Behind the Latch

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Claire Eden, BA, IBCLC, author of Shifting the Paradigm for Establishing and Maintaining Milk Production in the Setting of Mother–Infant Separation . Claire shares her journey from NICU lactation consulting to statewide advocacy, and how her clinical experiences inspired her to propose a new framework for supporting families when babi...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Sandra Cole, RN, IBCLC, author of Breastfeeding Challenges Made Easy for Late Preterm Infants . Sandra shares her journey from NICU nursing to lactation consulting, and how her experiences with late preterm babies inspired her to write her groundbreaking book. Together, they explore why late preterm infants—those born between 34 and 3...

In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret Salty interviews Jacob Engelsman, IBCLC and author of Lactation for the Rest of Us: A Guide for Queer and Trans Parents and Helpers . **Special Discount: Receive 20% off until 10/31/25 on Jacob's book with code "LACTATION20" here.** Jacob shares his journey into the lactation field, from working in restaurants to finding his calling as an IBCLC and wri...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Dr. Jacqueline H. Wolf , medical historian and author of Don’t Kill Your Baby: Public Health and the Decline of Breastfeeding in the 19th and 20th Centuries . Dr. Wolf is a professor at Ohio University whose research focuses on the history of breastfeeding, childbirth, and maternal-child health. Together, they explore the historical f...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Dana Obleman , creator of the Sleep Sense program and founder of the Sleep Sense Certification , where she trains sleep consultants worldwide. Dana has been a pioneer in the field of infant and toddler sleep for more than two decades, helping families find rest through practical, age-appropriate strategies. Together, they explore how...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Jasmine Creighton, owner of Yaya's Hands Perinatal and Lactation Services in Southern California. Jasmine is also president-elect of the Inland Empire Breastfeeding Coalition , leader of its Black Breastfeeding Task Force, a board member for the California Breastfeeding Coalition , and a perinatal health specialist at a local hospital...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Jeanne Pichoff, MS, OTR/L, IBCLC, owner of Flourish Pediatric Therapy and Lactation in Lafayette, Louisiana. Together, they explore the unique and often misunderstood role of occupational therapists in lactation care—how OT skills complement IBCLC expertise, when a referral to OT can make all the difference for a feeding dyad, and how...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Dr. Lisa Anders, assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and IBCLC. Together, they explore Dr. Anders’ groundbreaking research on flange sizing for pumping parents—an area that has been historically under-researched and inconsistently practiced. Dr. Anders shares how using nipple tip diameter rather than...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Dr. Emily Little researcher and founder of Nurturely. Together, they explore how a baby’s sensory world influences their development, the impact of culture on parent-infant interactions, and why early sensory experiences—like babywearing, skin-to-skin, and gentle handling—can have profound effects on feeding, regulation, and bonding....

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Cierra Murphy-Higgs, M.Ed, IBCLC, didactic coordinator for the Pathway 2 program at North Carolina A&T State University and a perinatal behavioral health coach. Cierra shares how her own postpartum struggles led her into the world of lactation and mental health advocacy. Drawing from her experience as a high school counselor turne...

In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret Salty interviews Dr. Kathryn Wouk, IBCLC and associate research scientist at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. Dr. Wouk dives into the heart of her recent Journal of Human Lactation article, “Clinical Versus Statistical Significance: Making Sense of Research Findings,” helping lactation professionals develop research literacy and criti...

In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret Salty interviews Joanie Randle, RN and clinical research nurse at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Joanie introduces her innovative Comprehensive Lactation Care Model—a paradigm shift in how lactation support is delivered to NICU families. Drawing from decades of experience and deep roots in La Leche League, Joanie outlines how a consistent, anticipator...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Marsha Walker—nurse, IBCLC, author, and president of the National Lactation Consultant Alliance (NLCA). They dive into everything you need to know about IBCLC licensure: what it is, why it matters, and how it can improve safety, access, and professional recognition for lactation care providers and the families they serve. Marsha’s Pat...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Nicole Longmire, IBCLC—an educator, lactation consultant, and vocal advocate for ethical, parent-centered lactation care. Nicole shares how her public health background, personal experiences with infant loss, and deep commitment to professional integrity shaped her approach to lactation—and why she’s speaking out about IBCLCs partneri...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Rebekah Scroggy, IBCLC—a nurse, lactation consultant, and passionate advocate for neurodivergent-informed care. Rebekah shares how her personal experiences with autism and ADHD in her family, and eventually in herself, completely reshaped her approach to lactation support. They explore how sensory sensitivities, executive dysfunction,...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Nikki Lee—nurse, lactation consultant, educator, and passionate advocate for whole-person care. They explore what it truly means to practice holistic lactation support, the power of touch, how to integrate craniosacral therapy into lactation visits, and why honoring the parent-baby dyad requires more than just clinical skill. Nikki’s...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Susan Howard, IBCLC, about the complex and often frustrating issue of bottle refusal in breastfed infants . Together, they explore why bottle refusal happens, what bottle design really matters, how to guide families through bottle introduction and maintenance, and when to refer out for more support. Susan shares her stepwise approach,...

In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret Salty shares four new research studies that illuminate how culture, trauma, maternal health, and hospital practices shape breastfeeding experiences around the world. From the challenges mothers face in Pakistan to the impact of childbirth trauma in Spain, maternal asthma in Australia, and the gap between policy and practice in Brazil—this episode deliv...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Dr. Ariana Komaroff, family nurse practitioner and lactation specialist, about her published case report detailing breastfeeding care for a patient with bipolar disorder. Together, they explore how mental health conditions intersect with lactation goals, the challenges of medication management, the importance of collaborative care, an...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty reviews five fascinating new studies covering maternal autonomy in India, breastfeeding practices in Saudi Arabia, real-world concerns shared on social media, the circadian rhythm of breast milk, and more. Each study offers a unique lens on how culture, policy, biology, and digital spaces shape the feeding experience—and what lactation professio...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Dr. Cindy Rubin, a pediatrician, IBCLC, and board-certified breastfeeding and lactation medicine physician, about her clinical approach to managing complex lactation cases—including the hotly debated topic of triple feeding. They explore when triple feeding is appropriate, how to support families through it, when to wean, the role of...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty shares five new research studies that illuminate how culture, trauma, nutrition, and social support shape breastfeeding experiences around the world. From COVID recovery in Jordan to tribal food taboos in India, seafood during pregnancy, and the complex role of family dynamics—this episode delivers evidence-based insights every IBCLC needs. Key...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Laurel Wilson, an internationally recognized speaker, author, and perinatal specialist, about the critical role of the microbiome, epigenome, and human milk in shaping infant health. They explore how breastfeeding influences the baby's gut microbiome, the long-term effects of infant feeding choices, new research about maternal health...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty explores five new research articles that offer clinical insight for lactation professionals. From a trauma-informed program to support breastfeeding in parents with opioid use disorder, to the impact of Ramadan fasting, sleep quality in Syrian mothers, and virtual NICU support—this evidence-based roundup helps IBCLCs expand their clinical lens a...

In this episode of Behind the Latch , Margaret Salty interviews Dr. Lope Adejuyigbe, a physician and lactation specialist based in Lagos, Nigeria, who founded the first breastfeeding clinic in the country. They discuss the breastfeeding landscape in Nigeria, barriers to exclusive breastfeeding, cultural beliefs, the urgent need for lactation support, and how Dr. Adejuyigbe is building a movement t...