I remember thinking something was wrong when I received the longest text message from a client. Once I read what she sent my heart sank but I became immediately became a little offended at the lazy lactation care she was provided with. If you don't have skills or at THE LEAST refer a provider to keep the continuum of care going. None of the providers she had seen assessed for an oral restriction.  

"My milk SUPPLY didn't increase a whole lot that following Monday.."

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Breast milk will not wait for you. Nursing through an oral restriction can have a major impact on your current and future milk supply.

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"IT’S SO CONFUSING"

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Parents often hear conflicting information from healthcare providers or even worse have incomplete releases done. TOTs are not part of the curriculum in medical or dental school or even some lactation programs.

Just like lactation education isn't included in medical school programs either. Do you see the hamster wheel here?

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I have invested in this specialty because I have seen so many failed breastfeeding relationships from providers because they miss this important piece of the puzzle. Providers must have a special interest and seek out TOTs classes and continuing education on their own. This is one reason the TOTs road can be a very confusing journey. A well-meaning practitioner dismisses classic TOTs symptoms without realizing it. Continuing education is necessary for anyone assessing for ties. My goal is to communicate what I see and refer you to recommended providers with informed choice. 

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To release or not release?

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The answer is not always easy. A tongue tie label does not mean your babee is destined for a surgical procedure. Though a frenotomy/frenectomy (procedure to release restricted tissue) can be helpful for many babees with TOTs, some families prefer to avoid surgery.

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The most important part of the tongue tie journey is to address each family’s individual needs.

Bodywork/manual therapy (infant massage, craniosacral therapy, chiropractic, therapeutic tummy time, etc.) is an essential part of optimizing infant feeding. If the floor of the mouth is very tight, it is important to help this tissue relax with body work. For some babees, this relaxation improves feeding enough to avoid surgery. But, if a frenotomy is needed, having bodywork done prior to the surgery can help the provider see the restrictive tissue more clearly and prepares the babee for surgery which results in a better release.

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Welcome to Milk and TOTs™

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Imagine if we could skip past the unnecessary forces of NORMALIZE and DISMISS. This is the culture healthcare has descended upon. Milk + TOTs ™ meets every mother or caregiver where they are and listens to execute a culturally comprehensive plan of care and action. This is not only evidence-based care but practice informed care. 

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What makes my PROTOCOL so effective? 

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I currently partner with the Tongue Tie Center of Atlanta as immediate breastfeeding support for new parents after a release and have latched over 500+ babees. Utilizing the TOTs Chrysalis Orofacial E3 model of care to screen and assess for ties. Studies have been shown to have better outcomes when a release is accompanied with the appropriate therapy to follow. A breastfeeding dyad is no different. In fact your journey may have many ups and owns through the healing process as your infant grows.

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Using our BABEE model of care you will receive 6 weeks of ongoing support to facilitate desirable outcomes after a release to get you and your babee back to breast. Rehabilitation program where we help your baby improve their oral motor function so that you can achieve easy breastfeeding. 

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Milk and TOTs™  

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Program is based off four pillars for optimal nursing 

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- Batch all of the information we have gathered to identify all the potential causes of your babee's poor feeding skills & breastfeeding challenges

- Agility of the tongue is achieved with mobility through specific latching and positioning techniques and facial exercises to to improve the range of motion while effectively removing milk to maintain your milk supply.

- Babee "re-birth" support to encourage suckling at the breast if babee is having difficulty latching after a release or feeding aversion. Rebirth our babee with instinctive postions to encite instinctive sucking behaviors.  

- Engage with you to create a tailored plan of care executed with follow up visits and step-by-step guidance to make short term improvements become a standard in their quality of life.

- Encourage you along the way. Feeding an infant with oral dysfunction is not an instant fix and is not the easiest to overcome at times. But with ongoing encouragement and support you will get to your milk feeding goals.

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The 6-week program will provide the support & expert guidance you need to see massive improvements.

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Program Timeline 

This is an example of the expected timeline for the program. Because your program is tailored to your baby and their specific feeding skill, your babee may follow a different timeline.

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Welcome! 

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Pre Release Lactation Consult 

Bodywork w/in 24-48 hours 

Release w/in 7-20 days

Follow Up Lactation Visit w/in 24 - 48hrs

Bodywork w/in 3 days

Post Release Lactation Consult 

Therapy 30-60 days

 

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Members who stick with Milk + TOTs™ and follow their plan of action often see significant progression. 

 

Here's what's included: 

 

• (2) 60 - 90 min Initial Consultation & Follow Up/Home Visit

• (2) 45-minute follow up sessions

• Personalized Agility Plan

• Nipple Pain & Damage Care Plan

• Oral Function Support 

• Pump & Nipple Shield Weaning Plan

• Supplementation Weaning Guide

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  Milk Supply Management

• Weekly Check-ins if needed

• Unlimited Live Chat Support

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Cost: $400 

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