Bio

I have always liked science and puzzles. My Bachelor’s degree is in biology with a minor in chemistry, and I have a Master’s in Library Science. I breastfed both of my children, with a few challenges that have given me an appreciation for how hard some parents have to work to make breastfeeding/chestfeeding go well. I have been working with breastfeeding/chestfeeding parents for more than 35 years. I have been a La Leche League Leader since 1986. I love the challenge of figuring out why a parent and baby are having a difficult time with their feeding experience, so I kept learning more and more about the technical aspects of lactation. I became an IBCLC in 1994 and opened my private practice in 1995. I have worked as an IBCLC in a hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and on a hospital postpartum floor.

I have experience with a vast array of breastfeeding situations. My specialty is sucking and latch-on problems. My article, “Bottle-feeding as a Tool to Reinforce Breastfeeding”, was voted the Most Useful Article of the Year 2002 by readers of Journal of Human Lacation. The Kassing Method of Bottle-feeding is now used worldwide. I have also written “Breastfeeding and CranioSacral Therapy: When It Can Help.” I have had articles published in La Leche League International’s Leaven, Illinois La Leche League’s Spice Shelf, Illinois Department of Public Health’s Breastfeeding Topics, and local parenting magazines.

I enjoy teaching others about lactation. I have presented various lactation education sessions at the International Lactation Consultants Association Conference; the La Leche League International Conference; numerous La Leche League Area Conferences; various breastfeeding coalition conferences, workshops and meetings; Illinois WIC Conferences; and in-service workshops at hospitals. I also teach WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselors.

Location

Collinsville, IL

Insurance

No

HSA/FSA

Yes

Home visits

No

Lactation Expertise

Latch issues