GROW Advanced Lactation Support

08/27/2026

My frustration with bad feeding advice is an unpaid actor.

08/25/2026

08/22/2026

Ya know what experienced moms want first time moms to know? Take a breastfeeding class and do a prenatal assessment. Trust uuussss. Sign up today at growlakeland.com

08/15/2026

Such a joy to celebrate with Fearless Midwifery at her open house today! Welcome to Strengthening Women and Nurturing Newborns — we’re so excited to have midwifery options for low-risk families in Polk County! Congratulation Belinda Cleaves LM

08/08/2026

Three years. 💛

Today we're celebrating GROW's third birthday, and we're feeling incredibly grateful.

When GROW opened its doors three years ago, it was just one IBCLC with a dream of creating infant feeding support that felt calm, collaborative, and deeply personalized. Since then, we've grown into a team of two IBCLCs, welcomed the most incredible Patient Care Coordinator (who we truly can't imagine doing this without!), and are preparing to mentor two student lactation consultants as they begin their own journeys into this profession.

And we're not done growing! We're actively searching for a third IBCLC to join our team so we can continue serving even more families in our community.

Every family who has trusted us, every referral from a fellow provider, every encouraging message, and every tiny baby we've had the privilege of supporting has helped shape GROW into what it is today. Thank you for believing in us and allowing us to be part of such an important season of your lives.

Here's to three years of growth, community, and giving gravity to the foundation of infant feeding. We can't wait to show you what's next.

08/03/2026

Meet the newest members of the GROW team. 🌿

We're so excited to introduce our newest **Lactation Interns**! They are both training through **Pathway 3**, one of the most rigorous routes to becoming an **International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)**—the gold standard in lactation care.

Becoming an IBCLC is far more than a weekend certification. Before they can even sit for the board exam, they must complete college-level health science coursework in subjects like anatomy, physiology, infant development, nutrition, psychology, clinical research, medical terminology, infection control, and more.

They also complete:
✨ 95 hours of specialized lactation education
✨ **500 hours of directly supervised clinical practice** with experienced IBCLCs
✨ A comprehensive international board examination

Those 500 hours are spent learning alongside us—observing, practicing clinical skills, building clinical judgment, and caring for families under close supervision.

At GROW, we believe investing in the next generation of IBCLCs is investing in the future of infant feeding care in our community.

Please help us give our interns a warm welcome! We can't wait for you to meet them and watch them grow into exceptional lactation consultants. 💛

07/30/2026

Have you ever noticed your baby's top lip curling under during a latch?

For years, we've been told to simply flip the lip out. While that can absolutely be helpful in some situations, it's worth asking **why the lip is tucked under in the first place.**

In many babies, a curled-under lip is a compensation—not the root problem.

When the tongue isn't able to extend, elevate, or cup around the ni**le as effectively as it should, the lips often step in to help stabilize the latch. That tucked lip may be your baby's attempt to get more milk when they're struggling.

Because of that, repeatedly flipping the lip out may not always solve the problem. In some cases, it can be like taking away a crutch before someone has regained the strength to walk without it. If the underlying tongue function hasn't improved, the lip will often curl right back under.

That said, this is where nuance matters.

If a tucked lip is contributing to pain or ni**le damage, by all means, gently flip it out. Comfort matters, and sometimes that simple adjustment makes an immediate difference.

But if the lip keeps returning to that position, don't stop at the symptom. Instead, ask what your baby's body is trying to accomplish with that compensation. Looking at tongue function, positioning, oral motor skills, and the mechanics of feeding often provides far more answers than focusing on the lip alone.

The goal isn't simply to create a "picture-perfect" latch, it's to understand *why* your baby is latching the way they are.

When we treat the cause instead of just the compensation, feeding becomes easier for everyone.

07/27/2026

A tongue tie release is only half of the journey. Healing matters just as much as the procedure itself.

We support hundreds of families each year through the tongue tie release process, and one thing has become abundantly clear: the procedure is only part of the equation. Consistent healing support plays a critical role in preserving your baby's new range of motion while they learn new feeding skills.

Here are four simple ways to help reduce the risk of restrictive reattachment:
✨ Perform wound care immediately before a feeding.
✨ Know what healthy healing looks like.
✨ Stay consistent with your stretching routine.
✨ Continue feeding in positions that encourage optimal tongue function.

Healing doesn't have to be perfect—it just needs to be consistent. The small moments of care you provide throughout the day can make a meaningful difference in your baby's recovery and long-term feeding outcomes.

Before scheduling a tongue tie release, start with a comprehensive feeding assessment by an IBCLC with advanced training in oral function and the tie release process. We'll assess exactly how your baby is feeding, evaluate their feeding skills, protect your milk supply, and help you determine whether a release is appropriate. If it is, we'll guide you through the entire process with a personalized plan so you can move forward with confidence.

Save this post for the healing days ahead, and send it to a parent preparing for a tongue tie release.

07/20/2026

Better Than Basics: Infant Feeding for Modern Families is coming up on August 8th at 2:00 PM.

This isn’t the same breastfeeding class your grandmother took. We skip the outdated advice and focus on what today’s families actually need: realistic expectations, practical feeding strategies, and the confidence to make informed decisions that fit your family.

You'll learn how feeding works, what’s normal in the early weeks, how to recognize when something needs support, and how to trust your own instincts along the way. Our goal is simple: to help you begin your feeding journey feeling calm, confident, and prepared.

Because feeding your baby shouldn’t feel like guessing.

07/14/2026

What a day! I’m so thrilled to have Belinda Cleaves LM of Fearless Midwifery just two rooms down from me in Strengthening Women and Nurturing Newborns . She’s an amazing midwife and I can’t wait to see her practice grow in Lakeland! Give her a follow 😍