Holistic Lactation & Infant Feeding Support
Sara Alanis RN, IBCLC, IFS
Lactation Consultant, Feeding Specialist, Registered Nurse
Hello!
About Me: Sara Ann Alanis
Partner - Mother - Nurse - Educator - Advocate
...and some might say Baby Whisperer...
Hello!
My name is Sara, and I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and certified Infant Feeding Specialist (IFS). I am also a Registered Nurse (RN), specializing in Maternity, Newborn, and Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing. I hold a bachelor's degree in Nursing, as well as a bachelor's degree in Biology.
My passion for helping families with infant feeding began shortly after the birth of my first child in 2012. My goal was to breastfeed, but at the time I did not have much knowledge of breastfeeding, nor did I have a very good support system. I did not know where to go for help with the challenges I was faced with, so I felt overwhelmed and alone. Luckily, a friend of mine directed me to a couple of local nursing moms groups. I quickly found the support that I needed, and I. Was. Hooked.
In 2013 I completed coursework to become a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC). Shortly there after I obtained an RN position working with moms, babies, and families postpartum. In 2014 I had my second child. As a CLC and RN who worked with breastfeeding families frequently, I felt well prepared to breastfeed this time. Little did I know, I was in for quite a struggle. Fortunately, a friend suggested that I meet with an IBCLC in private practice.
The limitless knowledge of the Private Practice IBCLC, her genuine desire to help me, and the benefits from all of the advice that she provided while I was having such a difficult time, further fueled my fire to delve into the world of Lactation Consulting. I wanted to be Just. Like. Her. She was remarkable. So, while still nursing my son, I completed hundreds of hours of coursework and clinical experience. In 2016 I passed the IBCLC board examination with one of the top scores of any candidate internationally, and in 2018 my private practice was born.
Since that time I have been blessed with two stepchildren, and I have birthed a third child. I have taught breastfeeding, newborn care, and sibling classes, and I have led and spoken at postpartum support groups. I am a member of the NH Breastfeeding Taskforce, the NH Association for Infant Mental Health, the Holistic Moms Network, the United States Lactation Consultant Association, and the International Lactation Consultant Association. I am the founder of the NH Lactation Consulting Collaborative, and the chair of the Private Practice Lactation Consultant subcommittee of the NH Breastfeeding Taskforce. I have professional interest in epigenetics, cultural anthropology, the biology of breastfeeding, supporting family dynamics, and maternal mental health support. I have received advanced training in the areas of infant development, breast & bottle feeding techniques, oral assessments, tongue tie assessments, body work, low milk supply, pump flange fitting, trauma informed care, birth story listening, communication skills, and crisis intervention. It is because of this interdisciplinary training (and a commitment to never stop learning!) that I am able to provide the highly specialized care that I excel in.
In my personal time I enjoy spending time with my children and family- camping, traveling, landscaping, horseback riding, doing pilates & yoga, crafting, cooking, and photography. In feeding my own babies I have struggled with latch refusal, low milk supply, tongue tie, nipple trauma, oversupply, food intolerance, food allergy, breast refusal, bottle refusal, pumping, and bottle feeding. I have experienced the same lack of support and misinformation that most of my clients have, and that is why I work so hard to be the best practitioner that I can be. I believe that every family has the right to make their own informed decisions about the way that they feed, raise, and nurture their children, and that every family should have access to high quality support to achieve those goals.
Training and Certifications
2024:
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Guiding Bottle Breakthroughs, Rachel O'Brien
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Transmasc and Gender Non-Binary Individuals and Lactation
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Trauma and Breastfeeding, Kathy Kendall-Tackett
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UnderstandingThe Biology Of Breastfeeding, Wendy Igman
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Nursing Strikes, Jan Tedder
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The Unique Challenges of Black Breastfeeding, Janice Clarke
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Masterclass 2.0 Live Conference (16hrs), Jen Tow et al
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Low Milk Supply, Karolina Ochoa
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Culture, Biology, and Breastfeeding, Crystal Cooper
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Optimizing Nutrition in Nursing Mothers, Jennifer Bolton
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Gentle Manual Therapeutic Techniques in Lactation, Maya Bolman
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PBM Therapy For Milk Supply and Breast Health, Suzanna Juel
2023:
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Oxytocin Dialogues, Kerstin Uvnas-Moberg & Kathy Kendall-Tackett
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More Than Reflexes: Relearning Breastfeeding Skills, Debra Swank
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The Older Baby, Jennifer Tow
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Crash Course in Billing & Insurance, Annie Frisbie
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Food Sensitive Babies text, Joy Cecile Anderson
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Tongue Tied audiobook, Richard Baxter
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Deeper Dive into Mastitis, Nikki Hunter Greenaway
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Low Milk Supply Detective Work, Melissa Cole
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Deeper Dive Into Bottle Refusal, Rachel O'Brien
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Plugged Ducts & Mastitis: A Holistic Approach, Jennifer Tow
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Infant Feeding And Allergy, Breastfeeding Conferences
2022:
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Infant Feeding Specialist Certification (40hrs), ProDoula
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Pump Flange Fitting & Feeding Gear, Jeanette Mesite Frem
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Bottle Feeding Skills, Lactation OT
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Your Baby's Bottle Feeding Aversion text, Rowena Bennett
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JAWS audiobook, Sandra Kahn & Paul Ehrlich
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Starting Solids Matters audiobook, Charlotte Young & Amy Brown
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What Happened To You audiobook, Oprah Winfrey & Bruce Perry
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A Reflex Based Approach To Latching, Avery Young
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Exploring Supplemental Feeders, Johanna Sargeant
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Bottle Skills For The Bottle Refuser, Susan Howard
2021:
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Human Milk and Covid #1 & #2, NYLCA & Rebecca Powell
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IGT Is Not A Tragedy, Kristin Cavuto
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Expanding Your Lactation Private Practice, Annie Frisbie
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Exploring Ethics For Lactation Consultants, Gold Compilation
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The Atlantic Divide- Recommendations On Co-Sleeping, Helen Ball
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We're Mammals, Shahrzad Tayebi
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Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex, Alia Macrina
2020:
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Oral Function: Compensation or Competency, Jennifer Tow
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Tongue And Lip Tie: The Game Changer Studies, Alison Hazelbaker
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Gutts And Butts, Shondra Mattaos
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What We Can Learn From Fed Is Best, Kathy Kendall-Tackett
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Beyond Fenugreek, Melissa Cole
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Oral Habituation Masterclass 1.0 (44hrs), Jennifer Tow et al.
2019, and earlier:
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Oral Function And Assessment (20hrs), Melissa Cole & Michelle Emmanuel
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The Truth About Night Waking, Holistic Sleep Coach
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Faux Tie, When Tongue Tie Is Not A Tongue Tie, Alison Hazelbaker
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Classifying Infant Sucking Problems, Alison Hazelbaker
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Using The Hazelbaker Assessment Tool, Alison Hazelbaker
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A Course In Insurance, Documentation and Billing, Donna Sinnott
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Birth Story Medicine, Pam England
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Postpartum Mood Disorders, Postpartum Support International
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Language Of Caring (16hrs)
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Certified Breastfeeding Educator (90hrs), Lactation Education Resources
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Certified Lactation Counselor (45hrs), Healthy Children Program