Made of GOLD Lactation

Made of GOLD Lactation Make an Appointment (781) 579-8167
RN, IBCLC, private practice supporting lactation from prenatal to weaning.

I'm a Registered Nurse (RN), International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and a Neonatal Touch & Massage Specialist. Based in the South Shore, I have been supporting and helping families in Massachusetts for over 17 years. We will work together to develop a breastfeeding plan that works for your life and your family's needs. Let's not forget some time for infant massage education.

Remember: feeding your baby, caring for yourself, and showing up every day takes strength, courage, and love—and that’s ...
02/14/2026

Remember: feeding your baby, caring for yourself, and showing up every day takes strength, courage, and love—and that’s pure gold. 💛

Happy Valentine’s Day!

02/14/2026

Harmful breastfeeding advice that still gets passed around:

❌ “If it hurts, just keep going.”

This can lead to trauma, aversion, low supply, and early weaning. Pain is information — not something to override.

❌ “Breastfeeding should be natural.”

Natural does not mean intuitive. Breastfeeding is a learned skill — for both parent and baby.

❌ “If you’re stressed, your milk disappears.”

Stress can affect letdown temporarily, but it doesn’t instantly eliminate supply. Telling a stressed mother this only increases stress.

Outdated advice often increases shame.
Don’t trust always what you read… wor with a Lactation Consultant for help and evidence based updated lactation care!
#

💛Up to 45% of women report their birth as traumatic.💛Approximately 3% will go on to meet criteria for Post-Traumatic Str...
02/13/2026

💛Up to 45% of women report their birth as traumatic.
💛Approximately 3% will go on to meet criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Birth trauma isn’t only about what happened medically — it’s about how it was experienced.

Some examples of events parents describe as traumatic:
• Emergency or unplanned C-section
• Hemorrhage or severe complications
• NICU admission or separation from baby
• Feeling unheard, dismissed, or powerless during labor
• Pain that felt out of control
• Instrument-assisted delivery
• Baby not breathing at birth
• Failed induction or prolonged labor
• Medical staff speaking over you instead of to you

DID YOU KNOW? Birth trauma can show up during feeding.

You might notice:
• Anxiety or panic when baby cries
• Tension when latching
• Feeling triggered by ni**le pain or loss of control
• Hypervigilance about baby’s intake or weight
• Avoiding feeds
• Shutting down during pumping
• Grief when feeding isn’t going the way you imagined

Your nervous system remembers.

Feeding is intimate. It requires safety. Regulation. Trust.
If your birth experience disrupted those foundations, feeding can feel harder — not because you’re failing, but because your body is protecting you.

This is exactly why trauma-informed lactation care matters.

At Made of Gold Lactation, we support families navigating:
• Birth trauma
• NICU experiences
• Feeding after emergency deliveries
• PTSD symptoms connected to feeding
• Oral restrictions and feeding stress
And so much more…

You deserve support that sees the whole story — not just ounces and latch scores.

💛Made of Gold Lactation
Trauma-informed lactation care for families who deserve to feel safe while feeding.
www.Madeofgoldlactation.com

I’m Joanne Gagnon, RN, IBCLC, and the founder of Made of Gold Lactation. I specialize in trauma-informed lactation care ...
02/07/2026

I’m Joanne Gagnon, RN, IBCLC, and the founder of Made of Gold Lactation. I specialize in trauma-informed lactation care for families navigating pregnancy, postpartum, NICU stays, and complex or stressful feeding journeys. With a background in neonatal intensive care and advanced lactation support, I work closely with parents experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders by addressing one of the most common—and often overlooked—contributors: infant feeding stress.

My work focuses on supporting feeding challenges that can intensify anxiety, depression, grief, or feelings of loss of control, including low supply, pumping dependence, bottle refusal, NICU feeding, and weaning. Through compassionate education, nervous-system-aware care, and collaborative support with mental health providers, I help families feel more confident, regulated, and supported in their feeding decisions—without pressure or judgment.

I believe feeding support should protect both the parent’s mental health and the parent-infant relationship, and I strive to meet each family where they are, honoring their experiences, choices, and capacity.

❤️ February 6 | Wear Red Day ❤️Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women—and maternal health and cardiovascu...
02/06/2026

❤️ February 6 | Wear Red Day ❤️

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women—and maternal health and cardiovascular health are deeply connected.

Pregnancy is often the first “stress test” of the heart. Conditions like preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, diabetes, and preterm birth are linked to a higher lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease.

That’s why we wear red—to raise awareness, start conversations, and advocate for women’s heart health across the lifespan.

❤️ I wear red for my mother—who survived a quadruple bypass five years ago.

Who do you wear red for? Comment 👇 below!

At Made of Gold Lactation, we understand that every birthing parent carries a unique story. Some are navigating anxiety,...
02/05/2026

At Made of Gold Lactation, we understand that every birthing parent carries a unique story. Some are navigating anxiety, depression, or panic. Some have experienced birth trauma or difficult medical histories. And some simply want reassurance that their baby’s feeding journey will be safe, supported, and empowered.

