Professional Speaking Portfolio
Melissa Cole, MS, IBCLC, PMH-C
Internationally Recognized Clinician-Educator, Researcher, Author, and Keynote Speaker
Melissa Cole is an internationally recognized clinician-educator, researcher, author, and keynote speaker whose work has helped shape contemporary conversations around infant feeding, oral function, clinical reasoning, neurodevelopment, and perinatal herbal care.
Known for translating complex clinical topics into practical, evidence-informed strategies, Melissa helps healthcare professionals strengthen assessment skills, improve clinical decision-making, and deliver more comprehensive, family-centered care. Her work bridges lactation, infant feeding, oral function, neurodevelopment, perinatal mental health, and botanical care through a framework of critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and individualized care.
Melissa has served as faculty and keynote presenter for leading national and international organizations and has educated thousands of healthcare professionals across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia. She is the author of Herbal Handbook for Perinatal and Pediatric Wellness, a contributor to Breastfeeding and Human Lactation, and a widely sought-after educator on complex feeding challenges, tongue-tie and oral function, feeding and neurodevelopment, clinical reasoning, and integrative approaches to perinatal care.
Available for keynote presentations, conferences, workshops, professional training programs, webinars, podcasts, and media interviews.
Presentation Testimonials
We want to express our sincere appreciation for all you did to help us make our conference a success. You were so instrumental in helping us make a “virtual reality”. Your kind nature and genuine personality made our organizers and attendees feel at ease. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed your presentations and live participation.
On behalf of our Inland Empire Breastfeeding Coalition we want to thank you once again for your wonderful, informative, so thoroughly researched, practical, and very well received presentation to our members and friends today! It was so interesting learning about the specific properties of the herbs and their effects. Also the mental effects, so important for the breastfeeding dyad. It was a great pleasure to have you with us!
Thank you for presenting at our conference. The feedback we received was outstanding. The lactation Program Coordinator attended and will be sharing your presentation with her entire lactation team and the Director of Women and Children Services. We are just so thrilled and honored to have you present at our conference.
I’ve been an IBCLC for 12 years, recently transitioning from hospital to private practice. I’ve listened to hundreds/thousands of lactation presentations over the years. I just started my Herbal Support course, and I have to complement you Melissa, you have a gift in public speaking. The lessons are well organized, the presentation of the material is excellent, you clearly are prepared and know the data as you elaborate on each slide. Well worth the investment in time and money. Thank you for sharing!
In addition, you were probably my favorite presentation in the most recent GOLD Tongue Tie Symposium. You share the facts and tangible tools in a clear, organized and professional platform. Much appreciated. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!”
Selected Highlights
- International conference faculty and keynote speaker
- Author of Herbal Handbook for Perinatal and Pediatric Wellness
- Contributor to the Breastfeeding and Human Lactation textbook
- Published author and researcher in lactation and infant feeding
- Educator for healthcare professionals across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia
- Expertise spanning lactation, oral function, neurodevelopment, perinatal mental health, and perinatal herbal care
- Recognized for advancing interdisciplinary, evidence-informed approaches to complex feeding challenges
Areas of Expertise
- Complex infant feeding challenges
- Tongue-tie and oral function
- Feeding and neurodevelopment
- Perinatal herbal care
- Clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis
- Perinatal mental health
- Interdisciplinary models of care
- Evidence-informed clinical education
Publications & Research
Melissa’s contributions extend beyond clinical care and professional education into research, publication, curriculum development, and interdisciplinary scholarship. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, professional textbooks, clinical resources, and national healthcare initiatives focused on improving outcomes for infants, families, and the healthcare professionals who serve them. Through her writing and research, Melissa is recognized for translating complex evidence into practical, evidence-informed strategies that strengthen clinical decision-making and family-centered care.
