Lactation Consultants
Breastfeeding and infant feeding can be challenging for new parents. At Rooted Family, our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) provide a welcoming and supportive environment to help you achieve your feeding goals. We offer education, practical support, and personalised approaches to address various breastfeeding and infant feeding concerns. Whether you prefer the comfort of our cozy clinic or the convenience of your own home, our lactation consultants are here to assist you.
Services Offered:
- Weight Gain Concerns: Addressing concerns regarding your baby's weight gain is an essential part of our routine service for booked appointments.
- Nipple/Breast Pain: Our lactation consultants are experienced in helping with nipple and breast pain issues, ensuring your comfort during breastfeeding or infant feeding.
- Supplementation: We provide guidance and support for supplementation when necessary, ensuring your baby receives the nutrition they need.
- Milk Supply: If you have concerns about your milk supply, our lactation consultants can provide education and practical strategies to help you establish and maintain an adequate supply.
- Weaning: Our team offers assistance and guidance when it comes to transitioning your baby from breastfeeding to other feeding methods.
- Lip/Tongue Ties: We can help identify and provide resources for addressing lip and tongue ties, which may affect breastfeeding or infant feeding.
- Engorgement/Mastitis: If you experience engorgement or mastitis, our lactation consultants can offer solutions and support to alleviate discomfort.
- Frequent Feeding: We understand the challenges of frequent feeding and can provide strategies to manage it effectively.
You may also want to look at our Blocked Duct Ultrasound Therapy and Infant Feeding Support Physiotherapy pages for more treatment options.
Additional Support:
- Paced Bottle Feeding with Formula or Pumped Breast Milk: We provide education and guidance on alternative feeding methods to accommodate different situations and preferences.
- Induced Lactation Support: Adopting parents, surrogacy pregnancies, and same-sex couples can receive specialised support for induced lactation.
Other Consultations Offered:
- Prenatal Breastfeeding Sessions: Prepare for successful breastfeeding with our prenatal consultations, where we provide guidance and answer your questions.
- Starting Solids: Our lactation consultants offer support and advice when introducing solid foods to your baby's diet.
- Weaning Support: We assist in creating a smooth transition for both you and your baby when it's time to wean.
Partners or support people are encouraged to attend the sessions too!
At Rooted Family, our lactation consultants work in collaboration with our other practitioners in order to help you and your family achieve your wellness goals.
Meet Our
Lactation Consultant
Stephanie McElheran, RN, BScN, IBCLC
Stephanie has been a Registered Nurse for the past 27 years and a Public Health Nurse for the past 25 years. She has extensive experience supporting families in pregnancy and the postpartum period with such skills as prenatal education, mental health, teacher health curriculum training. In 2019, she became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and has been providing infant feeding support for Ottawa Public Health. She is an intuitive and empathetic listener and is ready to support you and your family no matter where your infant feeding journey takes you. Stephanie was born and raised in Ottawa and is a mother to 3 boys.
Alona Maiorenko, IBCLC
Alona Maiorenko is a Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with a deep understanding of the importance of supporting mothers and fathers through their parenting journey. Originally trained as a physician, Alona's perspective shifted when she became a mother herself and recognized the critical need for expert breastfeeding support.In 2016, she pursued specialized education in breastfeeding and became an IBCLC in 2021. With over 8 years of experience, Alona combines her medical background with personal insights to provide compassionate and evidence-based lactation support. She believes the best results come from having a feeding plan in place during pregnancy and the right support in place in the postpartum period.Born in Ukraine, Alona moved to Ottawa in 2022. She is a proud mother of two daughters and a son, which deepens her commitment to helping other mothers navigate the challenges and joys of breastfeeding. Alona provides services in English, Ukrainian and Russian.
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