We provide infant feeding support, including help with breastfeeding, pumping, bottle-feeding, solid foods, and weaning.
If you…
are pregnant and planning to breastfeed, exclusively pump or combo feed
are adopting a baby and planning to breastfeed
experience pain while breastfeeding
have been told that your baby isn’t gaining weight as expected
are not sure if your baby's full after feedings
think your milk supply is low
see that you're baby is fussy at the breast
feel overwhelmed by breastfeeding or anxious about feeding your baby
experience breast pain or engorgement, causing difficulty breastfeeding or pumping
suspect your baby has a tongue-tie that is causing feeding difficulties
find it very hard to breastfeed your baby after introducing bottles
need help with weaning, returning to work or pumping
are about to introduce solids and are concerned about how to balance feeds and meals
have any questions or concerns about breastfeeding, feeding, sleep or solids
we can help!
what to expect in a consultation
Intake Analysis
Before your first appointment, we will ask you some questions about your pregnancy, birth, medical background, and how both you and the baby are doing, including how the baby is feeding, sleeping, and growing. You will answer these questions through a secure online questionnaire to make sure your information remains private and secure.
Assessment & Support
We will do a complete maternal, child and feeding assessment, which includes an oral exam where we will be checking your baby's oral anatomy and how they suck. We will also assess how your baby feeds, whether through breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or using other devices like syringes, nipple shields, or aids. We will teach you techniques to improve feedings, like helping your baby latch correctly and finding better positions. If necessary, we will also show you how to supplement. If you are pumping, we will provide support and make sure your flanges fit properly.
Personalized Feeding Plan
We'll help you set and achieve your goals, tackle challenges that come up, and address any concerns you might have. Together, we'll create a personalized plan for you and your family. We'll provide recommendations based on what we learn, and send you a written plan. If needed, we'll also connect you with other healthcare providers. We'll ask you to keep us updated on your progress. We offer follow-up appointments at our clinic, in your home, or online.
what patients are saying
what is an IBCLC?
All our lactation consultants are International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs).
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is a trained healthcare provider who specializes in clinical management of Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. An IBCLC has completed hundreds and sometimes thousands of hours of hands on training, clinical and science education and been accepted for and passed the international exam. IBCLC is the gold standard certification for health professionals working with breastfeeding families and professionals certified as IBCLCs are the highest accredited healthcare professionals specializing in lactation. At Mamas Au Lait, we work exclusively with IBCLCs to deliver the gold standard in care.
Our lactation consultants
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Paola Vallarino, IEP CBS IBCLC
Paola is an Internationally Educated Physician, a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She has over 10 years of medical background, 3 years of clinical experience in Lactation Medicine and she holds a diploma in Child Nutrition. Paola provides families with feeding support when breastfeeding, pumping, supplementing and with solid foods. She's fluent in English and Spanish. She's based in Uptown/Midtown Toronto.
Since finishing her medical training and becoming a mom, Paola's mission has been to support, educate and empower families so they can feel confident and give their babies the best start.
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Marta Bouina, RN IBCLC
Marta is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), a Registered Nurse and a proud mother of two amazing boys, with whom she had a 6-year breastfeeding journey. While overcoming various breastfeeding challenges herself, she became very passionate about breastfeeding. She wanted to help other women, by providing hands on support and empowerment.
Marta is fluent in Ukrainian and English. She's based in Etobicoke. If you are facing breastfeeding challenges, Marta is here for you! She will support you, and your vision of feeding success.
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Milena Pingitore, IBCLC
Milena is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and a mother of successfully breastfed twins. She received her Lactation Medicine Diploma after over 90 hours of lactation specific education and over 750 hours of supervised, hands-on experience in the International Breastfeeding Centre. She's based in Etobicoke.
Having faced her own challenges with fertility, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and parenting, Milena is here to hold space for conversation, community, and support while sharing evidence-based research, tools, and resources to help you build confidence at any stage of your journey.
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Alena Brashavitskaya, RN IBCLC
Alena is an experienced Postpartum Registered Nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She has been a part of Mount Sinai Hospital High Risk Mother & Baby Program for almost a decade. For the last two years of her career she is based at the ambulatory breastfeeding clinic as a Lactation Coordinator, helping families with newborns meet their feeding goals. She's based in North York.
As a mother of two breastfed kids, Alena had to overcome her own challenges on the path to breastfeeding them. As a Lactation Consultant, Alena’s approach is to provide family-centred, gentle, non-judgmental care directed at accomplishing your feeding goals.
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Amanda Ho, RN IBCLC
Amanda is a Registered Nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with over a decade of experience supporting mothers and families on their breastfeeding journey. Her background in the NICU has given her a deep understanding of newborn needs and the unique challenges that come with early parenthood. She believes in fostering a comfortable and empowering environment where moms can feel confident and connected with their babies. She speaks English and Cantonese fluently. She’s based in Vaughan.
Outside of her work, she enjoys hiking, writing poetry, and spending time with her three cat fur babies – Prince, Pinoe, and Cheese.
Our fees
In-clinic sessions
In-person care in our office.
60 mins | $175 + HST
Twins | 90-120 mins | $290 + HST
Location
4773 Yonge St Unit 4G, Toronto, ON M2N 5M5
Inside Seaborn Health Clinic.
Virtual sessions
Home visits
Lactation and feeding support from the comfort of your home. We will come to you and we will work together on your goals.
60-90 mins | $250 + HST
Twins | 120 mins | $425 + HST
For home visits, the travel fee is included if you are close enough to your lactation consultant’s location, usually within a 15 km ratio. Please consider booking with the lactation consultant closer to you to avoid an additional travel fee. Check their locations below and make a request here (make sure to include your full address when submitting the form). We’ll book you in shortly!
LOCATIONS: Paola (Toronto Uptown-Midtown), Marta (Etobicoke, Eglinton West), Milena (Etobicoke), Alena (North York), Nadia (Downtown), Sara (East York, Scarborough), Amanda (Vaughan).
Our services might be covered by some private insurance companies. Some of our lactation consultants are registered nurses, some others are IBCLCs, and their services might be covered under one of their credentials, you will have to check your individual policy to determine your level of coverage.
FAQs
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Please bring anything you want to use for your visit, like pumped milk, formula, bottles, your pump and flanges, nipple shields, your baby's favourite toys, teethers or pacifiers, and any other feeding items. We have pillows, blankets, flanges, and other helpful items, but it’s a good idea to bring your own too.
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Use a computer and/or phone for video and audio during sessions (some people use both for better camera angles). Having a support person for baby care and different camera angles is also helpful. Create a comfortable space with good lighting and have all nursing, bottle feeding, and pumping supplies ready.
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Having a support person is helpful but it's okay if it's only you and your baby. Have all nursing, bottle feeding, and pumping supplies ready for us to do a full feeding session together. Don't worry about cleaning your home before the visit. We know it's tough to manage everything with a new baby.
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Yes! For exclusive pumping or exclusive formula feeding, we will also assess how well a baby latches to a bottle, we will optimize bottle-feedings and create a feeding plan for you. Often, babies who have trouble breastfeeding may also face challenges with bottle feeding or digestion and might have oral issues like ties or swallowing problems. We can definitely help with all of this!
We are here to help
Whether you're seeking breastfeeding support, guidance on pumping, or assistance in overcoming lactation challenges, we are here to help. Our expertise and experience allow us to deliver top-notch care and support, ensuring that you and your baby receive the highest level of attention and care. We will work together and create a plan that suits your family's needs.