Teaching Babies to Nurse

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Teaching Babies to Nurse

Breastfeeding support at the intersection of lactation consulting and infant body dynamics

01/21/2026

Margaret Salty is a trusted and well-known voice in the lactation field, and this week she sat down with Ellen Chetwynd, IBCLC, PhD for a rich conversation on Body-Led Breastfeeding and the Infant Suck Strength Exam (ISSE).

In this episode, Ellen shares how years of clinical practice — and noticing what wasn’t explained by diagnoses like thrush, Raynaud’s, or tongue-tie — led her to look more deeply at the infant’s body, neurology, and suck function.

Together, Margaret and Ellen explore how the ISSE moves beyond appearance-based latch assessment to better understand suck strength, tongue function at the breast, and infant compensation patterns that often drive pain and feeding challenges.

Want to learn more?
Join the Body-Led Breastfeeding 3-part online workshop for clinicians this February:
- February 11 | 1:00–3:00 PM EST
- February 18 & 25 | 1:00–2:15 PM EST

Learn more at BodyLedBreastfeeding.com

01/15/2026

✨ Big news! Teaching Babies To Nurse is now in partnership with Wildflower Health ✨

We’re officially in-network with Cigna, which means:
- Cigna patients are 100% covered for lactation appointments
- Coverage is available through our partnership with Wildflower Health, a preferred lactation provider for Cigna

We offer both in-person and virtual lactation support, meeting families where they are throughout their feeding journey.

Cigna patients can get started here:
https://portal.wildflowerhealth.net/affiliate-care/18dfe4a

Questions? Reach out or visit the link in our bio to learn more.

01/14/2026

Join us this February for a 3-part virtual workshop on Body-Led Breastfeeding: Infant Physiokinetics in Practice.

Learn how infant alignment, movement, and tension directly impact feeding—and how to work with the baby’s body instead of against it.
✨ Clinical videos
✨ Hands-on tools
✨ Solutions for persistent challenges

Save your spot ➡️ bodyledbreastfeeding.com

🗓 Feb 11, 18 & 25
⏰ Live online (EST)
🎓 Approved for 4 L-CERPs

12/18/2025

Boutique update! We’re loving the newest Blessed Nest Pillow designs—now in stock at our clinic! ✔️ Order online (link in Bio!) ✔️ Pick up in-clinic ✔️ Snuggle into better support
Stop by and see them in person on 12/22 or 12/23 before we are closed for the holidays!

12/10/2025

New Episode!

In this episode, Ellen and Adina dive into what you can learn about a baby’s body in the moments we often think of as routine — diaper changes and weight checks.

From side preferences to torso curves, tight hips, and rigid arms, these small observations can reveal a lot about why a baby feeds the way they do.

12/03/2025

Join OWLA on Feb 2 at 7 PM PST for an evidence-based training with Ellen Chetwynd PhD MPH BSN RN IBCLC on:�Mastitis: Clinical Implementation of Lymphatic Release.
We’ll cover updated mastitis science, lymphatic physiology, TBML techniques, and real-world practice outcomes—including reduced antibiotic use after implementing TBML.
Walk away with practical tools you can use the next day in clinic.
�Registration link in bio! �

11/21/2025

Ellen led a Body-Led Breastfeeding session at ILCA!

The room was packed — people on the floor, lining the walls, even spilling into the hallway — all leaning in to explore why babies sometimes look up over a parent’s shoulder while nursing.

Using experiential learning, we explored how these instinctive movements relate to a front-of-the-mouth suck and how body dynamics shape feeding behaviors.

We are grateful for the energy, curiosity, and community in that room.

10/26/2025

Meet Lauren Nichols, MPH, IBCLC and Jess Woon, BSN, RN, IBCLC — both being mentored by Ellen as they deepen their clinical skills through our Fellowship at TBTN.

Through 450 hours of guided mentorship, they’re learning how to integrate infant body dynamics into feeding care — helping parents and babies find more comfort, coordination, and connection.

We’re so lucky to have them on our team (and we know you’ll love them too!).

Learn more about our amazing fellows:
Jess: https://www.teachingbabiestonurse.com/post/meet-the-fellow-jess-woon-bsn-rn-ibclc

Lauren: https://www.teachingbabiestonurse.com/post/meet-the-fellow-lauren-nichols-mph-ibclc

Interested in mentorship opportunities with Ellen?
Visit: https://www.teachingbabiestonurse.com/mentorship

You can also read more about our staff and fellows through the link in our bio.

10/24/2025

Episode 12: Bottle Types + Suck Mechanics is live!

In this episode, Ellen and Adina break down the four general types of bottles on the market and how each one affects what’s happening inside a baby’s mouth during a feed.

Not all bottles are created equal — and they can impact oral development, feeding transitions, and more.

Tune in to learn how bottle shape and flow can either support (or sometimes challenge!) a baby’s natural suck pattern.

10/14/2025

We’d love to see you at our Open House on
October 28th!
🎉 RSVP HERE : https://evite.me/8PjMxaKs2f
5:30–7:30 PM — snacks + mingling
6 PM — a casual chat with our Osteopathic Physicians about how OMT can support both parent + baby

📍 Teaching Babies To Nurse, Durham (Suite 102 in Hamilton Centre)
💛 Bring business cards if you have them — let’s connect + grow together!

10/07/2025

Our very own Dr. Ellen Chetwynd, PhD, MPH, IBCLC — lactation expert and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Human Lactation — will be speaking at this year’s ILCA Conference!

Join her and a panel of brilliant minds for: “Share What You Know, Shape Where We Go: A Masterclass in Publishing Your Clinical Pearls with JHL”
This special session is all about empowering lactation professionals to contribute their valuable insights to the field.

Come to ILCA and join Ellen and all the other speakers at the conference this year!

09/29/2025

Body-Led Breastfeeding is coming to Iceland!

Ellen and Adina are bringing the classic Teaching Babies to Nurse advanced lactation skills workshop with significant upgrades to this 2-day conference and we’d love to see you there. Innovative suck strength exams, learning to zero in on bioindividual suck mechanics, increasing suck functionality on bottle or ni**le shield, and so much more.

Infant physiokinetics in lactation in the morning and Northern Lights at night!

If you aren’t able to make it, don’t worry — the full BLB Foundations + Labs workshop series will be available online this coming spring — stay tuned for details!

Address

1415 W Nc Highway 54, Suite 102
Durham, NC
27707

Telephone

+19194382293

Website

http://teachingbabiestonurse.com/

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