and somehow, you feel so alone.Everyone told you this would be the most beautiful time.But no one p...
10/07/2025

You have a new baby… and somehow, you feel so alone.

Everyone told you this would be the most beautiful time.
But no one prepared you for the quiet moments when you wonder if you’re doing it right… or if anyone else feels this way too.

Then one day, you find your people.
A support group.
A lactation consultant who listens.
Another parent who says, “me too.”

And suddenly, the weight starts to lift.
You realize—you were never meant to do this alone. 💛

Whether it’s a friend, a feeding group, or a professional—community changes everything.

You belong here.
You’re not failing.
You’re finding your village.


10/07/2025

💛 Feeding your baby shouldn’t feel overwhelming.💛

At Made of Gold Lactation, I meet you where you are—with calm, trauma-informed support that helps both you and your baby feel safe, seen, and connected. 💛

Whether it’s latching, bottle feeding, or navigating the emotions that come with feeding challenges—you don’t have to do it alone.

Reach out for help—support starts with one conversation.

Best way to book: Call or text ((781)579-8167 to schedule your appointment.
Or book on our website:
www.Madeofgoldlactation.com


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It’s easy to get caught up in the noise of life—pressures, comparisons, and doubts. But in the midst of it all, don’t fo...
02/24/2025

It’s easy to get caught up in the noise of life—pressures, comparisons, and doubts. But in the midst of it all, don’t forget one simple truth:
YOU ARE AMAZING!!!

Every step you’ve taken, every challenge you’ve overcome, and every small victory you’ve celebrated is a testament to your strength and resilience. The world can sometimes make you feel small, but your light? It’s limitless.

Remember that your unique perspective, your kindness, and your courage all make a difference.

It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being authentic and showing up for yourself, no matter the obstacles. Keep believing in the greatness within you, because you are amazing!

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Boston, MA

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

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