Katie The Traveling Lactation Consultant

In this episode Katie Oshita discusses some of the healing and holistic modalities that she is learning through the Holistic Lactation residency course she is taking. Comparing and contrasting allopathic/mainstream "normal" interventions such as antibiotics, swaddling, pacifiers, formula, bottles and prescription medications with natural/holistic options such as homeopathy and cell salts, EFT, home remedies and herbs Katie discusses how these choices effect our wellness. Stop living just surviving and seek out true wellness, to thrive.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine. Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs. Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply. Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email [email protected] or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

In this episode, Katie Oshita and Gina Nigro discuss lactation support and tongue tie in both the US and Spain. In both locations, there are a lot of differences in the care available, and many similarities. Both parts of the world have many confusing options when trying to find a "breastfeeding expert". Listen as Katie and Gina discuss ways to support clients, encourage community and educate providers about the importance of expert lactation support.

Podcast Guest: Gina Nigro is a bilingual (English/Spanish) lactation consultant (IBCLC) that has been assisting breastfeeding mothers for over 25 years, and now through telehealth all over the world.

Like many new mothers, when Gina had her first baby, she was overwhelmed by conflicting information: at the hospital, at the pediatrician, and from well-meaning friends and family.

Gina’s realization that she would have missed out on experiencing breastfeeding had it not been for the quality support she finally received, led her to want to “pay it forward” and help others. She first trained as a volunteer breastfeeding counselor in Houston, Texas, then as a birth doula in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and finally sat for the exam to become an IBCLC in Seville, Spain. She is currently living in Oropesa del Mar in Spain.

Gina believes that all mothers deserve quality emotional and educational support so they can have a fulfilling experience breastfeeding their babies. It shouldn’t be just a matter of good luck. She's dedicated to giving mothers effective guidance and caring support with real results. Her greatest satisfaction is the joy of seeing that look on both mothers’ and babies’ faces that says: Just what I always wanted.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine. Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs. Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply. Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email [email protected] or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

Katie Oshita sees tongue-tied babies and discusses oral function for infants. But what happens if not treated, or if full oral function is not achieved? Jenae Ciuffreda sees kids and adults with oral ties and other oral function dysfunction. In this episode, Katie and Jenae discuss expansion, nasal breathing, and airway health. If you have questions about kids and adults who weren't released as babies, this is a great episode to hear about some options for them.

Podcast Guest: Jenae Ciuffreda BS, RDH, CBBA, CSOM is a Certified Specialist in Orofascial Myology and a Certified Breathing Behavior Analyst/Therapist practicing in North San Diego County. Jenae sees both children and adults with orofasial myofunctional disorders (tongue thrust, low tongue posture, weak lip seal, open mouth posture, mouth breathing). Jenae is trained as an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist and Breathing Behavior Analyst/Therapistunder the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Myology (IAOM). Jenae has attended over 15 certification courses in restorative breathing, orofacial myofunctional therapy, airway and facial growth and development, TMD, sleep, and tethered oral tissues (frenectomy) in order to provide the absolute best solutions and care for her patients. Jenae develops customized programs for her patients to achieve maximum results. Jenae is extremely passionate about helping her patients succeed and achieve results that are life changing.

Jenae was born and raised in Southern California. She has her BS and RDH through Loma Linda University. She graduated with honors and was awarded clinical practitioner of the dental hygiene program by her instructors and the dean of the school of dentistry. Jenae resides in Escondido, CA with her husband and two children. They love getting out in sunny San Diego and exploring all that it has to offer.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine. Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs. Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply. Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email [email protected] or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

More world traveling for lactation learning. In this episode, Katie Oshita and Bobbi Daly discuss lactation, oral ties, and living in a small country that produces 10% of the world's formula. In Ireland most families see a GP for infant care, not a Pediatrician and breastfeeding rates are incredibly low. The massive amount of formula made in a country with only 5 million people has made Ireland very much a bottle and formula country, causing lactation care to be rare and undervalued. Listen as Bobbi discusses how these obstacles effect her practice and how Katie can relate to parts of these issues.

Podcast Guest: Bobbi Daly is an international board-certified lactation consultant in private practice for many years in Kerry and Galway. She has a wealth of experience, having been a hospital nurse, GP practice nurse, midwife, and neonatal nurse, as well as a mother of four. Bobbi has developed a holistic view of lactation care from many sides but particularly in the community. She has been involved in setting up informal and formal breastfeeding support groups. She liaises with other primary care professionals including GPs, public health nurses and osteopaths. Find Bobbi at Nourish Boob in Galway, Ireland.

Bobbi is a strong believer in continuing education and using evidence-based knowledge in advancing her standard of professional care for women. She has cared for women antenatally and postnatally, dealing with a wide variety of issues. She has a special interest in managing complex cases and in oral dysfunction but is interested in all aspects of community lactation support and education.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine. Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs. Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply. Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email [email protected] or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

Continuing on the world tour of breastfeeding support and oral ties, Katie Oshita meets with Diana Marcinkevičienė to discuss lactation, access to care, and oral tethers in both the US (PNW is Katie's location) and Lithuania where Diana practices. Life is very different for parents and providers when comparing- from the long two-year maternity leave to the number of IBCLC's. Both Katie and Diana reflect on similarities in their practices as well, as lactation and need for support is universal. Listen here for more about breastfeeding in Lithuania.

