About the founder of Luna Lactation

Melissa Cole, MS, IBCLC, RLC is a board certified lactation consultant, neonatal oral-motor assessment professional, and clinical herbalist in private practice. Melissa has been passionate about providing comprehensive, holistic lactation support and improving the level of clinical lactation skills for health professionals. She enjoys teaching, researching and writing about wellness and lactation-related topics. Melissa holds a bachelor of science degree in maternal child health and lactation consulting and her master’s work is in therapeutic, clinical herbalism. Melissa actively conducts research and collaborates with several lactation and health care professional associations.

Before pursuing a path in lactation, Melissa lived and studied in Japan. She was also a language instructor for almost a decade. From this background in culture and education sprung a deep love of supporting and educating families. Melissa also has an extensive background in herbal studies and holistic health. When not helping parents and babies, Melissa can probably be found lecturing, researching, writing, or attending a conference; she is passionate about health and lactation, to say the least!

Melissa Cole CV

Experience and Qualifications

International Board Certified, Registered Lactation Consultant (IBCLC, RLC), IBCLC#L-15109. The IBCLC is the only board certified healthcare professional that specializes in the clinical management of lactation. The IBCLC is the gold standard for lactation credentials. Visit the IBLCE website to read about our professional standards.
Oral Motor Professional: Licensed Neonatal Oral-Motor Assessment Professional through NOMAS®., License #201312, certified Beckman Oral Motor Therapist
PIOMI (Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention) Certified
Bachelor of Science degree in Maternal Child Health and Lactation Consulting
Master’s of Therapeutic Herbalism
Clinical herbalist with over two decades working with botanical medicine; specializing in women’s, pediatric and lactation botanicals.
La Leche League Leader 2004-2016, member since 2001. For information or to find an LLL support group in your area click here.
Breastfeeding Counselor for WIC/County Health Department 2006-2010
Adjunct professor at Birthingway College of Midwifery , taught advanced clinical lactation skills classes and more, 2011-2017
Thousands of hours providing direct breastfeeding support to many, many families
Active with several breastfeeding coalitions and organizations
A deep commitment to keeping up to date through evidence-based continuing education, conferences, peer-review and on-going study
Over 20 years experience studying and working with holistic and integrative health care, including extensive herbal and craniosacral therapy studies
TummyTime!TM teacher – TummyTime! TM is vital for babies and helps them develop, grow and thrive.
American Heart Association – Healthcare professional CPR certified

Affiliations

International Lactation Consultant Association member, 2008-present (ILCA)
United States Lactation Consultant Association member, 2008-present (USLCA)
Oregon Washington Lactation Association member, 2007-present (OWLA)
International Affiliation of Tongue-Tie Professionals, 2010-2017 (IATP)
Natural Institute of Medical Herbalism member, 2020-present (NIMH)
American Herbalist Guild member, 2010-present (AHG)
Nursing Mothers Counsel professional affiliate member, 2009-2017 (NMC)
Birth Support Network member, 2009-2017 (BSN)
Baby Blues Connection professional member, 2012-present (BBC)
La Leche League International, 2001-2016 (LLLI)

Publications

Cole, M., Ligh, R. Q., & Liddicoat, M. (2023, October 27). Navigating post-frenectomy wound care. Decisions in Dentistry. https://decisionsindentistry.com/article/navigating-post-frenectomy-wound-care/
Cole, M. (2014). Placenta Medicine as a Galactogogue: Tradition or Trend? Clinical Lactation, 5(4), 116-122. doi: 10.1891/2158-0782.5.4.116
Cole, M. (2012). Lactation after Perinatal, Neonatal, or Infant Loss. Clinical Lactation, 3(3), 94-100.
Cole, M., & Ghaheri, B. (2012, 11/19/12). The basics of tongue and lip tie: related issues, assessment and treatment, from http://theleakyboob.com/2012/11/the-basics-of-tongue-and-lip-tie-related-issues-assessment-and-treatment/#comment-48837
Cole, M., & Ghaheri, B. (2012). General Information about Frenulum Procedures for the Infant.
Ghaheri, B. A., Cole, M., & Mace, J. C. (2018). Revision Lingual Frenotomy Improves Patient-Reported Breastfeeding Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of human lactation: official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association, 1(890334418775624), 0890334418775624.
Ghaheri, B. A., Cole, M., Fausel, S. C., Chuop, M., & Mace, J. C. (2016). Breastfeeding improvement following tongue and lip-tie release: A prospective cohort study. The Laryngoscope, n/a-n/a. doi: 10.1002/lary.26306
Ghaheri, B. A., Cole, M., & Mace, J. C. (2018). Revision Lingual Frenotomy Improves Patient-Reported breastfeeding Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of human lactation: official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association, 1(890334418775624), 0890334418775624.