Our Story

Hi there, I’m Emily, Milk Matters Lactation Support LLC owner and Lactation Consultant. I am a Registered Nurse and Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC – the gold standard for lactation care). My entire nursing career has been focused on Maternal Child Health; I have worked Labor/Delivery, Postpartum, and outpatient Maternal Health Services (primarily breastfeeding support) through Yakima Hospital for the last decade and I have absolutely loved every aspect of caring for families in these roles. 

While caring for families during the perinatal and postpartum period, I discovered that I LOVE helping families feed their babies!! There is just something incredibly satisfying about helping parents build confidence in their ability to feed their babies and watching them bond with their babies through feeding – whether that is directly breastfeeding/chestfeeding, exclusively pumping and bottle feeding, or providing a mixture of breastmilk and formula. When I realized that lactation consultation is my “nursing niche”, my long-term goal has been to open my own practice…eventually, with no solid time frame on when that might happen.

My husband and I recently had our own baby and we are cherishing our breastfeeding journey. It’s funny how having a baby can challenge your plans and shift your priorities; my planned return to work no longer fit into our family’s needs, so my husband and I decided it was time to make my long-term dream a reality in order to allow us to meet our feeding and parenting goals, as well as allows me the schedule flexibility that being my own boss provides so that I could continue to do what I LOVE.

The name “Milk Matters” has a dual meaning; it is situational – any question or situation that a parent might have about milk production or feeding is a Milk Matter! In addition, the name serves to remind lactating parents that despite the challenges that breastfeeding/chestfeeding can bring (because let’s be honest, it’s “natural” but not always easy), human milk in any quantity provides incredible benefits to the infant; Even if it’s just a few drops, Milk Matters! The name also provides neutrality – I recognize that not every lactating parent wants to or can directly feed, or provide 100% breastmilk, or identifies as cisgender. I did my best to reflect this in the logo, too. It is important to me that, while I know the majority of the population I will serve wants to and will breastfeed, I make every single family feel comfortable reaching out for help.

My mission is to meet your family where you are, for who you are, and to help you reach your infant feeding goals whatever they may be.

You’ve got this!

– Emily