A parent in a soft green wrap feeding their newborn with a bottle while seated on a living room sofa

Lactation Consultation

Personalized lactation support to help you and your baby thrive.

THE SERVICE

What lactation care is

Lactation care is clinical support for feeding your baby, provided by our lactation support team. It covers the mechanics of feeding, latch, positioning, milk transfer, and supply, and it covers everything that surrounds those mechanics: your recovery, your nutrition, your schedule, and the goals you have set for your family.

Feeding a newborn is often described as natural, however it is still a skill that needs to be learned. Most families meet at least one question they did not anticipate, and the first weeks with a baby are rarely the moment to research the answer alone.

WHAT IS INCLUDED

What lactation care includes

Prenatal Preparation

Maternal nutrition assessment and definition of initial feeding goals
Breastfeeding education, and what to expect in early feeding days
Preparing feeding supplies, including bottles and pumps
Clarifying early feeding goals before your baby arrives

Assessment and Management

Breastfeeding assessment: latch, positioning, and the signs of effective milk transfer
Breast assessment, including engorgement and nipple trauma
Infant oral assessment
Weighted feeds

Milk Supply

Low supply, oversupply, and overactive let-down
Engorgement management
Syringe feeding when it is needed
Pumping to support your milk supply

Pumping, Bottles, and Combination Feeding

Pump setup and hands-on flange fitting
Individualized pumping plans and expressed milk management
Introducing a bottle, bottle refusal, and formula selection
Personalized return-to-work feeding plans

Ongoing Support

Cluster feeding, coordinating feeding and sleep, and incorporating feeding partners
Feeding after NICU discharge or a tongue-tie release
Weaning support

WHO THIS IS FOR

Who lactation care is for

Lactation care may be a good fit if you are:

Preparing and getting started

Pregnant and want to prepare for feeding before your baby arrives
In the first days or weeks after delivery and want a feeding assessment
Feeding after NICU discharge or a tongue-tie release

Latch, supply, and comfort

Working through latch difficulty, nipple pain, or questions about milk transfer
Concerned about low milk supply, oversupply, or engorgement
Ready to wean and want to do it comfortably

Formula, bottle, and combination feeding

Parents who are looking for support with formula selection and bottle feeding
Pumping, planning a return to work, or introducing a bottle
Combination feeding, formula feeding, or still deciding among the options

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Feeding Foundations Bundle

A three-visit program that prepares for feeding during pregnancy and stays with you through the early postpartum weeks.

Most feeding support arrives after a problem does. The Feeding Foundations Bundle is built the other way around. It begins during pregnancy, when parents are in a mindset to think clearly and plan, and continues into the first days and weeks after birth, when even the most organized parents find themselves working through sleep deprivation, hormonal shifts, erratic appetites, and the intensity of caring for a newborn.

We offer it as part of a comprehensive plan that accounts for both parent and baby.

Feeling confident about feeding starts with having curated information and the right support for you and your family. It is about understanding your options, feeling prepared, and knowing you will have support in place as your needs and your baby’s needs evolve. The Feeding Foundations Bundle includes three sessions designed to support you at key stages: during pregnancy to reflect on feeding priorities and prepare for feeding, in the early days after birth to support your transition home, and in the early weeks postpartum to reassess your needs and plan for what comes next. At every stage, the focus is on supporting both you and your baby as you find the feeding approach that works best for your family.

Visit One: Prenatal Feeding Preparation

Virtual, 90 minutes, during pregnancy

A full review of your relevant medical and nutrition history, your conception history, and your relationship with food and your body. We cover what to expect from breastfeeding, the feeding challenges that commonly arrive early, and how to prepare supplies such as bottles and pumps. We also talk through your goals for feeding and where the motivations behind particular outcomes stem from, which is often the most useful part of the conversation.

The timing is deliberate. This visit happens while you can still reflect and plan, before your baby arrives.

Visit Two: Postpartum Lactation Consultation

In home, 90 minutes, or virtual, 75 minutes, within the first week after delivery

We begin with how you are doing. Then we revisit the plan from Visit One and either continue with it or modify it based on the experiences you and your baby are sharing.

In home

Hands-on latch and positioning support
Breast assessment, including engorgement and nipple trauma
Infant oral assessment
Pump setup and hands-on flange fitting
Weighted feeds

Virtual

Assessment of feeding technique and latch by video
Positioning adjustments for a more comfortable and effective latch
Recognizing the signs of effective milk transfer
Engorgement management
Realistic props to model feeding positions and support a comfortable latch

Both formats produce an individualized feeding plan, along with a plan for pumping, combination feeding, or supplementation where that is part of the picture. We address supply concerns, including over and under supply and overactive let-down, and guide syringe feeding when it is needed.

