Community Lactation and Parenting

08/04/2025

✨ Deepening my IBCLC practice through years of study with the brilliant Jennifer Tow:

Oral Habilitation for the Breastfeeding Dyad (2020) & Gut-Brain for the IBCLC (2022) 💡

These masterclasses have profoundly shaped my understanding of infant and maternal feeding through a functional, integrative lens—where biology meets behavior, and healing begins with connection.

👅 Oral Habilitation (2020) introduced me to the nuanced anatomy and physiology of the infant oral complex. We’re not just talking about tongue ties—we’re looking at fascial tension, cranial nerve function, and compensatory patterns that affect latch, milk transfer, and maternal comfort. I learned to assess oral function holistically and support families through habilitation strategies that restore balance, coordination, and ease in feeding.

🧠 Gut-Brain for the IBCLC (2022) deepened my understanding of the microbiome’s role in neurodevelopment, regulation, and feeding readiness—not just in infants, but in mothers as well. The maternal gut-brain axis is intimately tied to hormonal signaling, immune function, and mood stability. Gut dysbiosis can disrupt oxytocin and prolactin pathways, directly impacting milk supply, letdown reflex, and maternal-infant bonding.

💡 We explore how birth interventions, antibiotics, stress, and diet shape the maternal microbiome—and how restoring gut integrity can support lactation, reduce inflammation, and improve postpartum recovery. This is about empowering mothers to reclaim their physiological resilience and reconnect with their babies through nourishing, attuned feeding relationships.

💬 I continue to hone my clinical skills through Jennifer’s monthly support webinars, keeping abreast (pun intended!) of emerging research and refining my approach to care. Her depth, compassion, and commitment to the breastfeeding dyad are truly inspiring.

Feeling deeply aligned with this work—and honored to bring this integrative knowledge into practice. 💛

08/04/2025

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve introduced myself.

📷 :

Hi, I’m Amy—an IBCLC and holistic infant feeding specialist with a deep passion for helping families feel supported, informed, and empowered. Over the years, I’ve pursued advanced training in oral function, tongue tie release, gut healing, and functional nutrition so I can offer truly comprehensive care for babies with complex feeding needs.

I believe every family deserves affirming, respectful support—no pressure, no judgment—just guidance that meets you where you are. Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle feeding, combo feeding, or figuring it all out, I’m here to help you reach your goals in a way that feels right for you.

My care is centered on both the baby and the parent—individually and as a dyad. I support babies in feeding and functional healing, while also helping mothers restore their own wellness, rebuild confidence, and feel deeply seen in the process. While I’m gradually stepping back from parenting work, nurturing both sides of the feeding relationship remains at the heart of everything I do.

My philosophy is simple: feeding is more than nutrition—it’s connection, healing, and growth. I meet families with empathy and expertise, helping them move from overwhelm to clarity, and from struggle to confidence.

07/19/2025

Excellent info for my ADHD moms! We know who we are! ❤ 😉

Breastfeeding parents with ADHD have distinct nutritional needs that are often overlooked in both lactation support and ADHD care. The postpartum period requires increased calories and micronutrients to sustain both the body’s recovery and breast milk production, but individuals with ADHD may struggle to meet these needs due to executive functioning challenges, sensory sensitivities, and emotional regulation difficulties. ADHD is associated with dysfunction in key neurotransmitter systems—particularly dopamine and norepinephrine—which are influenced by diet and nutrient intake. Common nutrient deficiencies that can exacerbate ADHD symptoms include iron, magnesium, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids (especially DHA), B vitamins (particularly B6, B9/folate, and B12), vitamin D, and choline. These nutrients are essential for cognitive function, emotional balance, energy regulation, and nervous system health. For example, iron is critical for dopamine production, and its deficiency can worsen focus and fatigue. Magnesium supports relaxation and sleep; low levels are linked to increased hyperactivity and anxiety. DHA, a form of omega-3, supports brain structure and is transferred into breast milk to benefit the baby—but can leave the parent depleted

