As more people pursue the IBCLC credential, mentorship has become one of the most critical—and misunderstood—components of lactation education. In this episode, Kristina and I take a close look at Pathway 2 and Pathway 3 mentorship, clarifying what mentors are actually responsible for and why mentorship must go beyond observation and paperwork.

Kristina explains that effective mentorship is engaged, relational, and intentional. We discuss how mentors model professionalism, communication, boundaries, and ethical care—not just clinical skills. We also talk openly about the fears many IBCLCs have about becoming mentors, including concerns about readiness, time, liability, and “doing it right,” and why those fears shouldn’t stop experienced clinicians from stepping into mentorship roles.

This conversation also highlights the structural supports built into Pathway 2 programs, the additional lift often required in Pathway 3 mentorship, and why access to high-quality mentorship remains a major barrier to growing and diversifying the IBCLC workforce. Throughout the episode, Kristina shares practical, experience-based strategies for both mentors and mentees—and a hopeful vision for how mentorship could be better supported and valued across the profession.

1. The difference between mentoring vs. supervising clinical hours
2. What IBCLC mentors are truly responsible for in Pathway 2 and Pathway 3
3. How students should be gradually and ethically integrated into hands-on care
4. Common gaps students face when transitioning from coursework to clinical practice
5. Tools that support mentorship, including IBLCE outlines and LEAARC skill checklists
6. Why learning from multiple mentors can strengthen clinical competence
7. Liability, affiliation agreements, and student protections in Pathway 2 programs
8. The professional and personal benefits of becoming a mentor
9. Charging for mentorship: ethics, equity, and value exchange
10. Why mentorship is part of our professional obligation as IBCLCs
11. What Kristina hopes the future of lactation mentorship will look like

1. Mentorship is an active teaching relationship, not passive oversight.
2. Students need meaningful, hands-on experience—not observation alone.
3. You do not need to be a “perfect” IBCLC to be an effective mentor.
4. Mentorship strengthens clinical skills, confidence, and professional growth.
5. Supporting mentors is essential to the future of the lactation profession.

Kristina Chamberlain, CNM, ARNP, IBCLC

Clinical Instruction in Lactation: https://www.amazon.com/Clinical-Instruction-Lactation-Teaching-Generation/dp/1939807948

LEAARC Criteria for Endorsed Courses: https://leaarc.org/docs/2022%20Endorsed%20Courses%20Core%20Curricula%20FINAL%201.pdf

📬 Email: [email protected]

📸 Instagram: @margaretsalty

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Hosted by: Margaret Salty

Music by: The Magnifiers – My Time Traveling Machine

In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret sits down with Ellen Chetwynd, IBCLC, PhD, and longtime Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Human Lactation, to explore a fundamentally different way of understanding breastfeeding challenges: body-led breastfeeding and the Infant Suck Strength Exam (ISSE).

Dr. Chetwynd shares how years of clinical practice—and noticing what wasn’t explained by common diagnoses like thrush, Raynaud’s, or tongue-tie—led her to focus more closely on the infant’s body, neurology, and suck function. Together, Margaret and Ellen unpack how the ISSE helps clinicians move beyond appearance-based latch assessment to identify where suck strength is weak, how the tongue is functioning at the breast, and how infant compensation patterns often drive pain, inefficiency, and feeding struggles.

This conversation bridges lactation science, cranial nerve physiology, and gentle body-based intervention, offering clinicians practical tools while challenging reductionist approaches to infant oral dysfunction.