Selected Publications & Scholarly Contributions
- Herbal Handbook for Perinatal and Pediatric Wellness (2024)
- Low Intake in the Term Human Milk-Fed Infant: Parental and Infant Considerations, in Breastfeeding and Human Lactation (7th ed., 2024)
- Supporting Patients Through Stillbirth Care: Toolkit for Health Care Professionals (2025)
- Navigating Post-Frenectomy Wound Care (2023)
- Breastfeeding Improvement Following Tongue and Lip-Tie Release (2016)
- Revision Lingual Frenotomy Improves Patient-Reported Breastfeeding Outcomes (2018)
- Placenta Medicine as a Galactagogue: Tradition or Trend? Clinical Lactation (2014)
- Lactation after Perinatal, Neonatal, or Infant Loss Clinical Lactation (2012)
Melissa’s scholarly work spans infant feeding, lactation care, oral function, ankyloglossia, bereavement support, perinatal wellness, and interdisciplinary models of care. Her publications and collaborations have contributed to advancing conversations around breastfeeding outcomes, tongue-tie and oral function, clinical reasoning, and comprehensive family-centered support across the perinatal period.
GOLD Learning Tongue-Tie Online Symposium 2023
GOLD Lactation Online Conference 2022 Opening Keynote
Selected Invited Presentations & Faculty Appointments
Melissa has been invited to educate healthcare professionals through leading international conferences, healthcare systems, universities, and professional associations across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Her presentations focus on infant feeding, oral function, neurodevelopment, clinical reasoning, and perinatal wellness, and are recognized for bridging research, clinical practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Keynote Speaker, GOLD Tongue-Tie, Lactation, Midwifery Conferences
- International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA)
- International Consortium of Oral Ankylofrenula Professionals (ICAP)
- Canadian Lactation Consultant Association
- American Herbalists Guild
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- King’s College Hospital (London, UK)
- Mount Sinai Breastfeeding Symposium
- Grand Rounds, Samaritan General Hospital
- California Pediatric Dental Society
- Australia Breastfeeding Conferences
- Infant & Maternal Craniosacral Therapy Conference
- USLCA Virtual Speaker Series
Melissa has also presented for numerous hospitals, universities, breastfeeding coalitions, dental organizations, midwifery associations, and interdisciplinary healthcare programs throughout the Americas, Australia, Europe, and Asia.
Speaking Topics
Melissa’s presentations explore the intersections of infant feeding, oral function, neurodevelopment, clinical reasoning, perinatal wellness, and interdisciplinary care. Across all topics, she emphasizes comprehensive assessment, evidence-informed decision-making, family-centered support, and practical strategies that help healthcare professionals navigate complex clinical challenges with greater confidence.
Oral Function Topics
- A Mindful Approach to Infant Tongue-Tie Care
- Connection and Care: Virtual Support for Tongue-Tied Infants
- Infant Oral Assessment: Exploring Anatomy and Function Beyond the Frenulum
- Activities for Supporting Optimal Infant Oral Function
- Evaluating Beyond the Frenulum: Assessment and Activities for Supporting Optimal Infant Oral Function
- Supporting Optimal Healing Outcomes for the Newborn Post-Frenectomy
- Five Lessons from Lactation: Shaping Collaborative Ankyloglossia Care Across Disciplines
- Sorting Out Referral Pathways and Strategies When Tongue-Tie Release Is Not Indicated or Available: Bodywork and Other Therapies
Lactation & Infant Feeding Topics
- Making Sense of Mammaries: Assessment and Integrative Care
- Beyond the Basics of Latch: Support Strategies for Helping Babies When the Basics Aren’t Enough
- A Case Study Approach to Critical Thinking Skills for Lactation Professionals
- Low Milk Production Detective Work: Assessment and Care Plan Considerations
- Clinical Lactation Tools: Bottles, Tubes and Shields, Oh My!
- Lactation Care After Loss
- Common Infant Digestive Health Concerns and Useful Support Strategies
- Empowering Parents: The Importance of Prenatal Lactation Assessment and Support
- Bodywork: Another Resource for Feeding Support
- Placentophagy Practices: Impact on Perinatal Health & Lactation
Herbal Support Topics
- Herbal Support for Lactation and Infants
- Critical Thinking: Herbal Options in Lactation Care
- Beyond Fenugreek: An Individualized Approach to Herbal Galactagogues
- Nature’s Nurturers: Plant Medicine for Perinatal Mental Health
- From Evaluation to Education: Navigating Herbal Care Options in Lactation Consultations
- Evidence-Based Herbal Support for Inducing and Supporting Lactation: Applications, Safety, Scope, and Considerations
Customizable Workshop Options
- Lactation Intensive for Birth and Health Professionals
- Clinical Skills Workshop
Presentation topics may be customized for conferences, healthcare systems, universities, professional associations, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
