Meet Your Host
Samantha Radford has breastfed three kids through toddlerhood (and is currently nursing a fourth toddler now).
She has dealt with nursing through pregnancy, tandem nursing, nursing aversion, and other issues common breastfeeding into toddlerhood.
That’s why she’s put together Breastfeeding Beyond Babyhood, because she knows how hard it is to find support when you have an older nursling.
Samantha uses her science background (she has a PhD in chemistry and public health) to help parents and kids thrive at Evidence-based Mommy. Meet Your Speakers
Andrea Haskins
Combatting Backlash From Your Nursing Toddler
Andrea is a mom of two, a breastfeeding peer counselor, and a lactation counselor (certified with Childbirth International) with a focus on mother-baby-led intuitive parenting.
I believe in many aspects parents have been led astray by the multitude of opinions and information available, whether it be online or even that which may come from their well-meaning but misguided doctor. It has dampened our ability to mother biologically and instinctually.
I want to encourage mothers to take back their own authority and their instinctual power in order to be less dependent on the sometimes misguided systems and misinformation.
Danielle Facey
Self care: Breastfeeding Edition
Danielle Facey, The Breastfeeding Mentor, is a writer and speaker on a mission to help moms everywhere breastfeed on their own terms for as long as they choose. Her book, ‘Self Care: The Breastfeeding Edition’ is full of practical advice rooted in yogic philosophy and psychological theory to help moms everywhere look after themselves as they look after their little ones.
Lourdes M. Santaballa Mora MSc IBCLC CLAAS IYCFS
Toddler Nursing in an Emergency
Lourdes is a single parent of two teenagers who breastfed in tandem until 6 and 8 respectively. She is an activist, mentor, educator, community-based lactation specialist (IBCLC), full-spectrum doula, podcaster and hurricane survivor. She speaks about gender, racial and class inclusivity in the binary and colonial languages of both Spanish and English.
Lourdes is considered one of the foremost experts in Puerto Rico and beyond on the topics of infant and young child feeding in emergencies (IYCF-E) and the International Code on Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.
Stephanie Wagner (She/Her/Hers), BSN, RN, CLE, IBCLC, RLC
Supporting LGBT+ with breastfeeding and chestfeeding
Stephanie Wagner, “Steph”, is a Registered Nurse of 21 years, her first 14 years working Labor & Delivery in various hospitals in Virginia, California, and New York. Steph graduated from James Madison University in Virginia in 2001 with her BSN. She became a Certified Lactation Educator in 2012 and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant in 2014.
After working in the hospital setting for 18 years, she now works solely as a Lactation Consultant in Private Practice. Her Private Practice, EverLatching Love, started in 2015 in NYC and now virtually helps families across the US as well as Internationally. EverLatching Love provides Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding/Bodyfeeding support and education for all families.
Steph has been featured in Romper.com, nymag.com, the Strategist, TLC the TV network, and other media outlets such as the Breastfeeding Outside the Box podcast series. She is an advocate and speaks at conferences and to groups across the country and world on best practice when working with LGBTQ+ patients/families who may use the language and action of Chestfeeding or Bodyfeeding their babies to feel more inclusive to their identity. Making sure healthcare is always aware of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for all persons is a pillar of Steph’s work.
Emily Hardwicke
Can picture books help with the weaning process?
After breastfeeding her son till 2.5 years and struggling with the weaning process far more than the early challenges of breastfeeding, Emily published a children’s picture book to help others in the same position. ‘A big change for Seb’ is a colourful and engaging narrative that contains gentle weaning strategies and helps to normalise breastfeeding older children. She posts @sebtheseries to help empower women to feel they have choices over their breastfeeding decisions.
Pinky McKay
Myths About Toddler Breastfeeding
Pinky McKay is a mum of five who all breastfed beyond babyhood – for a total of 20 years! She’s a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and best-selling author of 4 titles published by Penguin Random House, including Parenting By Heart.
Pinky specializes in gentle parenting styles that honour mothers’ natural instincts. Her ‘get real’, no-nonsense, approach, along with a blend of humour, sharp wit and wisdom, make her a popular source for major network TV and various publications internationally.
