Meet Alicea! IBCLC and the owner of Flourish Feeding Babies. Read on to learn more about Alicea and how she can help you on your breastfeeding and/or pumping journey!
Tell us a little bit about your business. What makes you unique and what type of services do you provide that new moms or moms-to-be might need? My journey to becoming an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) was guided by my personal experiences breastfeeding. Despite reading books about breastfeeding prior to giving birth, I quickly realized books didn’t cover it all. The value that a lactation professional can bring to a family’s infant feeding journey is transformative.
Ultimately, my goal is to provide parents the tools and support they need to feed their babies the way they chose. Flourish Feeding Babies provides support including prenatal and postpartum breastfeeding support. Reasons to call an IBCLC can range from positioning & technique, infant weight gain concerns, breastmilk supply concerns & management, improving latch, maternal discomfort, oral anatomy & function analysis, sleepy or fussy baby during feedings, weaning, or anytime you have a breastfeeding or pumping concern. Sometimes even just reassurance that everything is going well is beneficial for parents!
I look at what we do at Flourish Feeding Babies more as lactation “coaching”, rather than consulting. Much as a coach works with athletes to help them unlock their potential to maximize their own performance, I strive to provide evidence-based information and a supportive framework to assist parents in reaching their feeding goals. My hope is that I can help parents flourish throughout their breastfeeding journey.
Sometimes, breastfeeding is seen as an all-or-nothing scenario, but really breastfeeding can look very different for each family. Even with each scenario being different, breastfeeding and pumping provide amazing benefits to both the mother and infant.
What did you do prior to opening Flourish Feeding Babies and what made you decide to open up your business? Prior to becoming an IBCLC, I worked in NYC as a Director of Sales for wholesale luxury fashion companies. I worked with buyers from major luxury department stores to help curate collections you see in stores and online. . I commuted into New York City everyday and frequently traveled in North America and Europe.
Through all the runway shows, events, and market weeks, I exclusively breastfed both of my children!! I could often be found bringing a week’s worth of breast milk through TSA with me. I had to balance work, my commute, traveling, and breastfeeding. As I navigated pumping and traveling, I didn’t feel like I could find the lactation support I needed. The information found online is often confusing and not evidence-based. This is what led me to begin my journey to becoming a lactation consultant.
Tell us about your family life. I have been married for 10 Years and have 2 children- one 6 year old and one 3 year old.
What can we find you doing when you are not at work? When I am not helping families feed their babies, you can find me outside and active!! I love to ski and hike! I also love my Peloton!!!
What areas do you serve? What is included in your packages? IBCLCs are another facet of a family’s healthcare team. We work with your other providers, like pediatricians and OB/GYNs to provide you with the best possible care. There are many reasons to call an IBCLC during your breastfeeding journey.
Prenatally, I have private classes to prepare for breastfeeding and discuss what to expect in the first seven days of your new infant’s life in relation to breastfeeding.
Once your baby is here, I am able to do in-home or telehealth consultations to help with infant feeding challenges like positioning & technique, obtaining a good latch, weight gain, sleepy babies, oral function evaluations, weighted feeds and other infant-related challenges.
For Mom, I am able to help with nipple pain or damage, establishing milk supply, relactation, exclusive pumping, return to work planning, and any other issues a mom may face during her breastfeeding journey!
I serve Monmouth County and parts of Ocean County, typically within a 30 minute drive. I am able to travel farther than approximately 30 minutes with a small travel fee.
I am able to work with certain insurance for consultation coverage as well as providing Superbills for self-pay clients to be reimbursed through their Insurance under ACA. . My website has all the current information on Insurance as well as Superbill reimbursement information.
To find out more about Alicea and her services visit her at www.flourishfeedingbabies.com. You can also find her on Instagram at flourishfeedingbabies or Facebook at Flourish Feeding Babies.