1. How Ellen entered the field of lactation through nursing and public health
2. Why “bucket diagnoses” (yeast, Raynaud’s, tongue-tie) persist in lactation care
3. What body-led breastfeeding means—and why the baby is often the primary driver
4. The clinical gap that inspired development of the Infant Suck Strength Exam (ISSE)
5. Why digital oral exams miss what’s happening at the breast
6. How the ISSE is performed and what each pull-back reveals about suck strength
7. Why the ISSE often functions as both assessment and treatment
8. Infant compensation patterns: jaw movement, lip use, body tension, and asymmetry
9. The role of cranial nerves and the cranial base in feeding function
10. Why asymmetric latch and “guppy pose” can sometimes worsen dysfunction
11. Gentle, parent-taught techniques to support infant regulation and suck strength
12. How bottle-feeding strategies must align with breastfeeding goals
13. When to consider referral for craniosacral or body-based therapy
14. Why frenotomy alone may destabilize function if body tension isn’t addressed
15. What future research is needed to validate and study the ISSE

1. A visually “good” latch can hide significant internal dysfunction.
2. Infant suck strength and tongue function must be assessed during active feeding.
3. Many breastfeeding problems originate in infant neuromuscular coordination—not maternal anatomy.
4. Babies often compensate with their bodies when oral function is inefficient.
5. Gentle pull-back techniques can cue strength and improve function without causing pain.
6. Positioning that supports a neutral cranial base is critical for effective feeding.
7. Body-based approaches may reduce unnecessary procedures and improve long-term outcomes.
8. The ISSE offers clinicians a structured, repeatable way to assess progress over time.

Ellen Chetwynd, PhD, IBCLC

www.bodyledbreastfeeding.com

Upcoming Workshop: https://www.bodyledbreastfeeding.com/lactation-support-workshops

Self-Paced Courses: https://teachingbabiestonurse.thinkific.com/collections

Body-Led Breastfeeding Podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sxiNwaRMppZ8AfjF98C6K

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/body-led-breastfeeding/id1789167683

Former Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Human Lactation

Co-founder, Body-Led Breastfeeding

Chapel Hill & Durham, North Carolina

📬 Email: [email protected]

📸 Instagram: @margaretsalty

📘 Facebook: Margaret Salty

🎙 Podcast: Behind the Latch

Hosted by: Margaret Salty

Music by: The Magnifiers – My Time Traveling Machine

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast app — and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!

#BehindTheLatch #IBCLC #BodyLedBreastfeeding #InfantSuck #CranialNerves #LactationAssessment #BreastfeedingScience #OutpatientLactation #LactationEducation

In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret sits down with former student and practicing IBCLC Maya Lott to explore culturally responsive lactation care through the lens of working with Jewish families. Drawing from Maya’s clinical experience, academic background in Jewish philosophy and law, and her widely shared paper on counseling Jewish families, this conversation offers practical guidance for IBCLCs seeking to build trust, reduce friction, and deliver truly family-centered care.

Maya shares how cultural norms, religious practices, and community structures can shape breastfeeding decisions—and how IBCLCs can approach these dynamics with curiosity rather than assumptions. From baby naming practices and modesty considerations to Shabbat, donor milk logistics, and the role of rabbis in healthcare decision-making, this episode provides concrete, respectful strategies clinicians can use immediately in practice.

1. Maya’s path to becoming an IBCLC through Pathway 2—and why it worked well for her as a parent
2. Why cultural humility matters in lactation care (and what it looks like in real visits)
3. Breastfeeding as a cultural norm in many Jewish communities—and the pressures that can create
4. Baby naming practices in observant Jewish families and why asking “Does your baby have a name yet?” matters
5. Modesty, family roles, and how they can influence in-home lactation visits
6. Preparing infants for circumcision (bris) and how this can intersect with feeding support
7. Shabbat, milk removal, and how IBCLCs can collaborate respectfully without practicing religious law
8. The role of rabbis in health-related decisions—and why this can be empowering for families
9. Donor milk, milk sharing, and kosher kitchen logistics
10. How informal milk sharing functions in tight-knit communities
11. Parallels with other cultural and religious practices (including Muslim milk-kinship laws)
12. Practical language IBCLCs can use to avoid alienation and build rapport
13. Why curiosity—not expertise in religious law—is the key clinical skill

1. Cultural competence starts at the doorstep—small language choices can shape the entire visit.
2. You don’t need to be an expert in religious law to provide excellent care; awareness of considerations is enough.
3. Asking open, respectful questions helps families integrate lactation care with lifelong values.
4. Rabbis (and other faith leaders) often serve as supportive collaborators, not barriers, in healthcare decisions.
5. Donor milk use may be less about theology and more about household logistics—problem-solving builds trust.
6. Many cultural “rules” can feel rigid from the outside but are experienced as empowering within the community.
7. These principles apply far beyond Jewish families—this is a framework for all culturally responsive lactation care.