Jenna Wolfe
Weaning 101: Where to Begin (Without Hurting Your Bond)
Jenna supports breastfeeding moms to breastfeed & wean on their terms while setting themselves up for long-term parenting success & well-being.
She is currently breastfeeding her 5 & 3 year old while running her online coaching & lactation business, Own Your Parenting Story and hosting the podcast Start to Stop Toddler Breastfeeding.
Abby Theuring, MSW
Nursing Toddlers in Public
Abby is a podcaster, blogger, social worker and breastfeeder of 7 years to 2 boys. Including breastfeeding through pregnancy and tandem nursing.
She is co-host of the Badass Breastfeeding Podcast where she can help you reach your goals by busting myths and providing reliable information.
Carmen Valverda, CLC, Doula
“The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease” Join Forces with Breastfeeding Coalitions and Your Community for Change
Carmen Valverde is a bilingual certified lactation counselor (CLC) and doula based out of Dodge City, KS. She created Divine Design Birth Services in October 2018.
Currently, she is an active member of local, state, and national breastfeeding coalitions.
Dianne Cassidy, MA, IBCLC-RLC, ALC
Breastfeeding Beyond Infancy – What Breastfeeding Looks Like After the First Year
Dianne is an IBCLC working with families since 2008. She has been a source of support and knowledge for families worldwide. Dianne is especially passionate about supporting new parents, postpartum mental health, and all areas of infant feeding.
Dianne is a public speaker, author, educator and host of the very popular podcast The Badass Breastfeeding Podcast with Abby Theuring. She lives in upstate NY with her husband their children (including twins) and 2 dogs.
Dr. Hillary, DPT, PT
Pelvic Floor Health
Dr. Hillary aka. The Wellness PT is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who has a different approach to treating the pelvic floor than the traditional pelvic floor therapist.
Her goal is to normalize the conversation around common pelvic floor issues and sexual dysfunction so no one feels alone in their journey.
Jenn Taylor Campbell, Doula
Relactation, Adoption, & Bonding
Jenn spent 12 years as a birth assistant, lactation consultant, and CBE trainer in The Bradley Method and Birthing From Within. She also ran LaLeche League meetings with a passion for supporting women who have become Moms.
She’s now a Certified Birth Doula for all “happy” births regardless of where and how you deliver. She’s also a Bereavement Doula® helping families struggling with grief and loss, as well as an Adoption & Surrogacy Doula and Breastfeeding Counselor. She was the first doula to license with Medicaid in the state of Nevada, giving low-income and minority demographics an opportunity to have a doula.
In addition to Doula training, she has 30+ years in the trenches on her own journey as a Mama. She is Mom Of 18 (yes – 18 kids!). Jenn has written the blog – Mom’s Running It since 2011, is a published author of a self-help memoir in 2016, and host of the Becoming Parents Podcast since May of 2017.
Jenn is a speaker and has 15+ years of experience in the foster care sector as both a parent and a trainer. She has received targeted training on topics such as crisis intervention, drug & alcohol addiction, surviving trauma, and suicide prevention, which has equipped her with a solid understanding of how to serve others experiencing trauma.
Melissa Portunato MA, IBCLC
Returning to Work and Pumping
Melissa Portunato is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant located in Miami, Florida. She holds a Master’s degree in Health and Wellness, with a focus on Lactation Consulting. Since 2012, Melissa has worked in a variety of settings including hospital NICUs, birthing centers, WIC, breast pump manufacturers, and private practice.
Most recently in 2022, Melissa joined Storkpump by Adapt Health to provide her expert breast pump knowledge to educate and support families. Melissa has five children and continues to nurse her toddler.
Jessica Martin-Weber
Emotional and Physical Intimacy Changes Through Lactation – Fun Facts and What You Need to Know
Drawing from a diverse background in the performing arts and midwifery, Jessica Martin-Weber supports women and families, creating spaces for open dialogue. Writer, speaker, childbirth educator, and relationship and parenting coach, Jessica is the creator of TheLeakyBoob.com, co-creator of wereallhumanhere.com, freelance writer and mom. Jessica lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest and co-parents her 8 daughters with her husband of 26 years.