Visit Three: Six to Eight Week Follow Up

Virtual, 60 minutes, within the first six to eight weeks postpartum

The visit that sets families up for the longer stretch. We troubleshoot gastrointestinal distress, possible allergy concerns and colic, and work through feeding schedules, coordinating sleep and feeding, cluster feeding, introducing a bottle, pumping schedules, weaning, and a return-to-work pumping schedule built around your life.

Maternal nutrition takes a larger role here. This stage is physically demanding, and it is often the point at which a parent’s own eating falls to the bottom of the priority list. We also talk about bringing feeding partners in.

Beyond the Bundle

Some families feel settled after the six to eight week visit. Others require or desire ongoing support. Either is normal, and ongoing consultation is available for as long as desired.

We come from a perspective of encouragement, understanding, and support; never blame, shame, or judgment.

OUR APPROACH

Our Approach to Lactation Care

We start with how you are doing, not with a technique.

Every consultation opens with a check in to understand how you are feeling, how recovery is going, and how your feeding experience has evolved since we last spoke. We revisit your feeding goals together and adjust the plan when your needs, preferences, or circumstances change.

There is no single right way to feed a baby. Breastfeeding, pumping, bottle feeding, formula feeding, and combination feeding can all be part of a healthy, connected feeding experience. Our role is not to steer you toward one particular outcome, but to help you make informed decisions and create a feeding plan that works for your baby, your body, and your family.

What sets our approach apart

Our lactation support team are also Registered Dietitians, bringing specialized knowledge of both maternal nutrition and infant feeding. This means we can support your nutrition and recovery while also looking at your baby’s feeding from a broader perspective.
Care that begins proactively. Support is available during pregnancy and postpartum, both in your home and virtually, allowing us to prepare for feeding before challenges arise and provide continuity as your needs evolve.
We build individualized feeding plans rather than apply a standard protocol
We coordinate with your OB/GYN, midwife, and pediatrician so guidance stays consistent across your team
We recognize that infant feeding can carry significant pressure, expectations, and uncertainty. Our approach creates space for those experiences while helping you make informed decisions that feel right for you and your family.

YOUR CARE TEAM

Who you will work with

Rebecca Appleman, RD

Founder & Executive Director

Care starts with a conversation with Rebecca Appleman, RD, our practice founder and executive director. She is the first point of contact for every person that reaches out to us; she completes every discovery call and supervises the clinical work of the team as a whole.

Meet Rebecca

Our clinicians are introduced on our team page, which details each dietitian’s clinical focus.

Meet the team

COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Are consultations in person or virtual?

Both. In-home visits allow for hands-on latch and positioning support, breast and infant oral assessment, pump fitting, and weighted feeds. Virtual visits cover latch assessment by video, positioning, milk transfer, supply, and planning. Many families use a combination.

When should we schedule the first visit?

Families who want to prepare in advance often begin in the third trimester. Families who are already feeding usually reach out in the first week or two, though there is no point at which it becomes too late to get support.

Do I need to be breastfeeding to work with our lactation support team?

No. Bottle feeding, formula selection, combination feeding, feeding schedules, and weaning are all part of this care.

Will you coordinate with my pediatrician and OB/GYN?

Yes. Coordinated care is central to how we work, and we communicate with the providers already on your team so that feeding and nutrition guidance stays consistent with the rest of your medical care.

What happens if feeding does not go the way we planned?

Parenting is often about pivoting; if observations about early feeding strategies warrant shifts, then we revisit and adjust our plan. Goals set during pregnancy sometimes meet a different reality after birth, and modifying the plan is part of the work rather than a departure from it.

Can you help with my nutrition too?

Yes, and this is where our credentials as Registered Dietitians matter. Postpartum recovery, nutrition while breastfeeding, and eating well during a demanding stretch are part of the same conversation.

What if we only need one visit?

Single consultations are available. The Feeding Foundations Bundle exists for families who anticipate the need for prenatal planning and postpartum follow-through built in from the start. Stand-alone consultations are also a large part of the support that we provide to new parents.

READY TO TALK

The Early Weeks Are Easier With Support

Feeding questions rarely arrive at a convenient hour. We can put a plan in place before they do.

Schedule Your Discovery Call