Shelly Taft LPN, IBCLC

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Shelly Taft LPN, IBCLC

1:1 breastfeeding support, online prenatal classes, sleep education coaching from Shelly Taft, LPN a

I'm a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Doula, and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Based in Worcester County, MA, I've been supporting new families in Massachusetts and Rhode Island since 2007. I know that every parent is different, so I don't believe in a cookie-cutter approach to lactation help. I will work with you to develop a breastfeeding plan that works for your li

fe and your family. I've supported more than a thousand families in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and I'd be honored to help you, too.

08/04/2025

🍼 Can Food Change Your Breastmilk? Let’s Talk Facts! 💡

Here’s the truth: What you eat can change the type of fat in your breastmilk but it doesn’t change the amount of fat your baby gets. ✅

Fun Fact 👉 The fats in your diet (like omega-3s from salmon or flaxseeds) directly influence the quality of fat in your milk, which supports baby’s brain and eye development. 🧠👁️

But the total amount of fat in your breastmilk? That’s regulated by your body and your baby’s needs not your lunch choices. 🥗🍳

💡 Tip: Focus on eating nutrient-dense, healthy fats like:
• Avocados
• Chia seeds
• Olive oil
• Nuts and seeds
• Fatty fish

These help create milk rich in essential fatty acids without stressing about the exact amount. 🙌

So mama, skip the guilt over “perfect” meals. Your body is already doing the amazing work of making custom milk just for your baby. 🫶

💬 Curious how your diet may be affecting your milk composition? Comment "breastmilk" and I’ll send you the link to book a personalized 1:1 consultation with me!

07/29/2025

Let’s be real, breastfeeding is amazing, but it can also be overwhelming. If you’re crying in the middle of the night, dreading every pump, or feeling like you’re losing yourself in the process… pause. 🛑

🤱 Your baby needs a healthy, happy YOU—not just milk.

There’s no gold medal for pushing through pain or anxiety. Whether it’s full breastfeeding, combo feeding, pumping, or formula safe, supported feeding is what matters most.

I’m not here to shame or pressure. I’m here to walk with you to help you feed your baby in a way that supports both your bond and your mental health. 💕

✨ Let’s ditch the guilt, calm the chaos, and bring joy back into your feeding journey.

💬 Comment “support” below and I’ll send you the link to book your 1:1 consult.

👇 Tell me how’s feeding really going? I’m here and I’m listening.

07/25/2025

💥 Engorged and Uncomfortable? Let’s Fix That! 💥

Postpartum breast engorgement can really hurt—but it doesn’t have to. It’s a normal part of your body adjusting to milk production, but unmanaged engorgement can lead to clogged ducts or even mastitis. 😣

Here are gentle ways to ease the discomfort:
🧊 Use cold compresses—avoid heat
🤲 Hand express a little milk for relief
💧 Light lymphatic massage can help with drainage
👶 Feed your baby often
🍼 Avoid pumping too much (it can make things worse!)
⏪ Try reverse pressure softening to help your baby latch

Your comfort matters, and there are ways to support your body during this transition. Need help navigating engorgement or breastfeeding challenges? I’m here for you. 💗

📩 DM or comment “ENGORGEMENT” to book a 1:1 lactation support session!

07/23/2025

Myth Busted: “CST is just a massage.” 🚫

Let’s clear this up 👇

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) isn’t a typical massage. It’s a gentle, highly specialized hands-on therapy that works with your baby’s craniosacral system—think brain, spinal cord, and the tissues that protect them.

CST helps babies release deep tension from birth or womb positioning, improving feeding, head turning, back arching, and tummy discomfort.

Curious if CST can help your little one?
🍼 Comment “CST” below and we’ll send you the link to book a 1-hour Infant Craniosacral Therapy session at our Craniossacral Free Clinic. Let’s give your baby the best start possible. 💛

07/22/2025

The Milk is Free—The Opinions? Unwanted. Let’s Talk Public Breastfeeding.

