Luna Lactation provides comprehensive lactation support to families coping with feeding concerns. All clinical care and lactation support is provided by our board-certified lactation consultant, Melissa Cole.  Melissa has been passionate about supporting and promoting breastfeeding since 2002. Melissa believes it is a great honor to to provide nurturing, quality care to families as they work towards their feeding goals. In addition to comprehensive breastfeeding support, Melissa also works with families coping with unique feeding concerns impacted by food allergies, oral motor dysfunction, complex feeding issues, low milk supply, and beyond.

Our practice is a micro-practice. A micro-practice is a healthcare model in which a solo provider can focus on individualized, client-centered care since they keep their practice small.  At Luna Lactation there is no waiting room, because you don't need to wait! We only see one family at a time in an unhurried environment and also make house calls when needed.  Being a micro-practice allows us to provide continuity and high-quality, efficient care.  Clients appreciate the ease of access they have when they need to reach the lactation consultant whenever questions or concerns arise. At Luna Lactation, we understand that feeding challenges are emotional and don't always happen Mon-Fri 9-5! Prompt, personalized, mindful care is our goal and we hope you'll appreicate the benefits of our micro-practice too!

 Our philosophy is that lactation is a holistic process which is connected to and affected by many factors. While breastfeeding is natural, we completely understand that it is not always easy! We respect each family's unique health care beliefs and enjoy working with all types of families so that they can define their own feeding success. 

Experience and Qualifications 

• International Board Certified, Registered Lactation Consultant (IBCLC, RLC), IBCLC#109785484. 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, trained Beckman Oral Motor Therapist, trained craniosacral provider
  
• La Leche League Leader since 2004, active 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

• Faculty at  Birthingway College of Midwifery , teaches advanced clinical lactation skills classes and more, 2011-present
• Thousands of hours providing direct breastfeeding support to many, many families 
• Active with several breastfeeding coalitions and organizations     
• A deep committment 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

Melissa Cole, IBCLC, RLC is a board certified lactation consultant and licensed neonatal oral-motor assessment professional in private practice.  Melissa has been passionate about providing comprehensive, holistic lactation care and education to parents and healthcare professionals for over a decade. She is an Adjunct Professor at Birthingway College of Midwifery in Portland, OR where she teaches advanced clinical lactation skills.  She is active with several lactation and health care professional associations including the International Affiliation of Tongue-Tie Professionals.

Affiliations

• International Lactation Consultant Association, member  (ILCA)
• United States Lactation Consultant Association, member (USLCA)
• Oregon Washington Lactation Association, member (OWLA)
• International Association of Tongue-Tie Professionals, founding member ( IATP )

• American Herbalist Guild, member ( AHG)
• La Leche League Internatonal, Leader and member ( LLL)
• Nursing Mothers Counsel, affiliate member ( NMC)
• Birth Support Network Member ( BSN)
• Baby Blues Connection, professional member and Outreach Committee member (BBC)

Recent Publications

• Cole, M. (2012). Lactation after Perinatal, Neonatal, or Infant Loss. Clinical Lactation, 3(3), 94-100. (Full text available online)

• 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

   

Personal Bio

Before persuing 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. When not helping mothers and babies, Melissa can probably be found lecturing, researching, writing, or attending a conference; she really is passionate about health and lactation, to say the least! She can also be found spending time with her family, gardening, working with herbs, camping, and sewing. Melissa and her husband have three children and live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.