Podcast Guest: Diana Marcinkevičienė is a mum of four children (three boys and one girl, aged from 10 to one year old). Since the first time she heard about IBCLC (back in 2012) - it was her dream to become one. In 2021 Diana passed the exam and now I work in a private practice (named Noriu žindyti, with the meaning of - I want to breastfeed). Diana loves helping families with their breastfeeding struggles in Lithuania.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine. Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs. Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply. Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email [email protected] or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

In this episode, Katie Oshita reviews her Top 5- most popular episodes, locations- countries and cities with most listeners, things she has learned and things she hears from both clients and other practitioners. With 67 previous episodes and thousands of miles to meet and record with practitioners, Katie Oshita has a lot of information to share.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine. Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs. Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply. Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email [email protected] or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

Breastfeeding is universal, something that all humans, all mammals have done since the beginning of time. Lactation as a profession is new and has different norms throughout the world. Rosa Sorribas is an IBCLC in Barcelona, Spain who focuses not just on supporting new parents with lactation and infant feeding support. Rosa focuses on training new IBCLC's, encouraging more students to learn about lactation to support more and more families. In this episode Katie Oshita and Rosa Sorribas discuss teaching, lactation, tongue tie and world views on this and more.

Podcast Guest: Rosa Sorribas is an IBCLC in private practice in Barcelona since 2008. She is a Computer Engineer working on Internet and databases since 1986. In 2002, after her first daughter was born, she and her husband created CrianzaNatural.com, a Spanish portal and forum with information for an attachment parenting style of life. Since then, she's been involved in breastfeeding groups, such as La Leche League and Areola, which she still collaborates with. She offers breastfeeding and babywearing education in Spain, Portugal, Poland, and online. She's been working as doula in home and hospital births. Her website has been the source of dozens of support groups, many breastfeeding conselours and IBCLCs, and has helped hundreds of thousands of families around the world to get their maternity goals. For the last few years she's been very focused in nutrition after a cancer treatment left some issues on her health. She is now running a weekly podcast and video interview to relevant people addressing topics from conception to teens. In February she will launch a training course to become IBCLC, with the help of several new and experienced IBCLCs that she's been mentoring, in a site called ecrianza.com. She lives near the beach of Castelldefels with her two daughters who were homeschooled for 6 years, her lovely husband and her dog Timi.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine. Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs. Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply. Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email [email protected] or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

For both Katie Oshita and Rachelle Markham, being a neurodivergent business owner is part of life. Learning about sensory banks, tools, timers, apps and how to make life easier for themselves has been a learning process. Listen as they discuss some of what has, and what has not, helped them be more productive, and more regulated so that balance and success is part of their lives.

Podcast Guest: Rachelle Markham, owns and operates Wellness Lactation, in San Diego, CA where she helps new parents and families navigate their infant feeding journey. Rachelle has been working with families for over 27 years. Twenty of those years have been as an IBCLC. She has a passion for learning and keeping up to date with all things human lactation. This desire to “know-all-the-things” means she can frequently be found traveling to trainings or enrolled in multiple online classes. Last year she finished up a year long intensive program on Holistic Lactation, which allows her to help so many more families achieve their feeding goals.

When she doesn't have a client in front of her you’ll almost always find Rachelle with a giant iced black tea in hand, wearing something black, tending to her chickens and large garden, or planning her next adventure!

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine. Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs. Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply. Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email [email protected] or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

Katie Oshita and Allison Alexander discuss private practice in the US, support for new families, tongue tie timing and more. Allison Alexander sees families struggling with complex feeding issues, develops customized care plans and supports families throughout the feeding journey. Understanding the dyad is what makes lactation universally different than any other specialty who sees mom or baby individually. Listen here for more about private practice in the US.


Podcast Guest: Allison Alexander is an IBCLC with a background in pediatric nursing. After struggling to breastfeed a neurodivergent baby, she pursued the IBCLC credential in order to help families in a pediatric setting. As passing boards, she studied holistic and comprehensive clinical lactation care strategies to support families who are having more complex feeding challenges. She now co-owns a thriving private practice in Metro Detroit with virtual care offered worldwide.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine. Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs. Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply. Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email [email protected] or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

Breastfeeding struggles are not a uniquely US issue, nor is tongue tie. In this episode, Katie Oshita talks with Eva Fieback, an SLP/IBCLC in Berlin, Germany about the differences and similarities between support in the two countries. Eva discusses how as an SLP it is in her scope of practice in Germany to teach oral exercises, however IBCLC's are not allowed to in Germany. Government insurance also doesn't cover any visits with an IBCLC, yet SLP visits are covered. Tongue tie assessment and treatment is just a difficult in Germany as it is in the US. Listen here as Katie and Eva discuss the dynamics of private practices supporting new fmailies across the globe from each other.

Podcast Guest: Eva Fieback is a Logopädin, which means SLP since 2005. Eva specialized in the treatment of patients with dysphagia and neurological disorders, augmentative communication, working at a school for neurodiverse children, many of them with eating or swallowing disorders. Eva has been in a private practice for many years, and became an IBCLC in 2018. For the last 6 -7 years I ve been working with hundreds of families with breastfeeding problems.

Eva visited the masterclass in Seattle 2020 (last in person pre-Covid) , took Zaghis course as an Tbi ambassador, Dan Hansons Course, a course with the AOMT in London and many many more to learn, how treatment of tongue tie and breastfeeding difficulties is done in other parts of the world.

Eva Fieback is a teacher for the EISL, European Institute for breastfeeding and lactation, for oral anatomy, swallowing disorders in children, tongue tie treatment and other issues.

Eva Fieback is a 56 year old, mother of four children, 2 of them are going to universities, two of them are still at home and lives in Berlin, Germany.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine. Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs. Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply. Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email [email protected] or www.cuddlesandmilk.com