I provide prenatal lactation guidance that meets you where you are—emotionally, mentally, and physically—so that when your baby arrives, you feel confident, informed, and supported.

Preparing for breastfeeding before your baby arrives is one of the most empowering steps you can take. Together, we will:
• Build confidence and reduce anxiety around breastfeeding, pumping, and feeding plans.
• Create a trauma-informed feeding plan tailored to your experiences and needs.
• Discuss realistic expectations for newborn feeding, including latch, supply, and supplementation options if needed.
• Plan for support alongside feeding goals, recognizing that adjustments may need to be made while working together postpartum.

We specialize in supporting parents and families who may feel anxious, overwhelmed, or uncertain about feeding, including those who:
• Have a history of trauma, abuse, or difficult births.
• Are managing anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns.
• Are expecting or parenting a baby with complications or NICU stays.
• Are seeking gentle, trauma-informed, individualized guidance.

Every family deserves support that is compassionate, non-judgmental, and evidence-based. Our goal is to help you feel confident and supported, no matter the challenges you’ve faced or expect.

Virtual and In Person Prenatal consultations are available.

To book visit www.madeofgoldlactation.com or text 781-579-8167

💗 February is Heart Health Month 💗Heart health matters at every stage of life—including during pregnancy and breastfeedi...
02/01/2026

💗 February is Heart Health Month 💗

Heart health matters at every stage of life—including during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Research shows that breastfeeding is associated with long-term cardiovascular benefits for mothers. Lactating parents who breastfeed for longer durations have been shown to have a lower risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke later in life. This is thought to be related to improved metabolic regulation, healthier cholesterol profiles, and better blood sugar control during and after lactation.

Pregnancy itself places significant demands on the cardiovascular system. Breastfeeding may help support the body’s recovery by:
• Improving insulin sensitivity
• Supporting healthy lipid metabolism
• Aiding postpartum weight regulation
• Reducing inflammation over time

Importantly, individuals who experience pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, or gestational diabetes already have a higher lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease. For these parents, cardiovascular screening, follow-up care, and supportive feeding counseling are especially important—regardless of how they feed their baby.

Breastfeeding is not a requirement for heart health, and feeding decisions should always be individualized, supported, and free from pressure. What does matter is recognizing the postpartum period as a critical window for long-term cardiovascular wellness, education, and trauma-informed care.

This Heart Month, let’s remember:
🫀 Supporting parents supports heart health—now and for the future.

❤️

01/30/2026

Birth Trauma + Feeding

Birth doesn’t always go as planned.
Sometimes it’s fast and disorienting.
Sometimes it’s long, scary, or full of interventions you didn’t expect.
Sometimes you’re separated from your baby, or left holding a body that feels numb and confused.

And all of that?
It follows you into feeding.

Maybe your baby struggles to latch.
Maybe your letdown doesn’t come easily.
Maybe feeding feels harder than it “should.”
Maybe it feels overwhelming—or even triggering.

This is trauma-informed lactation care:
✨ Listening without judgment.
✨ Supporting without pressure.
✨ Making space for grief, healing, and unexpected outcomes.

Not every breastfeeding story is dreamy.
Not every parent has support.
And not every survivor wants to breastfeed—some can’t, some try, some thrive, some don’t.
All of them deserve compassion.

Here, your story is welcome—just as it is.
No shame. No shoulds. Just support.💛

Maternal Health Awareness Day 💛This year’s theme, Holding Ground on Maternal Health, is a reminder that we cannot afford...
01/23/2026

Maternal Health Awareness Day 💛
This year’s theme, Holding Ground on Maternal Health, is a reminder that we cannot afford to move backward on the progress made to protect mothers’ lives.

More than 80% of deaths during and after pregnancy are preventable. The solutions already exist: equitable access to prenatal and postpartum care, properly equipped birthing facilities, respectful and trauma-informed care. across the entire perinatal period.

Maternal health doesn’t end at delivery. It doesn’t end at the 6-week postpartum visit. And it doesn’t end when feeding challenges or physical symptoms are dismissed as “normal.”

With Heart Month around the corner, it’s also critical to remember that pregnancy is a cardiovascular stress test. Heart-related risks remain high well into the postpartum year, and early warning signs are too often missed.

Maternal health doesn’t stop at birth—and neither should our commitment to it.

Make time for yourself.Prioritize your health.In the season of parenting and feeding, it can feel almost impossible to p...
01/20/2026

Make time for yourself.
Prioritize your health.

In the season of parenting and feeding, it can feel almost impossible to pause.
There is always another feed, another pump session, another bottle.

But being gentle with yourself matters.
Your body is doing extraordinary work.
Your nervous system deserves care too.

Even five minutes a day — to breathe, stretch, drink water, or sit in quiet — is not selfish.

And you don’t have to do this alone.
Let someone hold the baby.
Let someone wash the dishes.
Let someone sit with you while you rest.

YOU GOT THIS. 💛

Address

Boston, MA

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Made of GOLD Lactation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Made of GOLD Lactation:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category