The Milk Mentor, Albany, NY (2026)

02/02/2026

Black History Month is a time to name the histories that still shape health outcomes today - histories that have often been white-washed or erased. Understanding the history of forced wet-nursing during slavery helps us see the roots of today’s disparities in breastfeeding support. Many Black families continue to feel the effects of these systems.

What can help: Learn about and connect with culturally affirming lactation care.

01/30/2026

The only ICE we use in lactation is to reduce inflammation for clogged ducts and mastitis — not to harm families or instill fear.

We know many folks are closing their doors tomorrow in response to what’s happening with immigration enforcement in our nation and right here in our local community. We support the reason behind that action.

As a very small, independently run practice, we can’t afford to fully shut down and still continue serving families who rely on us for care. Staying open is how we survive — and how we continue to show up for our community.

That’s why a portion of tomorrow’s consultations will be donated to the Capital Region Sanctuary Coalition, supporting immigrant families right here in our community.

Care, dignity, and safety are not negotiable. That’s the work we do — every day.

Care is our work. Solidarity is part of it.

01/18/2026

We’re so excited to officially introduce the new Milk Mentors!

Amy is a Certified Lactation Counselor and Educator with 16 years of experience as an elementary teacher and a deep, personal understanding of the breastfeeding relationship through her own parenting journey. Her work is grounded in evidence-based care and biological norms, and she brings a welcoming, judgment-free presence to every family she supports.

Also joining us is Lawren, a Certified Lactation Educator with a background as an Early Childhood Educator, a Birth, Bereavement, and Postpartum Doula, and current nursing student and ED SPCT. With experience spanning education, birth work, and clinical care, she offers calm, realistic, and approachable whole-family support during this tender season.

Together, we are honored to walk alongside families with care that respects physiology, connection, and the unique rhythm of each feeding relationship.

✨ Our full bios are now live at themilkmentor.com — link in bio.

01/16/2026

Sixty-seven families trusted me with their photos. 🤍
That still takes my breath away.

This wall is just the beginning.

When I invited past clients to share images from their feeding journeys, I hoped for a handful. Instead, I was met with an outpouring of trust, vulnerability, pride, exhaustion, tenderness, strength — the full, real spectrum of what feeding a baby can look like.

I added gallery lights here because I want you to literally shine. Lactating and breastfeeding is hard work. It takes time, dedication, grit… let’s shine a light on the beautiful moments, the hard moments, the pumping, the low supply, the nicu stays, the pain (Common! Not normal!), the return to work, the boating outing, the gymnurstics, the feeding in a carrier and so much more. Some pictures didn’t show up printed the way I hoped (which, helped me narrow things down 😵‍💫), but every single photo sent matters. I’m already dreaming up creative ways to honor everyone — including exploring a digital frame so all of your moments can live in this space.

This practice is built on biological, physiological and anthropological norms. The anthropology of it truly shows the importance, the necessity, of community. This space is built on the relationships we make, on the community we create each time you show up for a fellow family navigating this journey for the first time. Come to community circles. Come build the community that doesn’t just show up. We’re truly honored to have you here.

Holding a snapshot of your journey, seeing a small piece of your story keeps me going, and let’s the next family that sits on this couch know that it can work out alright even if things feel hard right now. I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you 🥹

01/15/2026

Individualized lactation care begins with the understanding that no two feeding relationships are the same.

While standard lactation visits often rely on generalized guidelines and timelines, individualized care takes a broader view—one rooted in evidence-based practice, compassionate listening, and respect for human biology. Research guides our work, but it is never applied without context. Evidence is interpreted through the lens of your baby, your body, your history, and your lived experience.

Respecting biology means honoring physiological norms, infant cues, and the natural variability of feeding relationships. It means supporting what is biologically typical while recognizing when support, adaptation, or intervention is needed. Compassionate care creates space for questions, uncertainty, and emotion—because feeding is not just a mechanical process, but a deeply relational one.

Rather than asking families to conform to a model, individualized care meets them where they are. The goal is not perfection, but confidence, sustainability, and a feeding relationship that feels supportive, informed, and humane.

At The Milk Mentor, we intentionally integrate these principles into every interaction in order to provide the highest quality, evidence-based lactation care—care that honors biology, centers compassion, and supports the unique needs of each family.

01/13/2026

Hi, I’m Becky — The Milk Mentor, founder of the Upstate Lactation Collective, and a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) through the Academy for Lactation Policy & Practice. Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. 🤍

This work—right here—is at the heart of my practice.

I support families by centering biological, physiological, and anthropological norms in human lactation, while also helping families navigate how those norms may (or may not) fit within modern life—especially in a culture that is centered on formula and bottle feeding, glorifies return to you before babies and return to work, lacks paid leave and often pushes babies toward early independence, even when that doesn’t align with what the developing infant brain, and lactating bodies actually needs.

(Spoiler alert: strong early attachment supports future independence and is associated with lower rates of anxiety.)

My approach is shaped by 11+ years of experience of my own lactation journey, paired with evidence based professional training, experience running a corporate lactation program, and deep respect for the lived experience of feeding families.

✨ My specialties include:
• Prenatal education & preparation
• Oral dysfunction & feeding challenges
• Bottle refusal
• Effective, efficient pumping (that actually fits real life)

As The Milk Mentor grows and I prepare to welcome new mentors into this work, I wanted to re-introduce myself—and the values that guide everything we do here.

You deserve lactation care that is skilled, human, rooted in how bodies are physiologically wired to work, and meets you where you are on this journey.

