Gulf Coast Lactation

Replace Anxiety with Confidence: Your Best Start Begins Before Baby Arrives ✨🤱
Expecting a new addition to the family? The early days of breastfeeding can feel overwhelming, but they don't have to be. Our Free Prenatal Breastfeeding Class is designed to give you the "Peace of Mind" that comes with being prepared.

⚖️ Monitoring Success: Learn the important signs that baby is getting enough milk, including weight gain, and a guide to wet and soiled diapers.
🔗 Register here: https://www.gulfcoastlactation.com/registration

Led by Scotty Thomson, IBCLC, this session covers everything you need to know to build a successful foundation before your very first latch.

What We’ll Cover:
✨ Breastfeeding Essentials: Understand the anatomy of the breast and how your body prepares for baby.
👅 Latching & Positioning: Get hands-on practice with different nursing positions like the Cradle, Cross-Cradle, and Football hold to ensure an effective and comfortable latch.
⚖️ Monitoring Success: Learn the important signs that baby is getting enough milk, including weight gain and a guide to wet and soiled diapers.
🍼 Pumping & Storage: Master the basics of using a breast pump, bottle feeding, and safely storing breast milk.
🥗 Lifestyle Support: Tips for your diet while breastfeeding and how to successfully return to work.

The Details:
📅 When: Saturday, June 20th
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
💰 Cost: FREE, RSVP recquired
📍 Where: 25421 State Hwy 181, Suite 101, Daphne, AL

Whether you want to learn about the incredible benefits for you and your baby, like a lower risk of illness and a quicker recovery from childbirth, or you just want to feel more prepared, we have a seat for you!

RSVP is required for our free Prenatal Breastfeeding Class to make sure everyone’s questions can be answered. Save your spot today!
RSVP is required to make sure everyone’s questions can be answered. Save your spot today!
🔗 Register here: https://www.gulfcoastlactation.com/registration

Googling "how to get my newborn to sleep longer" at 3 a.m.? 📱😴

First, take a deep breath: you are not doing anything wrong, and your baby isn't broken. Before you buy another expensive sleep gadget or try a confusing trick, it helps to understand your baby’s biology.

Newborn brains grow at a remarkable rate, and they are simply not designed to sleep in long blocks. Frequent waking is the biological norm, not the exception!

📖 Read our latest blog, "The Truth about Newborn Sleep," to find out what's normal and how to survive the night shift: https://www.gulfcoastlactation.com/post/the-truth-about-newborn-sleep

Need a reason to get out of the house this week? Whether you have a specific breastfeeding question, want to see exactly how much milk your baby is getting, or just need some adult conversation with mamas who "get it," we would love to have you! Milkie Way Cafe is our free, drop-in support group designed to give you a relaxed space to find your groove.

Why stop by?
✅ Weighted Feeds: Use our professional scales to check baby's intake.
✅ Expert Advice: Get your questions answered by an IBCLC.
✅ Community: Hang out and connect with other local moms.

📅 When: Every Tuesday & Thursday
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM 📍
📍Where: 25421 State Hwy 181, Suite 101, Daphne, AL 36526

RSVP is NOT required. Just show up when you can! We can’t wait to see you and your little one.

Mark Your Calendars: This Week at Gulf Coast Lactation! 🗓️✨
We want to support you this week!🫵 We have plenty of opportunities to help you feel confident and supported in your parenting journey.

This week we have:
✨ Tuesday, 6/16: Milkie Way Cafe
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
What: Drop-in breastfeeding support and weighted feeds.
✨ Thursday, 6/18: Milkie Way Cafe
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
What: Connect with other mamas and get expert lactation guidance.
✨ Saturday, 6/20: Prenatal Breastfeeding Class
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Details: Get the "how-to" before baby arrives! Save your insurance-covered appointments for later by getting your foundational questions answered now.
📍 Location: 25421 State Hwy 181, Suite 101, Daphne, AL

No RSVP is needed for the Milkie Way Cafe, but registration is required for our Prenatal Breastfeeding Class to ensure we have space for everyone!
🔗 Register here: https://www.gulfcoastlactation.com/registration

You don't have to figure this out by yourself. 🤝🏡
When you work with Gulf Coast Lactation, you don't just get one set of eyes; you get a collaborative network. Our team regularly consults with each other, dives into current research, and connects with trusted local professionals to solve complex feeding cases.

🏠 Let us bring compassionate support to your journey. Read the blog and reach out today: https://www.gulfcoastlactation.com/post/making-breastfeeding-easier

From structural issues to dietary questions, we work together to find answers so you can focus on resting and bonding with your little one.

Expecting a Baby? Don't Miss Our Once-a-Month Prenatal Class! 🤰✨
If you are expecting a baby this summer, there is one date you need to circle on your calendar. We only host our free Prenatal Breastfeeding Class once a month, and the next session is Saturday, June 20!