Maya Lott, IBCLC

What IBCLCs Need to Know About Counseling Jewish Families: A Lactation Consultant's Guide to Cultural Competence When Working with Dyads who Practice Judaism

mayalottibclc.com

Tamari Jacob: https://www.instagram.com/onewiththepump/

Miriam Ezagui: https://www.instagram.com/miriam.ezagui/

📝 Connect with Margaret

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🎙️ Podcast: Behind the Latch

Hosted by: Margaret Salty

Music by: The Magnifiers – My Time Traveling Machine

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#BehindTheLatch #IBCLC #CulturalCompetence #CulturallyResponsiveCare #JewishFamilies #LactationEducation #BreastfeedingSupport #DEIInHealthcare #PublicHealthLactation

Lactation Exam Mastery Course! Master the IBCLC Exam Today!

In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret interviews Meaghan Beames, Registered Massage Therapist, educator, and infant craniosacral therapy specialist based in Toronto. Meaghan shares her journey into craniosacral therapy following her own early breastfeeding struggles and explains how this gentle, hands-on modality can support infants experiencing feeding difficulties, poor latch, weak suck, reflux, tension patterns, and post-birth dysregulation.

Together, Margaret and Meaghan unpack what craniosacral therapy actually is—and what it is not—moving beyond common misconceptions of it as “woo” or energy work. Meaghan offers a clear, physiology-based explanation grounded in fascia, cranial nerve function, nervous system regulation, and developmental biomechanics, helping clinicians understand how subtle tension patterns from gestation and birth can profoundly affect infant feeding and behavior.

Throughout the conversation, they explore the clinical intersections between lactation care and bodywork, including the role of cranial nerves in suck function, the relationship between birth mechanics and oral dysfunction, and how craniosacral therapy may improve outcomes before and after frenotomy. Meaghan also provides practical language clinicians can use with families, guidance on practitioner training and safety, and insight into when referrals to other disciplines are appropriate.

🔍 What We Talk About

• How Meaghan entered infant craniosacral therapy after her own postpartum and breastfeeding experience
• What craniosacral therapy is, how it works, and how it differs from chiropractic, osteopathy, and physical therapy
• Fascia, tension patterns, and why the body must be viewed as a single integrated system
• The role of cranial nerves in infant feeding, suck strength, and oral coordination
• How gestational positioning, birth interventions, and delivery mechanics influence feeding outcomes
• Why babies may feed well on one side but struggle on the other
• Weak suck, poor oral sensation, and why some infants “can’t feel” the nipple
• The limitations of appearance-based tongue-tie assessment and why function must come first
• How craniosacral therapy may improve frenotomy outcomes and reduce reattachment risk
• Why cutting a dysfunctional tongue without addressing body tension can worsen feeding
• What a typical infant craniosacral session looks like, including assessment and treatment flow
• How many sessions are typically needed and why “snapback” can occur
• How craniosacral therapy supports nervous system regulation and reflex integration
• What families may notice after treatment, including emotional release and behavior changes
• How to talk with parents about craniosacral therapy in clear, non-alarming language
• Safety considerations, training standards, and how to identify qualified practitioners
• What the current research does—and does not—tell us about craniosacral therapy
• Options for families who cannot access or afford bodywork services

🧠 Key Takeaways for Clinicians

• Infant feeding difficulties are often rooted in whole-body tension patterns, not isolated oral anatomy.
• Cranial nerve dysfunction can impair suck, coordination, and sensation even when oral anatomy appears “normal.”
• Craniosacral therapy uses extremely light touch to identify and release fascial restrictions affecting function.
• Birth mechanics, including fetal position and obstetric interventions, can significantly impact feeding.
• Frenotomy without addressing underlying body tension may destabilize tongue function and worsen outcomes.
• Craniosacral therapy may support feeding both before and after tongue-tie release.
• Language matters: explaining the work in functional, observable terms builds parent trust.
• Practitioner training and infant-specific education are critical for safety and effectiveness.
• Craniosacral therapy is low risk when performed appropriately, but not interchangeable with adult-based bodywork.
• Supporting parental intuition and confidence is an essential part of infant care.

