Evolving My Practice: From Clinical Lactation to Craniosacral Therapy (CST)

I began supporting families with lactation in 2005. Photo credit Brenda Amaya, LLC

As a La Leche League Leader or certified International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), I've spent 20 years supporting families with feeding challenges and guiding new parents through the joys and struggles of feeding their babies. While I no longer practice clinical lactation in the traditional sense, my foundation in lactation care continues to shape the work I do today. I continue to stay current with my certification, meeting the requirements to recertify every 5 years.

CST is a gentle hands on modality that releases restrictions to optimize feeding

How I Still Use My Lactation Skills: While my focus has shifted to Craniosacral Therapy (CST), my background as an IBCLC informs every aspect of my approach. CST is a gentle, hands-on therapy that works to release tension and restore balance to the body, and it’s incredibly effective for both infants and parents dealing with issues like feeding difficulties, colic, and general discomfort.

Here’s how my lactation knowledge still plays a key role in my work:

1. Understanding of Infant Anatomy & Feeding Challenges: I draw on my deep understanding of infant anatomy, oral function, and the often intricate connection between tension in the body and feeding difficulties. CST can help relieve the subtle restrictions that may contribute to latch problems, reflux, or tightness in the jaw and neck that interfere with feeding.

   
   

   

   I equip families with oral exercises they can practice at home top optimize oral function

   
   

2. Supporting Parents Holistically: Parents often experience physical and emotional tension from the demands of new parenthood. I use CST to help relieve this stress, while still maintaining the empathic communication skills I developed as an IBCLC to support their overall well-being.

   
   

   

   I still take an indepth health history in the beginning of my infant CST evaluations

   
   

3. Addressing the Root Causes: CST allows me to get to the root causes of discomfort in both infants and parents—whether it's physical tension in the neck or cranial system that affects breastfeeding, or emotional stress that impacts milk production. This is something I couldn’t always address with lactation counseling alone.

   
   

   

   When I practice CST, it can be on the table, in my lap, or while a parent is feeding their baby

   
   

When exploring the different CST trainings, I chose one that focused on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. After training with Upledger Institute, I traveled to OR to train with The Carol Gray Center for CST Studies. By combining CST with my experience as an IBCLC, I offer a comprehensive, holistic approach to the challenges parents face, especially those related to feeding, infant care, babywearing, and family bonding.

While my practice has evolved, the core of what I offer remains the same: compassionate, skilled care that helps families thrive during a critical period of their lives.

If you're a parent seeking a gentle, effective way to support your baby's health or address breast/chest/bottlefeeding challenges, I invite you to explore how Craniosacral Therapy can help.

CST allows me to get to the root causes of discomfort