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Rachel O'Brien, IBCLC

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Wayland, MA
Rachel O'Brien, IBCLC

Lactation consultant in Wayland MA
I help you feed your baby (IRL or virtual)
No guilt, no shame!
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Rachel O’Brien is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) who earned her Master of Arts degree in human lactation in 2015. Rachel prides herself on providing real-life, guilt-free breastfeeding help and specializes in low milk supply, latch difficulty, bottle refusal, tongue tie and lip tie, and LGBTQIA+ lactation. When she isn’t doing office or virtual visits for breastfeeding help Rachel is often blogging about lactation or mentoring other private practice IBCLCs. She uses her expertise, warmth, and sense of humor to help families to meet their breastfeeding and chestfeeding goals. When she’s not working you can find Rachel at home in Sudbury where she is always either playing with her three children, knitting, or watching drag queens.

03/13/2026

No one enjoys being covered in milk all day wondering if their baby is okay. 🤍 What's normal and what's not?

Normal spit up usually looks like:
🥛 Small to moderate amounts, and very occasionally big ones
😌 Baby is otherwise content
📈 Normal weight gain
😴 Feeds aren’t dramatic
🧺 Laundry increases, but baby is unbothered

Most babies spit up because their digestive systems are immature. The muscle at the top of the stomach is still learning how to stay closed. They’re coordinating sucking, swallowing, breathing, digesting- all at once.
Milk goes in. Some milk comes back out.

They carry on with their day. That’s the “happy spitter.”

Problematic spit up usually has extra layers.
🚩 Baby seems uncomfortable or in pain
🚩 Frequent coughing, choking, or sputtering
🚩 Back arching and pulling off feeds
🚩 Feeds feel rushed, chaotic, or tense
🚩 Poor weight gain

At that point, it’s worth looking closer.
Sometimes it’s reflux that needs more attention; fast milk flow; latch and swallowing air... lots of things.
Spit up itself isn’t automatically the problem. The context matters.

If your house smells vaguely like sour milk at all times but your baby is thriving, that’s usually developmental and improves with time.

If feeds feel stressful and your baby seems uncomfortable, you’re probably not imagining it.

You don’t have to just accept daily anxiety as the cost of feeding.

Tell me- are we talking “happy spitter” or “this feels like a situation”? 💬

03/11/2026

Welcome to today’s episode of: Nap Trapped 💤

You sat down for “just a quick feed”… And now you live here.

Your water bottle? Drier than the wipes container you forgot to close.
Your phone? Clinging to life at 4%.
Your baby? Fully relaxed. Zero intention of moving.

This is normal baby behavior. And it doesn’t expire after the newborn stage.

If you are currently nap-trapped, here is your official activity list:
Perfect your one-handed snack skills.
Time for a treasure hunt between the couch cushions.
Add 47 unnecessary items to an online cart.
Google something wildly random like “how long do raccoons live?”
Start watching a show you'll have no memory of tomorrow.
Take 12 nearly identical photos of your sleeping baby.
Debate whether you actually need to p*e or can simply transcend the urge.

You can love the snuggles and still want to stand up! But if you're stuck, well... maybe close your eyes for a bit, hey?

03/09/2026

If your baby is gassy and fussy, I can almost guarantee someone has asked what you’re eating.

Dairy. Broccoli. Chocolate. Pizza (oh, so gluten tomatoes garlic onion AND cheese? perfect)

Here’s the part that gets skipped:
Infant food sensitivities can happen, but they are not the most common reason newborns are gassy.

Most early gas is about air intake and immature digestion, not your dinner.

Upper GI gas- burps- comes from two places:
🥛 Air your baby swallowed during feeds
🥛 Gas is produced in the stomach while digesting

And that gas has to come out somehow. 💨

So you see:
😖 Frequent burping
🤢 Spit up
😣 Squirming and grunting
🦵 Pulling legs up
😡 Red-faced straining that looks… extreme

There’s also infant dyschezia- which is a very medical way of saying your baby hasn’t figured out how to coordinate pushing while relaxing the pelvic floor.

Small adjustments can reduce air intake. Understanding what’s normal digestion can prevent a lot of unnecessary restriction.y may be taking in more air than necessary.

Now- swallowed air can absolutely add to the chaos. If your baby is clicking, losing suction, gulping, or fighting the flow, they may be taking in more air than necessary.