👩‍🏫 Guest

Meaghan Beames, RMT

Infant Craniosacral Therapist & Educator, Toronto, Canada

Beames CST

MyBaby Craniosacral Podcast

MyBaby Instagram

📝 Connect with Margaret

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🎙 Podcast: Behind the Latch

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#BehindTheLatch #CraniosacralTherapy #InfantFeeding #IBCLC #BodyworkAndLactation #CranialNerves #TongueTie #InfantRegulation #BreastfeedingSupport #LactationEducation #WholeBodyCare

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast app — and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!

Lactation Exam Mastery Course! Master the IBCLC Exam Today!

In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret interviews Dr. Valérie Verhasselt, Professor of Immunology at the University of Western Australia and Head of the LRF Centre for Immunology and Breastfeeding. Dr. Verhasselt discusses her groundbreaking research on colostrum and food allergy prevention, focusing on her recent study demonstrating that partial colostrum feeding in the first 72 hours of life increases the risk of peanut allergy, while exclusive colostrum feeding appears profoundly protective.

Her findings offer a powerful reframing of early postpartum lactation care: the risk may not stem solely from early cow’s milk exposure, but from reduced colostrum intake during the critical adaptation period when the newborn’s gut, immune system, and microbiota are being programmed. She explains how colostrum’s unique concentration of growth factors, IgA, vitamin A, and immune-modulating bioactive components help seal the gut, seed the microbiome, strengthen the skin barrier, and establish immune tolerance—laying the foundation for lifelong resilience.

Dr. Verhasselt also shares insights from mouse models, discusses why donor mature milk is not a substitute for colostrum, and explores future directions including donor colostrum banks, colostrum-derived therapeutics, and new research on colostrum’s role in brain development.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40968490/

• How Dr. Verhasselt entered lactation immunology after a “flash” inspiration during her early research career
• Why the transition from intrauterine to extrauterine life makes newborns uniquely vulnerable to allergy development
• How colostrum supports gut closure, immune regulation, microbiota seeding, and skin barrier maturation
• Why giving formula in the first days displaces colostrum intake rather than simply “topping up”
• Evidence showing a five-fold increase in peanut allergy among infants who received partial colostrum feeding
• The striking finding that no infants who received ≥9 colostrum feeds developed peanut allergy by 12–18 months
• What early formula exposure does to the infant microbiome weeks and months later
• How parental allergy risk influences—but does not override—the protective effect of colostrum
• Why exclusive breastfeeding data often overlook the critical first 72 hours
• The interplay between infant skin permeability, environmental exposure, detergent use, and allergy sensitization
• What mouse models teach us about colostrum, mature milk, and developmental programming
• Why donor milk does not replicate colostrum’s early immunological function
• The concept of exclusive colostrum feeding as a distinct clinical and public health priority
• Future research avenues: colostrum-derived metabolites, donor colostrum banks, and early-life allergy prevention strategies

• Colostrum’s immunological role is unique and time-sensitive—its composition cannot be replicated by mature milk, donor milk, or formula.
• Supplementation in the first days displaces colostrum volume, which may be the primary mechanism increasing allergy risk.
• As few as nine colostrum feeds in the first 72 hours appear profoundly protective against peanut allergy.
• Early formula exposure—even brief—can alter the infant gut microbiota for months.
• The newborn’s gut and skin barriers are uniquely permeable, making early antigen exposure highly consequential.
• Parents who partially colostrum feed may benefit from earlier peanut introduction, while exclusively colostrum-fed infants may have more flexibility.
• The language we use (“milk coming in”) can unintentionally undermine parents’ confidence; reframing colostrum as “the milk for those days” is more accurate and supportive.
• Research supports reframing early postpartum care around exclusive colostrum feeding, not just exclusive breastfeeding.

