Breastfeeding is one of the most natural things we do but that doesn’t mean it always comes easily. Many families are surprised to discover how often feeding challenges arise, and how complex they can be. Questions about milk supply, pain, mastitis, tongue-tie, pumping, returning to work, or feeding an older baby often lead parents from one specialist to another, with no one fully connecting the dots.
Breastfeeding medicine is a physician subspecialty dedicated to solving that problem. It’s an emerging field that brings together medical expertise and lactation science to care for both the parent and the child, recognizing that breastfeeding is a shared biological process and that both sides of the feeding relationship deserve attention.
A Specialty Built for Families
The field began in the 1990s, when a group of physicians founded the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) to improve how doctors understand and support lactation. Since then, breastfeeding medicine has grown into a recognized discipline with its own training, research, and standards of care. Today, board-certified physicians (through the North American Board of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine, NABBLM) have additional education and experience focused specifically on diagnosing and treating lactation-related conditions.
What makes this care different is its comprehensive, connected approach. Rather than treating breastfeeding as a side topic in pediatrics, obstetrics, or family medicine, breastfeeding medicine physicians integrate knowledge from all of these areas — and apply it directly to the feeding relationship.
What Breastfeeding Medicine Doctors Do
Because lactation is influenced by both parent and baby, breastfeeding medicine physicians care for both — often in the same visit. Depending on your family’s needs, this may include:
Diagnosing and treating issues like low milk supply, oversupply, breast or nipple pain, plugged ducts, or mastitis
Evaluating infant latch, oral anatomy, and milk transfer
Monitoring infant growth and weight gain in the context of feeding
Guiding families through pumping, bottle-feeding, returning to work, weaning, or tandem nursing
Helping with complex medical situations such as premature infants, hormonal conditions, or surgical histories
Coordinating care with other specialists when needed — and helping you understand when that’s truly necessary
We are located on the second floor of the medical office building. For your convenience, we recommend parking in the rear of the parking lot furthest from the street for elevator access if you are using a stroller or baby carrier. If you need assistance or help locating us, please call our office