Ever tried breastfeeding your baby on a park bench or in a cozy corner of a coffee shop—only to be met with unsolicited advice from random strangers?
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"Shouldn't you cover up?" 🙄
"Maybe they’re crying because your milk isn’t enough." 😤
"You know you can just pump instead, right?" 😐⁣
⁣
As a lactation consultant, let me be clear: You have the right to feed your baby when and where they’re hungry. Period. No permission needed. No explanation required.⁣
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🧠 Fun fact: In most U.S. states, breastfeeding in public is legally protected—and yes, that includes restaurant booths, park benches, and checkout lines.⁣
⁣
💡Next time this happens:⁣
✔ Smile and nurse anyway.⁣
✔ Repeat: “We’re good, thanks.”⁣
✔ Channel your inner Beyoncé.⁣
⁣
Let’s talk about how YOU feel when this happens. Have you ever been judged or shamed for feeding in public? Drop the word “blog” in the comments and I’ll send you a must-read on breastfeeding in public—plus how to handle these awkward run-ins like a pro. 🫶⁣
⁣

07/18/2025

💬 Real Support. Real Answers. Real Relief. 💛

When Samantha came to me, she had already seen multiple lactation consultants and pediatricians—and still had no answers. Just the same old “keep offering the breast” advice.

✨ That changed when she booked with me.

With a thorough assessment, we discovered the real root of her feeding challenges: insufficient glandular tissue (IGT)—a diagnosis that finally made sense. And with the right plan in place, she went on to feed her daughter in a way that works for her, including breastfeeding for 6 months. 💪

💗 Her words say it best:
"I met , got a thorough assessment, and left with answers and advice I’d never heard anywhere else."

This is the power of individualized care, judgment-free support, and real lactation science. If you're feeling unheard, unsure, or overwhelmed—I see you. And I’m here to help. 💕

📲 Comment “IBCLC” and I’ll send you the link to book your 1:1 consult.

# ⁠

07/16/2025

💔💛 The Most Bittersweet Part of Parenthood 💛💔

Parenting is wild. One minute you’re desperate for a break… and then they fall asleep in your arms, and you miss them already. 🥹✨

It’s the strange magic of motherhood—how your body craves rest but your heart aches the moment there’s quiet. That push-pull of needing space and never wanting to let go. 💫

✨ Fun Fact: Oxytocin (the “love hormone”) surges during snuggles, nursing, and close contact. That’s why you feel so emotionally attached—even when you’re touched out. It's biology and heartstrings. 💞

So here’s to the parents riding the wave of “come here” and “go play”—you’re doing it right, even when it feels like a contradiction. 💪💗

💬 Drop a 🫶 if you’ve ever felt both overwhelmed and completely in love in the same breath.

👇 Comment “parenting” if you want more real, honest support on this wild ride with my 1:1 sleep consult. You're never alone.

07/15/2025

🛁 That First Postpartum Shower? Pure Magic ✨

No one talks enough about the power of that first postpartum shower. It’s not just rinsing off the sweat and stress—it’s a full-body reset. A moment of solitude. A quiet reclaiming of YOU. 💫

You step in as one version of yourself... and step out changed.

Because after the whirlwind of birth, recovery, and round-the-clock feeding, those first warm drops remind you that you’re still here. You’re strong. You’re healing. You’re becoming. 💛

🌿 Whether it’s 2 days or 2 weeks postpartum, that first shower hits different—because it's yours.

👇 Share in the comments if you know the feeling: When was your first shower moment—and how did it make you feel?

07/14/2025

🤫 What Actually Happens When You Work with an IBCLC (It’s Not What You Think!) 👀💬

Think working with a lactation consultant means judgment, pressure, or being told to “just try harder”? Think again. 🙅‍♀️

Here’s the truth 👉 An IBCLC doesn’t just support how you feed your baby—we support YOU.
✨ What really happens in a consult:

✔️ A safe, supportive space to talk honestly

✔️ Zero shame—just real solutions for your real life

✔️ Help with latch, pumping, bottle-feeding, supply & more

✔️ A personalized care plan tailored to your goals

✔️ Ongoing support so you’re never alone in this
🚫 What doesn’t happen:

✖️ You’re NOT judged for choosing formula

✖️ You’re NOT blamed for supply or weight issues

✖️ You’re NOT handed a cookie-cutter plan

Feeding your baby shouldn’t come with fear or frustration. 💛 Ready for support that actually helps?