Dr. Valérie Verhasselt, MD, PhD

Professor, University of Western Australia

Head, LRF Centre for Immunology and Breastfeeding

Perth Children’s Hospital, Telethon Kids Institute

📬 Email: [email protected]

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🎙 Podcast: Behind the Latch

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#BehindTheLatch #Colostrum #BreastfeedingResearch #FoodAllergyPrevention #PeanutAllergy #Immunology #BreastmilkScience #LactationResearch #HumanMilk #ColostrumIsLiquidGold #InfantFeeding #PublicHealthLactation

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LACTATION EXAM MASTERY COURSE- Stop Guessing How to Study for the IBCLC Exam.

In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret interviews Dr. Zoya Gridneva, Research Fellow with the Geddes–Hartmann Human Lactation Research Group. Zoya discusses her research exploring maternal adiposity, glandular tissue distribution, breast anatomy, milk production, puberty timing, parity, and breast development across lactations, using ultrasound imaging to examine the lactating breast in a way few studies have before

Her findings help illuminate why some parents experience low supply despite doing “everything right,” and demonstrate how maternal factors—especially adiposity—may influence glandular tissue development, breast storage capacity, and milk removal efficiency. She also shares emerging tools that may help clinicians screen for lactation risk prenatally and why early identification may matter profoundly for parental experience and outcomes.

• How Zoya entered lactation research after her own breastfeeding experience
• Why adiposity is emerging as a central factor in milk production outcomes
• What ultrasound can tell us about ductal branching, glandular volume, and breast storage capacity
• Why more ductal development doesn’t always equal meaningful clinical increase in supply
• The relationship between puberty timing, parity, contraception, adiposity & milk output — what we know and what we don’t
• Why breast size ≠ glandular volume, and why small breasts may produce normal volumes
• The need for better screening for primary low supply and insufficient glandular tissue (IGT)
• A new 5-minute lactation risk screening tool used in Western Australia & its clinical promise
• Why single-feed weights are not enough — and why 24-hour production is more meaningful
• Where research must go next: larger samples, longitudinal data, and early-life glandular development

• Adiposity may influence breast growth, glandular proportion, and storage capacity, mediating supply outcomes.
• Ultrasound can visualize breast structure but requires skill, training, and access — not yet feasible for routine care.
• We may be able to identify high-risk parents prenatally using simple clinical screening tools, improving early intervention timing.
• Puberty, hormonal exposure, and menarche timing could play a significant role in final glandular development — a research area wide open for exploration.
• 24-hour test-weighing is one of the most reliable ways to identify low production early, long before a “weight problem” appears.
• Clinically, risk awareness + early frequent milk removal support may be key for at-risk families.

Dr. Zoya Gridneva, PhD

Maternal Factors, Breast Anatomy & Milk Production — An Ultrasound-Based Look Inside Lactation

Research Fellow, Geddes–Hartmann Human Lactation Research Group

University of Western Australia

📬 Email: [email protected]

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🎙️ Podcast: Behind the Latch

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#BehindTheLatch #BreastfeedingSupport #LactationResearch #OutpatientLactation #IBCLC #PostpartumCare #BreastfeedingEquity #MaternalHealth #LactationPolicy #PublicHealthLactation

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In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret Salty interviews Dr. Anita Lugo, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, IBCLC, researcher, and Assistant Professor at Moravian University in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Lugo’s work focuses on one of the most critical—and often overlooked—components of breastfeeding success: outpatient lactation care after hospital discharge. Her recent review highlights the powerful impact of early, skilled IBCLC support on breastfeeding exclusivity and duration, and shines a light on the persistent gaps families face when navigating the postpartum period.

Together, they explore the evidence behind outpatient IBCLC interventions, the systemic barriers that prevent equitable access to care, and the urgent need for stronger policies, better reimbursement models, and more consistent pathways for families to receive the level of support they truly need.

Dr. Lugo also discusses how timing, frequency, and modality of lactation care—whether in-person, outpatient clinic, in-home, or telehealth—shape outcomes, and what future research should focus on to strengthen breastfeeding support across diverse communities.