Learning the foundations before your baby arrives is the best way to cut through postpartum overwhelm. Because this class only happens monthly, spaces fill up fast. Claim your seat today!

🔗 Registration is free but required. Secure your spot: www.gulfcoastlactation.com/registration

Class Details:
📅 Date: Saturday, June 20
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Location: 25421 State Hwy 181, Suite 101, Daphne, AL

Why Attend This Monthly Class?
💡 Master the Basics: Our expert IBCLC team covers essential skills like deep latch techniques and positioning secrets for a comfortable start.
🕰️ Know What to Expect: Learn about the critical first 48 hours, reading hunger cues, and knowing your baby is getting enough milk.
💼 Smart Insurance Strategy: Learn the building blocks in this free group setting, saving your insurance-covered private visits for one-on-one troubleshooting after baby arrives!

Bring your partner, a family member, or a friend along. Let’s build your confidence so you can head into delivery day feeling completely prepared. See you on June 20th! 🎒👶

Latch, pump, bottle, formula, donor milk... It ALL counts. 🌟👶
Feeding doesn’t look the same for every family, and it shouldn't have to. Some mothers exclusively nurse, some exclusively pump, and others use a beautiful combination of formula, donor milk, or tube feedings.

🔗 Explore our resource guide on navigating different feeding journeys: https://www.gulfcoastlactation.com/post/making-breastfeeding-easier

Every single one of these paths is a valid act of love. Your baby thrives because of your care, not just the method of feeding.

Welcome to the Team, Melanie Edwards, IBCLC! 🎉🍼✨
Our village is growing! We are thrilled to welcome our newest International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Melanie Edwards, to the team!

One local family shared: "Melanie is the absolute best and just the sweetest. She has been a big help on our journey." ❤️

About Melanie 🌿
💠Personal Passion: After staying home to raise her children, her own breastfeeding journey inspired her to become a Mother-Baby nurse and an IBCLC. She knows firsthand how challenging the early days can be.
💠Deep Clinical Experience: Melanie spent 10 years at USA Children & Women’s Hospital in Mobile. She currently serves families at Mobile Infirmary and works as a travel RN on Mother-Baby units to keep her skills sharp and up to date.
💠At Home: She has been married for 30 years, has three adult sons, and loves traveling, reading, and family time.

Read more about her here: www.gulfcoastlactation.com/ourteam

Melanie is dedicated to walking alongside Lower Alabama families with encouragement, expert knowledge, and compassionate care. Next time you see her, please give her a warm Gulf Coast welcome! 👋🌟

The grief nobody talks about... 🕊️❤️
When breastfeeding doesn't go the way you envisioned, the feeling of loss is real. It is not something to simply "get over." For so many mamas, a difficult feeding journey can wrongly feel like a personal failure.

We want you to hear this clearly: It is not a failure. If things feel like they are falling apart, our team is here to sit with you, listen, and validate every emotion. You deserve to be supported, no matter where your path leads.

📖 Read our message of encouragement to struggling mamas everywhere: https://www.gulfcoastlactation.com/post/making-breastfeeding-easier

Tired? Overwhelmed? Come Sit With Us. Welcome to the Milkie Way Cafe 🤍
Let’s be real for a second: the early days of parenting can feel incredibly isolating. When you're trapped under a sleeping baby, staring at a mountain of laundry, or wondering if your baby's latch is supposed to feel this way, what you really need is a soft place to land.

That is exactly what the Milkie Way Cafe is. It’s a dedicated, judgment-free zone where you can step out of the house and instantly connect with people who are walking the exact same path.

What’s Waiting for You Inside:
⚖️ Professional Weighted Feeds: Stop second-guessing yourself. Our medical-grade baby scales are always set up so you can do a pre- and post-feed weight check to see exactly how much milk your baby is transferring.
🩺 Expert IBCLC Care (Without the Clinical Vibe): Our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants are right there in the room with you. It’s the perfect casual setting to get a quick latch tweak or ask those "is this normal?" questions without needing to book a formal clinical appointment.
🤝 Your Next Text-Chain Friends: The magic of the cafe happens on our couches. This is where local mamas swap real survival tips, laugh about the chaos, and realize they aren't alone.
💸 Always Free & Always Drop-In: No registration, no fees, and zero expectations for you to show up "on time." Just pull into the parking lot and walk through our doors whenever you manage to get everyone loaded into the car.

When & Where to Find Your Village:
📅 Every Tuesday & Thursday
⏰ 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
📍 25421 State Hwy 181, Suite 101, Daphne, AL

Whether you are having a textbook feeding week or you are currently running on caffeine and pure determination, there is a comfortable seat saved just for you. Come exactly as you are! 🎒👶