In practice, breastfeeding parents with ADHD may skip meals, forget to drink water, rely heavily on caffeine, or eat in repetitive, nutrient-poor patterns due to difficulty with planning, initiation, and follow-through. Sensory aversions can further limit food variety, and overstimulation may make mealtimes feel chaotic or unpleasant. These habits can lead to blood sugar crashes, mood swings, and worsening ADHD symptoms, creating a feedback loop of undernourishment and executive dysfunction. Support strategies should be realistic and neurodiversity-affirming—focusing on visual cues (like visible snack stations), simple and repeatable meals, pairing carbohydrates with protein to stabilize blood sugar, and utilizing reminders for hydration and eating

07/09/2025

Now accepting Cigna policies in partnership with Wildflower. Please reach out with any questions regarding scheduling and benefits.

05/31/2025

Formula milk marketing exploits parental anxieties about common infant behaviours such as fussiness or poor sleep.

Premium branding is paraded as having “premium benefits”, when in fact the only difference is the price.

Claims made by the formula milk industry about their products are often misleading, scientifically unsubstantiated & violate the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.

WHO is calling on governments to end exploitative marketing and protect babies’ health.

05/01/2025

Multiple times even…

It isn’t normal for babies to go days between bowel movements. They don’t “use up all the milk” as some pediatricians tell parents.

Human milk contains hundreds of oligosaccharides. They survive the gut and intestinal environment making it to the colon where they feed the bifidobacterium. As the good bacteria proliferate, they absorb water creating more profuse and softer stools, full of bacteria that’s 🦠 ALIVE.

When babies aren’t p**ping often—despiteadequate milk intake, it tells us that something is amiss with this process.

“Passing off as “normal” common indications of poor gut function serves no one, least of all, the baby.“ —Jennifer Tow

How’s your baby’s p**p? Infrequent? Pasty? Green? Frothy? Strong odor? Much of this is dismissed or normalized by care providers. With assessment and treatment, good infant gut function can be restored.
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Recommended reading for parents:
Jennifer Tow. The Gut, Microbes and P**p.
https://holisticibclc.blogspot.com/2011/06/gut-microbes-and-p**p.html?m=1
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Huge thanks to Jennifer Tow for educating IBCLC’s and encouraging us to level up our skills.

**p

04/02/2025

During pregnancy, fetal cells migrate out of the womb and into a mother’s heart, liver, lung, kidney, brain, and more. They could shape moms’ health for a lifetime, Katherine J. Wu reported in 2024:⁠ https://theatln.tc/wpcelUjO
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The presence of these cells, known as microchimerism, is thought to affect every person who has carried an embryo, even if briefly, and anyone who has ever inhabited a womb. The cross-generational transfers are bidirectional—as fetal cells cross the placenta into maternal tissues, a small number of maternal cells migrate into fetal tissues, where they can persist into adulthood. ⁠
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Genetic swaps, then, might occur several times throughout a life. Some researchers believe that people may be miniature mosaics of many of their relatives, via chains of pregnancy: their older siblings, perhaps, or their maternal grandmother, or any aunts and uncles their grandmother might have conceived before their mother was born. “It’s like you carry your entire family inside of you,” Francisco Úbeda de Torres, an evolutionary biologist at the Royal Holloway University of London, told Wu.⁠
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Some scientists have argued that cells so sparse and inconsistent couldn’t possibly have meaningful effects. Even among microchimerism researchers, hypotheses about what these cells do—if anything at all—remain “highly controversial,” Sing Sing Way, an immunologist and a pediatrician at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, told Wu. But many experts contend that microchimeric cells aren’t just passive passengers. They are genetically distinct entities. And they might hold sway over many aspects of health: our susceptibility to infectious or autoimmune disease, the success of pregnancies, maybe even behavior. ⁠
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If these cells turn out to be as important as some scientists believe they are, they might be one of the most underappreciated architects of human life, Wu writes. ⁠
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Read more: https://theatln.tc/wpcelUjO

03/29/2025

In early infancy, adhering strictly to a feeding schedule can be detrimental, potentially leading to poor weight gain, low milk supply, and difficulty with breastfeeding, as babies are better served by responding to their individual hunger cues rather than a clock.

Feeding schedules can be deleterious, here’s how:

Interruption of Natural Milk Production:
Scheduled feedings can disrupt the natural process of milk production, which is largely dependent on the baby’s demand.