• Why many breastfeeding challenges intensify after families leave the hospital
• Evidence showing that IBCLC support at 3 days and 2 weeks postpartum yields the best outcomes
• Gaps in outpatient access, especially for families with Medicaid or grandfathered plans
• Geographic disparities in IBCLC availability and why they matter
• The limitations of relying solely on prenatal classes or hospitalization support
• The role of telelactation and what parents find helpful—or challenging—about virtual consults
• The need for clearer distinctions between lactation credentials and their scopes of practice
• How policy, insurance reform, and better public awareness could improve breastfeeding equity
• Future research needed on optimal visit numbers, timing, and support models

Dr. Anita Lugo, DNP, PNP, IBCLC

An integrative review of the impact of International Board Certifed Lactation Consultants in outpatient postnatal settings in the United States

Assistant Professor, Moravian University

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner & IBCLC

Prenatal Educator, St. Luke’s University Hospital

LinkedIn: Anita Lugo

📬 Email: [email protected]

📸 Instagram: @margaretsalty

📘 Facebook: Margaret Salty

🎙️ Podcast: Behind the Latch

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Music by: The Magnifiers – My Time Traveling Machine

#BehindTheLatch #BreastfeedingSupport #LactationResearch #OutpatientLactation #IBCLC #PostpartumCare #BreastfeedingEquity #MaternalHealth #LactationPolicy #PublicHealthLactation #Telolactation #BreastfeedingOutcomes #InfantFeeding #NewParentSupport

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In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret Salty interviews Dr. Helen Ball, Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Infancy and Sleep Centre at Durham University in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Ball is one of the world’s leading researchers on infant sleep and parent–infant nighttime behavior. Her work bridges anthropology, public health, and clinical practice, offering an evidence-based understanding of what “normal” infant sleep truly looks like—and why so much of modern sleep advice clashes with biology.

Together, they discuss Dr. Ball’s new book, How Babies Sleep, which explores the evolution, science, and culture of infant sleep across the world. Dr. Ball challenges long-standing myths about “good sleepers,” sheds light on the risks and realities of common practices like bedsharing and sleep training, and highlights how social expectations shape parental stress and decision-making.

She also shares practical, research-based insights for lactation consultants and health professionals supporting families as they navigate infant sleep, feeding, and nighttime care—emphasizing empathy, evidence, and cultural awareness.

They discuss:

• How How Babies Sleep reframes the narrative around “normal” infant sleep
• The cultural roots of Western sleep expectations
• Why frequent night waking is biologically typical—and protective
• How breastfeeding and sleep are deeply intertwined
• What anthropological research reveals about co-sleeping across cultures
• Common misconceptions about bedsharing safety
• Supporting families to make informed, individualized sleep choices
• The importance of aligning sleep advice with human biology and family context

👩‍🏫 Guest Info

Dr. Helen L. Ball

Professor of Anthropology, Durham University

Director, Infancy and Sleep Centre

📘 Book: How Babies Sleep (Pinter & Martin, 2025)

🌐 Website: https://www.dur.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/durham-infancy-sleep-centre/

📝 Connect with Margaret

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🎙️ Podcast: Behind the Latch

Hosted by: Margaret Salty

Music by: The Magnifiers – My Time Traveling Machine

#BehindTheLatch #InfantSleep #HowBabiesSleep #HelenBall #Anthropology #LactationConsultant #IBCLC #CoSleeping #Bedsharing #Breastfeeding #ParentInfantSleep #SleepScience #LactationResearch #InfantFeeding #PublicHealthLactation

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast app — and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!

In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret Salty interviews Dr. Kelsey Bianca, psychology professor at Cecil College in Maryland, whose groundbreaking research focuses on the lived experiences of exclusively pumping mothers.

Kelsey’s work shines a light on an often-overlooked population in lactation research—parents who feed their babies human milk through expression rather than at the breast. Her dissertation challenges the traditional “breast or bottle” binary and explores exclusive pumping as a legitimate, empowering, and deeply human form of infant feeding.