If you’ve been here a while, say hello below 👋
If you’re new here, welcome—and let us know how we can support you.

—

✨ Deep gratitude to baby C for generously allowing their care moment to be shared,
🎥 My dear friend Nick Lyman who so graciously donated his time to put this together for me and so beautifully captured this work,
📍 and the for the space where this care and collaboration happens (you may also notice in this clip too 🫶).

01/12/2026

Are you preparing for breastfeeding or wondering what breastfeeding might look like for your family?

Join Becky LaBombard, Certified Lactation Counselor, owner of The Milk Mentor and founder of the Upstate Lactation Collective, for a Breastfeeding Basics Class designed to help you feel informed, supported, and confident.

🗓 March 6
⏰ 6:30–8:30 PM
📍 1807 Western Avenue, Albany

In this class, we’ll walk through the how-to’s and benefits of breastfeeding, including:
-Importance of Breastfeeding
-Breast Changes
-The Golden Hour
-Breastfeeding in the Early Days of Life
-Positioning
-Common Challenges and Troubleshooting
-Milk Expression
-Your questions—and beyond!

Partners or one support person are encouraged to attend. This class is a great fit for those planning to breastfeed, those who are still exploring their options, and anyone wanting a refresher before a new baby arrives.

Registration details are available at the link in bio. 🔗

01/10/2026

Something exciting is coming 🤍

The Milk Mentor lactation practice is growing, which means more availability, more support, and more options for families. Two new lactation mentors are joining the team, expanding our ability to meet families where they are during their feeding journeys.

Breastfeeding is a learned skill, and timely support matters. This expansion is about making care more accessible, reducing wait times, and ensuring families don’t have to navigate feeding challenges alone.

Scheduling with our expanded team will open February.

Stay tuned for the big reveal. ✨

01/08/2026

“Most people in American culture will not see a baby nursing at the breast until it is their own baby nursing at their own breast for the first time.”

So why does this matter?

This matters because breastfeeding is often treated as private, hidden, or even taboo—rather than a normal biological process. When people grow up without seeing breastfeeding modeled, it can feel unfamiliar, awkward, or intimidating when it’s their turn. That lack of exposure contributes to unrealistic expectations, self-doubt, and the idea that feeding struggles mean failure.

Breastfeeding is often described as “natural,” but it is only about 10% instinct and 90% learned behavior. It is a skill that develops through a lifetime of exposures and experiences—watching others feed, hearing conversations, receiving guidance, and being supported. When those exposures are missing, parents are left to learn a complex skill in isolation, during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.

Visibility builds confidence. Normalizing breastfeeding in our communities helps parents recognize what’s typical, seek support sooner, and feel less alone in their feeding journeys. When we see it, we understand it. When we normalize it, we support it.

Scelza B. A. (2025). Social Learning is critical to breastfeeding success: Evidence from rural Namibian pastoralists. Evolution, medicine, and public health, 13(1), 344-554
doi: 10.1093/emph/eoaf030

01/07/2026

If you’ve ever been to the , you’ve seen our gallery walls — selfies of those of us in the collective, nursing our own babies, reminding families: you’re not alone here. Here are some of me and my little ones at different seasons of life.

Now, I want to fill my Milk Mentor space with the families I’ve had the privilege of supporting over the years.

If we’ve worked together, I’d love to include a selfie photo from your feeding journey — nursing, pumping, feeding in a carrier, newborn days or later chapters — any moment that feels true to your story. Whether that be successes or moments from harder days. Photos shared may be selected to be printed, framed, and hung in my office as part of a gallery wall honoring the families I’ve worked with.

Photos can be emailed, texted, or sent via inbox message here.
Please let me know in your message if it is OK with you for me to display what you share with me on the walls of my office.

This wall is about visibility, community, and honoring the work families do every single day. 🤍 I’m so proud of each and ever one of you and look forward to honoring a handful of folks in my work space. Thank you for considering contributing to this!

12/31/2025

✨ January with The Milk Mentor ✨

We’re starting the year with connection, caffeine, and community 🤍

🗓 January 2 — Lactation Community Circle
📍 Ballston Lake | 11–1

☕️ January 13 — Lattes & Lactation
📍 Broadway Coffee Co., Saratoga Springs | 10–12

These circles are low-pressure, come-as-you-are spaces for lactating folks who want support, real talk, and community. Stay the whole time or pop in—whatever works for you.

📝 January note: I’m taking the 3rd Thursday Delmar group off this month—my first skip since starting the Delmar Circle 😮‍💨. We’ll regroup and I’ll have February dates posted soon.

🔗 Register via Eventbrite (link in bio)
Questions? Call or text or email me.

Come as you are. Stay or go as you need. 💧🤍

12/27/2025

Comparing formula ounces to breastmilk ounces isn’t a fair measurement — they function very differently. It’s apples to oranges! 🍎🍏🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊

🍎Breastmilk can fluctuate and increase in nutrient density and calorie concentration over time, meaning babies don’t need to consume more and more of it to meet their needs.

🍊Formula, on the other hand, remains static in its calorie content, so volume requirements must increase to meet caloric needs of your growing baby.

This is how a loving-but-uninformed family member insisting a 6 month old baby “needs” an 8 oz bottle of breastmilk can cause unnecessary worry because that guideline was designed for formula feeding, not breastfeeding. 💛

The Milk Mentor

02/02/2026

01/30/2026

01/18/2026

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01/15/2026

01/13/2026

01/12/2026

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01/08/2026

01/07/2026

12/31/2025

12/27/2025

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