Emily Kaiser, MSW, RLC, IBCLC

I opened my practice in 2020 after my own breastfeeding experience showed me how difficult it could be for families in the Bowling Green area to find skilled, individualized feeding support. Today, I provide family-centered clinical lactation and infant-feeding care in Bowling Green, Kentucky, throughout the surrounding region, and through virtual care to families worldwide. My background in social work and mental health allows me to consider not only how a baby is feeding, but also the parent’s physical health, emotional well-being, birth and feeding experiences, daily responsibilities, and personal goals.

I also bring the lived experience of being a healthcare professional with chronic health conditions, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and related comorbidities. I understand how exhausting and discouraging it can feel when symptoms are complicated, concerns are dismissed, or care does not account for the whole person. This experience has strengthened my commitment to listening carefully, taking concerns seriously, and helping families navigate feeding alongside chronic illness, disability, and medical complexity. I am proud to be included in the EDS Healthcare Professionals Directory as a provider of lactation and infant-feeding care. In addition to my lived experience, I have intentionally studied the unique lactation, pumping, and infant-feeding challenges that people with EDS and other chronic or complex medical conditions may face. This knowledge helps me look beyond standard recommendations, recognize contributing factors that might otherwise be missed, and work collaboratively with families and their healthcare teams to provide individualized guidance and practical solutions.

A Mother’s Village is especially known for helping families with complicated or persistent feeding concerns, including oral dysfunction, suspected tongue or lip ties, bottle refusal, low milk supply, pumping difficulties, painful or inefficient feeding, and slow weight gain. I take time to look beyond the most obvious symptom and evaluate the entire feeding picture, including oral function, feeding mechanics, milk transfer, breast or bottle flow, pumping, medical factors, infant regulation, and what is realistically sustainable for the family. Because I do not perform frenectomy procedures, I have no financial incentive to recommend a release. Families receive a neutral, function-based assessment and honest guidance about what their baby may or may not need.

Every feeding journey and every family are welcome in my practice. I proudly provide inclusive, affirming care to LGBTQ+ parents and families and am listed in The OutList LGBTQ+ Affirming Healthcare Directory. I support families who are breastfeeding, chestfeeding, pumping, bottle-feeding, combination feeding, supplementing, or formula feeding. Families can expect compassionate, judgment-free care; clear explanations; and an active role in creating an individualized plan that reflects their goals and can realistically work for their family.

Specialties:

My primary specialties include pumping assessment and optimization, evidence-based flange fitting, individualized pump selection, and personalized pump settings. I help families determine which pump is best suited to their body, milk supply, pumping frequency, lifestyle, and feeding goals. I also troubleshoot pumping pain, low milk output, difficulty triggering milk ejection, nipple swelling or damage, and challenges building or maintaining milk production.

My approach to flange fitting reflects current evidence and recognizes that achieving a comfortable, effective fit involves more than simply measuring the nipple. I consider comfort, nipple movement, tissue elasticity, milk removal, pump strength, and how the breast and nipple respond throughout an entire pumping session. During in-person appointments, families can try a variety of flange sizes, shapes, materials, inserts, and styles to compare comfort and effectiveness. During virtual appointments, I can demonstrate different options, observe pumping, and help families identify which products and adjustments are most likely to meet their needs. I also provide support for exclusive pumping, wearable pump use, returning to work, building or maintaining milk supply, and creating realistic, sustainable pumping schedules.

I additionally specialize in bottle-feeding and bottle refusal, including bottle nipple and flow selection, pacing, positioning, feeding mechanics, oral motor coordination, and individualized plans for introducing or reintroducing a bottle.

My other specialties include low milk supply, complex or persistent feeding difficulties, functional oral assessments, oral dysfunction and tethered oral tissues, oral habilitation, and pre- and post-frenectomy care. I have advanced training in identifying the many factors that may contribute to feeding challenges, including oral motor coordination, anatomy, tension patterns, primitive reflexes, compensatory behaviors, breast or bottle flow, parent and infant positioning, pumping effectiveness, hormonal or medical contributors, and infant regulation.

I also support families navigating painful feeding, reflux-like symptoms, coughing or choking during feeds, oral aversion, relactation or induced lactation, supplementation, weaning, and feeding concerns involving premature infants, NICU graduates, or medically complex infants.

My approach is function-focused, evidence-based, trauma-informed, and centered on creating a plan that is both clinically appropriate and realistic for the family.

Trainings/Education:

• Babies in Common Pumping & Feeding Gear for IBCLCS- Jeanette Mesite Frem, MHS, IBCLC, CCE
• Guiding Bottle Breakthroughs- Rachel O'Brien, IBCLC
• Oral Habilitation of the Breastfeeding Dyad: A Master Class for the IBCLC- Jennifer Tow, BFA, MA, IBCLC, RLC, OMT
• TOTS Training®- Autumn Henning, MS, CCC-SLP, COM®, IBCLC
• Low Milk Supply Specialization Course for Healthcare Providers- Lactation Hub
• Master Reflexive™ Oral Function- Avery Young, M.S, M.Ed, IBCLC
• Latching Redefined: The Reflexive Basis of Latching- Avery Young, M.S, M.Ed, IBCLC
• Yearly Attendee of GOLD Tongue-Tie Symposium- GOLD
• Beyond Lactation: Advanced Breast Health Insights for Lactation Professionals- Christine Staricka, IBCLC
• Breastfeeding Without Birthing- Alyssa Schnell, MS, IBCLC
• Infant Guts & Butts- Shondra Mattos, IBCLC
• Gentle Manual Therapeutic Techniques in Lactation- Maya Bolman, RN, BA, BSN, IBCLC, FILCA
• Reflexive Feeding for Infant Feeding Professionals- Nat Udwin, MSOT, OTR/L
• Structure and Function: How the Infant's Structure Affects the Infant's Function- Jaye Haleryn, LC(RET), CLE, CIIM, BT and Jewel Mohr, MEd, IBCLC
• TalkTools Post Operative Frenectomy Management- Robyn Merkel-Walsh, MA, CCC-SLP/COM® and Lori Overland, MS, CCC-SLP, C/NDT, FOM, CLC
  
  In Progress:
  Milk Supply Mastery System- Kenita Chenevert, BSHM, MA, IBCLC
  Gut-Brain: A Masterclass for IBCLCs- Jennifer Tow, BFA, MA, IBCLC, RLC, OMT
  Always adding more....