💬 Comment “IBCLC” below and I’ll send you the link to book your 1:1 session today—because feeding your baby should feel empowering, not exhausting.

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07/10/2025

💤 Your Baby’s Bedtime Breakthrough Starts Here!

Stuck in sleepless nights? 😴 You’re not alone, and the smallest change can make the biggest difference!

✨ FREE SLEEP TIP OF THE WEEK: : Establish a Consistent Bedtime Routine
It’s like sending a “sleepy time” signal straight to your baby’s nervous system. A warm bath, dim lights, soft lullabies — these simple steps can help your little one drift off faster and stay asleep longer. 🌙

➡️ Have you tried a bedtime routine? What’s working (or not) for your baby? Share with me in the comments - let’s chat about it! 💬 I’d love to hear your story.

If you want more real, practical baby sleep tips like this then you’ll LOVE the Sleep, Baby, Sleep: Infant Sleep Course! It’s full of gentle, easy-to-follow steps that actually work.

💬 Drop “course” in the comments to get the link & join us today — 25% OFF for the first 10 sign-ups!

✨ Sweet dreams start here. I’m here to help you every step of the way. 💕

07/09/2025

🚨 Did You Miss It?! The Sleep Baby Sleep Course Is STILL OPEN! 👀✨

Wait— did you think you missed your chance to finally get a full night’s sleep?
💥 Good news: You didn’t. The Sleep, Baby, Sleep: Infant Sleep Course is STILL LIVE!

👉 If your baby isn’t sleeping, if you’re stuck in endless contact naps, or if you’re tired of “just wait it out” advice, this course is exactly what you’ve been searching for.

Inside, you’ll get:
💤 Real-life, judgment-free sleep solutions
💤 Gentle, proven techniques (no cry-it-out!)
💤 Expert help you can trust

🚨 Limited Bonus! Be one of the FIRST 10 to register and you’ll get 25% off with code SLEEPBABY10.

💬 Drop “course” in the comments to grab your link before it’s gone! You don’t want to miss this — your peaceful nights are waiting.

✨ Ready to stop Googling and start sleeping? Let’s do this together. 💗

07/07/2025

🔥 IS YOUR BABY TOO HOT? HERE’S HOW YOU CAN TELL! 🔥

Did you know your baby’s body struggles to regulate its temperature much more than adults do? 👶🌡 This means they can overheat faster putting them at risk for discomfort, poor sleep, dehydration, or even health complications if it goes unnoticed.

✨ Here’s what to watch for if you think your baby might be too hot:

🔹 Baby’s Tummy, Neck, or Back Is Sweaty: This signals their body is struggling to keep cool.
🔹 Flushed Cheeks: A red or rosy face can be a sign of overheating.
🔹 Rapid Breathing: Short, faster breaths may indicate distress.
🔹 Damp Hair: Moist or sweaty locks are a big red flag.
🔹 Hot or Clammy Skin: Your baby feels much warmer than normal.
🔹 Heat Rash: Small red bumps, especially in skin folds can be a symptom of excess warmth.

⚡ What You Can Do:
✅ Move your baby to a cooler, well- ventilated space.
✅ Remove excess clothing or heavy blankets.
✅ Hydrate if appropriate (for infants under 6 months, that means offering additional breastfeeding or formula).
✅ Monitor their temperature and watch for further symptoms and reach out to your pediatrician if you’re worried.

Your baby’s health and happiness are a top priority, and understanding their signals can make all the difference. ❤️

Address

218 Shrewsbury Street
Worcester, MA
01604

Telephone

+15082037797

Website

https://www.shellytaftibclc.com/

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