Together, they discuss how exclusive pumping fits within the broader breastfeeding landscape, what her qualitative research uncovered about motivation and identity, and how systemic barriers—like language, support gaps, and policy limitations—shape parents’ experiences.

Kelsey also shares her insights on how lactation professionals can better support exclusively pumping families with empathy, inclusivity, and evidence-based care.

They discuss:

• Why exclusive pumping deserves recognition as a form of breastfeeding
• How language and terminology shape support and self-perception
• The emotional and psychological experiences of exclusive pumpers
• Common challenges and identity shifts in the exclusive pumping journey
• What research reveals about resilience and motivation in pumping parents
• The gap between policy, practice, and lived experience
• How IBCLCs and educators can create inclusive spaces for all milk-feeding families
• Future directions for research in human milk expression

👩‍🏫 Guest Info

Dr. Kelsey Bianca

Professor of Psychology, Cecil College

Bianca, K.P. (2025). A narrative review of breastmilk expression. Breastfeeding Review; 33(2): 14-24.

Bianca, K. P. (2023). Framing infant feeding practices with bioecological theory: A theoretical review. Breastfeeding Review; 31(3): 6-16.

📝 Connect with Margaret

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🎙️ Podcast: Behind the Latch

Hosted by: Margaret Salty

Guest: Dr. Kelsey Bianca

Music by: The Magnifiers – My Time Traveling Machine

#BehindTheLatch #ExclusivePumping #LactationResearch #HumanMilkFeeding #IBCLC #LactationConsultant #MaternalIdentity #PumpingJourney #BreastfeedingSupport #LactationScience #HumanMilkResearch #PublicHealthLactation

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast app — and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!

In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret Salty interviews Jill Rabin, MA, CCC-SLP/L, IBCLC, speech-language pathologist, lactation consultant, and co-author of Your Baby Can Self-Feed, Too. Known for her pioneering work in Adapted Baby-Led Weaning (ABLW), Jill specializes in responsive feeding for infants with Down syndrome, prematurity, oral motor challenges, feeding aversion, and medical complexity.

Together, they explore how ABLW bridges the gap between traditional baby-led weaning and therapeutic feeding support—giving all babies, including those with motor delays or complex medical needs, a safe and developmentally aligned path to solids. Jill breaks down the misconceptions about gagging vs. choking, readiness cues beyond age, and why starting solids is about skill first, nutrition second. She also shares practical guidance for IBCLCs supporting families in the transition to solids while staying within scope—and how to identify when a referral to a feeding specialist is needed.

They discuss:

• What Adapted Baby-Led Weaning is and how it differs from traditional baby-led weaning
• Understanding gagging, choking risk, and oral motor development
• How chewing skills develop and why strip-shaped foods build safe feeding foundations
• Signs of developmental readiness for solids in breastfed babies
• Supporting preterm and medically complex infants during feeding transitions
• How to introduce allergenic foods safely
• Responsive feeding and avoiding pressure-based feeding practices
• When IBCLCs should refer to SLPs or feeding therapists
• Cultural and socioeconomic accessibility of responsive feeding approaches
• How ABLW promotes feeding confidence and reduces aversion

Jill Rabin, MA, CCC-SLP/L, IBCLC

🌐 Website: https://jillrabin.com

📸 Instagram: @jillrabin_ablw

📘 Book: Your Baby Can Self-Feed, Too

🎓 Transition to Solids

Adapted Baby Led Weaning

📬 Email: [email protected]

📸 Instagram: @margaretsalty

📘 Facebook: Margaret Salty

🎙️ Podcast: Behind the Latch

Hosted by: Margaret Salty

Guest: Jill Rabin, MA, CCC-SLP/L, IBCLC

Music by: The Magnifiers – My Time Traveling Machine

#BehindTheLatch #AdaptedBabyLedWeaning #ABLW #FeedingTherapy #IBCLC #BreastfeedingSupport #OralMotorDevelopment #ResponsiveFeeding #SLP #DownSyndromeFeeding #PediatricFeeding #LactationConsultant #FeedingAversion #EarlyIntervention

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast app — and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!