Poor Weight Gain and Low Milk Supply:
Forcing longer intervals between feeds or cutting down on overnight feeds can lead to a baby’s poor weight gain and a mother’s low milk supply.

Increased Risk of Clogged Ducts and Engorgement:
If a mother is not feeding her baby on demand, her breasts may not be emptied as effectively, increasing the risk of clogged ducts and painful engorgement.

Difficulty with Breastfeeding:
Trying to adhere to a schedule can make it difficult for a mother to establish and maintain a good breastfeeding relationship with her baby.

Overfeeding and Underfeeding:
Scheduled feedings can lead to overfeeding if a baby is forced to eat more than they need, or underfeeding if the baby is not given enough time to eat when hungry.

Misinterpretation of Hunger Cues:
Parents might miss early hunger cues if they are focused on a schedule, potentially leading to the baby becoming overly hungry and distressed.

Stress for Parents and Babies:
Trying to force a schedule can be stressful for both parents and babies, leading to a less enjoyable feeding experience.

Potential for Long-Term Issues:
Early feeding practices can have long-term effects on a child’s eating behaviors and relationship with food.

03/21/2025

It’s the simplest of breastfeeding interventions, but past the first few days of life I find that it’s often forgotten. Parents will ask me why babies feed better on my “magic couch”. Quite simply, it’s often because baby is wearing only a diaper and they’ve been dressed in long onesies and in some cases, 😱 mittens, for 24 hours a day at home! Not only does skin to skin foster better and more comfortable latching, it has lots of other benefits for babies and parents!

🧑‍🍼benefits for baby:
😥Pain reduction
💪Strengthened immunity
🧠Healthy brain development
💤Improved rest and deeper sleep
☮️Reduced stress and crying
🤱🏾 Improved breastfeeding
➕Regulation of all vital signs

💑benefits for parents:
💕Enhanced bonding
😁Increased confidence
☺️Reduced stress and anxiety
💧Improved milk production
❤️‍🩹Reduced postpartum bleeding

Skin to skin contact is benefical long past the first few days of life! Did you find skin to skin helpful for feeding and calming your baby? Did you continue skin to skin after the first few days of life?

03/12/2025

Babies feed using reflexes. If a baby isn’t rooting or sucking when placed to breast, primitive feeding reflexes are not expressing normally. The baby isn’t unwilling to work for food, if he’s not feeding well it’s because he can’t. Not only is calling babies lazy condescending, it just isn’t true.

Assessing an infant’s primitive reflexes and giving simple exercises to activate feeding reflex expression should be commonplace—not telling a mom her baby is just lazy and offering a bottle of formula.

I’ve had two moms tell me today that multiple labor and delivery nurses called their babies “lazy” after traumatic births. 😡 😡 😡 Babies who still aren’t breastfeeding well at 6 and 15 weeks old. Not because they don’t want to, because they physically cannot. There is always a reason if a baby cannot latch well. Find a provider who knows what they’re seeing and offers actionable steps to help you reach your goals.

Has a care provider used the word “lazy” to describe your baby? How did it make you feel? (I’m really sorry that happened to you and your baby, it’s definitely not OK!)

02/21/2025

We want to give a huge shout out to our amazing sponsors for our upcoming Salt Marsh Kids event on March 15th from 11 AM - 2 PM at Mocama Fernandina!

🎶 Amelia Music Studio is the best place for kids to enhance musicianship in an amazing environment, whether in a group or private lessons. Small ensembles, camps, concerts, musical theatre, and more; there are so many ways for your kids to grow!

👩‍👧Community Lactation and Parenting helps parents reach their feeding and parenting goals by balancing practical, research-based information with empathic support. Gain support through your nursing challenges and beyond!

🍭Cloud Crunch is a full service Cotton Candy Bar with an assortment of flavors to choose from. Mix and match to your heart's content, with flavors and toppings like sprinkles, nerds or cookie crumble all spun on a giant sucker or glow stick. Treat yourself!

We couldn't do it without the help of our community! If you're interested in sponsoring please reach out.

01/15/2025