Before you start cutting entire food groups, it’s worth looking at:
Latch and suction
Positioning and airway
Bottle flow and pacing
Overall feeding mechanics

Small adjustments can reduce air intake. And understanding what’s normal digestion can prevent a lot of unnecessary restriction.

Dairy. Broccoli. Chocolate. Pizza (oh, so gluten-free tomatoes, garlic, onion AND cheese? Perfect)erfect)rfect)fect) process! Babies have brand new digestive systems, and they naturally make a lot of gas, usually starting after their first couple of weeks of life.

But it’s also not automatically your diet.

03/06/2026

Ever cried while feeding your baby?

Honestly. Of course you have. I know I have! It’s you, a tiny human, and at least one very unpredictable body part involved. Emotions are going to happen.

Feeding a baby is sometimes beautiful. It’s also… humbling.

One minute you’re staring at your baby thinking, “I would fight a bear for you.” The next minute you’re texting a friend, “Is this latch supposed to feel like this???”

Both are normal.

There’s this weird cultural script that says you’re supposed to glow through every feed. Soft lighting. Angel music. Perfectly swaddled baby. Meanwhile you’re sweaty, starving, holding your breath, and wondering why no one explained any of this.

That doesn’t mean anything dramatic. It means you’re in it.

If feeding has felt chaotic, tender, intense, surprisingly powerful, or like a full-contact sport, you’re in very good company.

We were never meant to do this in isolation. Babies are ancient. Raising and feeding babies in our modern culture are not.

Drop one word below for how feeding has felt lately. Your word might be the one that makes another parent unclench their jaw and think, “Oh. Same.”

And if you’re ready for more steadiness and fewer midnight spirals, I’m here. Practical strategy. Real answers. Zero weird vibes.

You deserve support. Even on the sweaty, snack-less, “is this normal?” days. 💛

source- American Academy of Pediatrics, 2022

03/04/2026

It’s such a pain when you’re not sure if something is just a normal baby thing or actually a problem.

Here’s the truth. Some feeding struggles are normal. And some are signs you deserve more support.

These are feeding red flags I never want you to ignore:
🚩 Pain that lasts beyond the first week or is more than 5 out of 10
🚩 Baby making clicking sounds during feeds
🚩 Feeds consistently taking longer than 60 minutes
🚩 Baby falling asleep at every feed and not gaining well
🚩 Frequent choking or coughing
🚩 Constant gassiness and distress
🚩 Ongoing weight gain concerns
🚩 That feeling of dread every time you feed

If feeding feels hard, stressful, or confusing, you are not failing. You do not have to just push through.

✨ Prevention tip: Early, skilled support can prevent long term feeding stress for both you and your baby.

As an IBCLC, I’m here to guide you with evidence-based care and compassionate support.

Comment "SUPPORT" and I will DM you the link to book an appointment.
As an IBCLC, I’m here to guide you with evidence based care and compassionate support.

03/02/2026

Overfeeding babies with bottles is pretty common- especially if your baby is primarily nursing.

Bottles can flow faster than a baby’s brain can register fullness. You know the phrase “your eyes are bigger than your stomach”? It’s kind of like that.

Signs your baby may be taking more than they need:
🤮 Frequent spit-up soon after eating
😫 Fussiness or arching after feeds
💨 Extra gassiness or discomfort
😴 Very sleepy right after every bottle
🍼 Wanting larger amounts sooner than expected

Sometimes this gets labeled as reflux. But often, it is about how the feeding is happening.

✨ Prevention tip: Paced feeding supports your baby’s natural fullness cues, protects their tummy, and can significantly reduce reflux-like symptoms.

If your baby seems uncomfortable after bottles, there are ways to help. And it does not have to feel overwhelming.

Comment "PACED" and I’ll DM you my simple paced feeding steps plus the link to book support if you want personalized guidance 💛

02/26/2026

Everyone says breastfeeding is natural.
So is eating solid food.
So is walking.
So is talking.

All things humans still have to learn.

Breastfeeding is a learned skill- you’re learning how to feed your baby, and your baby is learning how to eat!

Two beginners, one job.

02/25/2026

Yes, bottle refusal can pop up seemingly out of nowhere. I'm NEVER surprised when a client tells me "he always took a bottle just fine and all the sudden it's like he doesn't know what to do with it!"

For babies under 6 months this isn't stubbornness. It’s development + mechanics.

Babies change fast in the first few months:

🍼 The newborn suck reflex fades
Early on, sucking is automatic. As that reflex integrates, feeding becomes more voluntary. Around 8-12 weeks, that little helper that did the sucking for them just hops a bus out of town and leaves the baby alone and confused.

