Makana Breastfeeding - Pregnancy Care

1010 Jorie Blvd Ste 243
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523

Additional locations listed below

Services in a nutshell

Prenatal breastfeeding consult can help you get off to a great start once your baby is born.

More About Us
Prenatal Consult In-Office

Set yourself up for successful breastfeeding!

Your prenatal consult maybe covered by your insurance!

FREE if covered; $190 In-Office

What to expect

I tailor this consult to cover your specific questions, concerns and needs. We’ll talk about your breastfeeding goals, whether you will need to return to work, if you have any medical issues that may cause problems with breastfeeding. We’ll come up with strategies and a plan to help you get things off to a great start! Support, accurate information, and encouragement sets breastfeeding up for success. This consult is a prefect first step! Consult is about 1.5 to 2 hrs. Partner’s play a very important role in breastfeeding success and I highly encourage them to attend as well!

Information to be covered: 

  • Your health history as well as how this pregnancy is going and customize a plan to get breastfeeding off to a good start based on your specific needs
  • All the basics of how breasts and milk production work
  • Why breastfeeding is so amazingly beneficial for your baby and you
  • How to get Breastfeeding off to the best possible start
  • Best techniques on how to position and latch your baby to the breast
  • How to know what baby’s hunger cues look like and why it’s so important to recognize them
  • How to ensure a good milk supply and maintain your milk supply
  • How to know your baby is getting enough
  • What to do once you get home from the hospital
  • Common first few week issues that may come up and how to handle them
  • Info about breastfeeding equipment (pillows, clothes, nipple shields, pumps, etc…) and if they are needed or not
  • How to create breastfeeding support around you
  • Paperwork: Once your consult is booked I’ll email you access to my in-take forms so I know what you would like to work on and to have the full picture of your situation. Please fill the forms out before our consult so that we have more time to spend together

I’ll provide you with information, techniques and suggestions. Show you breastfeeding videos, give you links to articles/resources, and a Care Plan to help you remember what we discussed during our session to get you off to the best possible start!

Together we’ll create a plan that works best for you and your family!

Our team

TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONS
About me

When you work with me, your working with an experienced breastfeeding mom. I struggled with my own breastfeeding problems. With my first, we had just moved to a new state and didn’t know anyone. I really struggled with being a new mom, not knowing if what I was going through was normal. I had zero example of breastfeeding in my family and I was literally trying to survive with a very high needs baby who gained weight slowly and nursed every hour.  I was on Dr. Google all the time. I was exhausted, but VERY determined to make breastfeeding work!

It was when I went to my first breastfeeding support group that I realized what I was going through was normal. I learned to trust my instincts and to seek professional breastfeeding help and support from an IBCLC.

With my second baby, I felt more confident. Breastfeeding got off to a much better start, but after about two weeks, my sweet baby boy was suffering with skin rashes, itchy eyes, and sneezing. I once again needed help. My IBCLC and I figured out the culprit, he cleared up and we got to a point where breastfeeding was actually easy.  I nursed each of my kids for over two years when they weaned themselves.

I am a life long learner of all things pregnancy, birth, babies and breastfeeding. This is my passion! I became a La Leche League Leader in 2006 and have been helping mothers and babies ever since. I’m an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) giving me an in-depth clinical knowledge of all things breastfeeding. I have been in private practice since 2013. My current passion in supporting babies has lead me into a deep dive learning about anatomy and physiology, the myofascial system, and addressing tension and oral dysfunction. I am currently in Massage Therapy School and have completed many hours and levels of Craniosacral Therapy (CST) instruction with a specific focus on infants. I am now offering CST in my practice!

Melissa’s Advanced Lactation Training / Continuing Education:

In addition to the IBCLC certification and the many continuing education courses I’ve taken over the last 10years, I’ve completed very specialized training to expand my knowledge and clinical skills to serve you and your baby with the best care.

  • Holistic Functional Lactation: A year long intensive training with a two-week residency and Capstone project, completed in Summer of 2023 – Intuitive Parenting Network – Jennifer Tow

  • Pediatric Fascial Therapy – Christine Holefelder, BS, LMT – 27-hour training

  • Craniosacral Therapy (CST) Foundations – Beames CST Training Center

  • Infant Craniosacral Therapy (CST) Level 1– Beames CST Training Center

  • Infant Craniosacral Therapy (CST) Level 2 – Beames CST Training Center

  • Infant Craniosacral Therapy (CST) Level 3 – Beames CST Training Center

  • Completing and becoming fully certified in Infant Craniosacral Therapy (CST) Level 4 in April 2024! – Beames CST Training Center

  • Currently working through Massage Therapy School – looking to be completed by Sept 2024

  • A Moveable Feast! – In-depth course on reflexes, rhythmic movements, trauma, and their impacts on birth and infant feeding – Doula My Soul – Bryna Sampey

  • Rhythmic Movement Training International (RMTi)- Level 1 and 2 – Thrive- Elizabeth Hickman

  • IBCLC Master Class: Oral Habilitation of the Breastfeeding Dyad: Intensive advanced lactation clinical skills “IBCLC will be able to reference a compendium of effective exercises and tools for facilitating oral habilitation, sucking and body movement. The learner will be able to use multiple strategies to confidently educate families on the use and reasoning behind the care plan developed for infants with complex feeding difficulties.” – Intuitive Parenting Network – Jennifer Tow, Bryna Sampey, Sandra Coulson, Sharon Vallone

  • Oral Functional Assessment of the Breastfeeding Dyad – Intuitive Parenting Network – Jennifer Tow

  • TOTS Training – Chrysalis Oralfacial

  • Gut-Brain for IBCLCs: “A Master Class open to IBCLCs who wish to improve both literacy and clinical efficacy when supporting breastfeeding dyads presenting with complex challenges such as food intolerances, gut dysbiosis, metabolic disorders, eczema, reflux and related issues.” – Intuitive Parenting Network – Jennifer Tow

  • Plugged Ducts & Mastitis: A Holistic Approach to Care – Intuitive Parenting Network – Jennifer Tow

  • Pumping and Feeding Gear – Babes in Common

  • Hands Off! The Virtual IBCLC: Effectively Support Breastfeeding Dyads Remotely – Intuitive Parenting Network – Jennifer Tow

  • TummyTime!™ Method Professional Certification Training – Michelle Emanuel

I’ve studied all things related to pregnancy, birth, babies and breastfeeding over many years. This is my passion! I became a La Leche League Leader in 2006 and have been helping mothers and babies ever since. I’m an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) giving me an in-depth knowledge of all things breastfeeding.

Testimonials

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS
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