👅 The tongue gets more mobile
As babies mature, the tongue can lateralize and move more intentionally. A bottle ni**le that worked at 3 weeks can start to feel awkward or unstable later.

🌬 Airway + body control improve
Older babies are more aware of position. Some need to be less upright, or held more securely, to stay organized and comfortable with a bottle.

🍼 Flow really matters
Too fast- they cough, clamp down, or refuse.
Too slow- they get frustrated and quit.
Flow is not one-size-fits-all.

😣 Pressure backfires
If every attempt feels urgent or emotional, babies can start to associate the bottle with stress. They feel that.
Older babies are more aware of their position. Some need to be less upright, or held more securely, to stay organized and comfortable with a bottle. of a sudden it's like he doesn't know what to do with it!"

✨ Comment “BOOK” and I’ll send you a DM with the link to schedule a consult.

02/24/2026

Oversupply can cause clogs, mastitis, choking at the breast, and a very gassy baby. If you feel like you have too much milk, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to manage it on your own.

Are you dealing with oversupply? Comment below. As an IBCLC, I can guide you gently.

02/23/2026

If your baby coughs, sputters, or pops off the breast right when your milk lets down…

you’re not doing anything wrong 💛

You’re not doing anything wrong 💛 your baby is basically trying to drink from a firehose.

This can look like:
💦 gulping, choking, or sputtering
😫 pulling off and crying (then wanting to latch again)
🍼 clicking or struggling to stay latched
🤢 extra gas, hiccups, or spitting up after feeds
🤱 preferring one side over the other

And if this happens often, some babies start to associate the breast with discomfort which can lead to frustration at the breast or even breast refusal.

Comment below, you’re not alone.babies start to associate the breast with discomfort, which can lead to frustration at the breast or even breast refusal.tch support.

💬 Has your baby ever choked or coughed during breastfeeding?
Comment below you’re not alone.

As an IBCLC, I can help you troubleshoot this quickly and make feeds feel calmer again.

02/20/2026

If feeding time at your house feels like a tiny WWE match… you’re not alone 😅
Some babies cry, arch, pull off, flail, scream, and act personally offended by the milk that they demanded 12 seconds ago.

And no! Your baby isn’t trying to be difficult (even if it feels personal sometimes).
They’re communicating.

Babies usually fight feeds because something feels hard in their body. It might be the flow (too fast or too slow), reflux-like discomfort, oral tension, or even just needing a different position.

The good news? There’s almost always a reason, and there are gentle ways to help.
Does your baby get upset during feeds? Tell me in the comments 💛

As an IBCLC, I can help you figure out what your baby is trying to tell you and make feeding feel easier again.

02/19/2026

A client recently said her postpartum nurse quipped "oh, that's just the 60 second sizzle. Hold your breath, it'll be over soon!"

My jaw was ON THE FLOOR.

If someone told you to just “push through” breastfeeding pain… I’m so sorry. You deserved better support than that.

Yes, breastfeeding can feel new and tender at first but ongoing pain is usually a clue. Latch, positioning, suction, or oral function may need adjusting. And in most cases? With the right help, it gets so much better.

You don’t have to brace yourself every time your baby latches. A good IBCLC (like me!) can help you find the tweaks you need to make latching go from bad to no big deal.

Are you dealing with pain right now? Share in the comments, you’re not alone.

**lepain

Address

260 Boston Post Road, Ste 2
Wayland, MA
01778

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 12pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 12pm

Telephone

+16172319089

Website

http://www.rachelobrienibclc.com/

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Breastfeeding can be hard; I can help.

I’m a International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) who earned my Master of Arts degree in human lactation in 2015. I pride myself on providing real-life, guilt-free breastfeeding help and I specialize in low milk supply, latch difficulty, tongue tie and lip tie, and LGBTQIA+ lactation.

I use my expertise, warmth, and sense of humor (and sarcasm) to help families to meet their breastfeeding and chestfeeding goals- whatever those goals may be. My lactation services are evidence-based and judgement free.

When I’m not doing in-home visits for breastfeeding help or working as a lactation consultant at UMASS Memorial Hospital in Worcester, I’m often blogging about lactation or contributing as a breastfeeding expert on Romper.com and FitPregnancy.com. When I’m not working you can find me at home in Sudbury where I’’m always either playing with my three children, knitting, or watching drag queens.