We provide infant feeding support, including help with breastfeeding, pumping, bottle-feeding, introducing solid foods, and weaning.

If you…

  • are pregnant and planning to breastfeed, exclusively pump or combo feed

  • are adopting a baby and planning to breastfeed

  • experience pain while breastfeeding

  • have been told that your baby isn’t gaining weight as expected

  • are not sure if your baby's full after feedings

  • think your milk supply is low

  • see that you're baby is fussy at the breast

  • feel overwhelmed by breastfeeding or anxious about feeding your baby

  • experience breast pain or engorgement, causing difficulty breastfeeding or pumping

  • suspect your baby has a tongue-tie that is causing feeding difficulties

  • find it very hard to breastfeed your baby after introducing bottles

  • need help with weaning, returning to work or pumping

  • are about to introduce solids and are concerned about how to balance feeds and meals

  • have any questions or concerns about breastfeeding, feeding, sleep or solids

we can help!

what to expect in a consultation

Intake Analysis

Before your first appointment, we will ask you some questions about your pregnancy, birth, medical background, and how both you and the baby are doing, including how the baby is feeding, sleeping, and growing. You will answer these questions through a secure online questionnaire to make sure your information remains private and secure.

Assessment & Support

We will do a complete maternal, child and feeding assessment, which includes checking your baby's oral anatomy and how they suck. We will assess how your baby feeds, whether through breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or using other devices like syringes, nipple shields, or aids. We will teach you techniques to improve breastfeeding, like helping your baby latch correctly and finding better positions. If necessary, we will also show you how to supplement. If you are pumping, we will provide support and make sure your flanges fit properly.

Personalized Feeding Plan

We'll help you set and achieve your goals, tackle challenges that come up, and address any concerns you might have. Together, we'll create a personalized plan for you and your family. We'll provide recommendations based on what we learn, and send you a written plan. If needed, we'll also connect you with other healthcare providers. We'll ask you to keep us updated on your progress. We offer follow-up appointments at our clinic, in your home, or online.

what is an IBCLC?

All our lactation consultants are International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs).

An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is a trained healthcare provider who specializes in clinical management of Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. An IBCLC has completed hundreds and sometimes thousands of hours of hands on training, clinical and science education and been accepted for and passed the international exam. IBCLC is the gold standard certification for health professionals working with breastfeeding families and professionals certified as IBCLCs are the highest accredited healthcare professionals specializing in lactation. At Mamas Au Lait, we work exclusively with IBCLCs to deliver the gold standard in care.  

Our lactation consultants

  • Paola Vallarino, IEP CBS IBCLC

    Paola is an Internationally Educated Physician, a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She has over 10 years of medical background, 3 years of clinical experience in Lactation Medicine and she holds a diploma in Child Nutrition. Paola provides families with feeding support when breastfeeding, pumping, supplementing and with solid foods. She's fluent in English and Spanish. She's based in Uptown/Midtown Toronto.

    Since finishing her medical training and becoming a mom, Paola's mission has been to support, educate and empower families so they can feel confident and give their babies the best start.

    Book with Paola

  • Marta Bouina, RN IBCLC

    ​Marta is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), a Registered Nurse and a proud mother of two amazing boys, with whom she had a 6-year breastfeeding journey. While overcoming various breastfeeding challenges herself, she became very passionate about breastfeeding. She wanted to help other women, by providing hands on support and empowerment.

    Marta is fluent in Ukrainian and English. She's based in Etobicoke. If you are facing breastfeeding challenges, Marta is here for you! She will support you, and your vision of feeding success.

    Book with Marta

  • Milena Pingitore, IBCLC

    Milena is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and a mother of successfully breastfed twins. She received her Lactation Medicine Diploma after over 90 hours of lactation specific education and over 750 hours of supervised, hands-on experience in the International Breastfeeding Centre. She's based in Etobicoke.

    Having faced her own challenges with fertility, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and parenting, Milena is here to hold space for conversation, community, and support while sharing evidence-based research, tools, and resources to help you build confidence at any stage of your journey.

    Book with Milena

  • Alena Brashavitskaya, RN IBCLC

    Alena is an experienced Postpartum Registered Nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She has been a part of Mount Sinai Hospital High Risk Mother & Baby Program for almost a decade. For the last two years of her career she is based at the ambulatory breastfeeding clinic as a Lactation Coordinator, helping families with newborns meet their feeding goals. She's based in North York.

    As a mother of two breastfed kids, Alena had to overcome her own challenges on the path to breastfeeding them. As a Lactation Consultant, Alena’s approach is to provide family-centred, gentle, non-judgmental care directed at accomplishing your feeding goals.

    Book with Alena

  • Nadia Bellio, IBCLC CBS

    Nadia is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Certified Breastfeeding Specialist with 20 years of experience providing lactation support. She worked as a Registered Midwife in Ontario from 2007 to 2023, providing comprehensive prenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care to hundreds of families. She has also taught prenatal and HypnoBirthing classes. She's based in Downtown Toronto.

    Nadia has extensive experience providing anticipatory guidance to pregnant people as they prepare for feeding their baby, and seeing them through the transition to successfully breast or chest-feeding. She brings a kind, compassionate and non-judgemental approach to the care she provides, as well as a strong desire to support families from all backgrounds.

    Book with Nadia

what patients are saying

  • “I’m so grateful to have found Paola - she has been incredible in helping me after I got mastitis. She did a full assessment of baby and to ensure he was latching correctly, helped me get rid of a stubborn milk bleb and gave me lots of great recommendations to help get my supply back. She is super knowledgeable, professional and has a very calming and warm presence. Can’t recommend her enough!"

    Yassi

  • "Being a first time mom and having zero knowledge of breast feeding, I came to Marta to help me as I was stressed & worried my baby wasn’t feeding well. Marta was amazing! She is so professional & guided me on the different techniques as well as tips on how to breast feed well. She is kind, knowledgeable & because of her I am able to breastfeed and very relaxed now. She follows up with you, is attentive and is a great listener and I absolutely valued her guidance in this journey!"

    Sehrish

  • "My daughter had a very severe tongue tie, which means I've worked with several lactation consultants both privately and through doctors offices. Nadia with Mamas Au Lait is the best! She is not only extremely knowledgeable, but also took the time to thoroughly explain everything and coach me until I had techniques down. She offered advice on everything from latching to pumping and supply. It's clear how genuinely she cares about helping her clients -- I won't be working with anyone else as long as I can help it. Highly recommend!"

    Elyse M.

  • “Breastfeeding my first child started off as a challenge, but I didn't want to give up and Milena helped me tremendously. Working on latching, showing me different positions, encouraging me throughout and being such positive support truly made the difference in our journey. I'm blessed to say I breastfed my son until he was 3 and am currently still breastfeeding my 2-year-old daughter.”

    Catherine

  • "I had a really good experience with Paola. She is so sweet, kind, helpful and humble. She is also very knowledgeable. My little baby loves her so much, whenever my baby sees Paola, she smiles! She has always been so nice to us. I can’t thank her enough. I am really thankful to her. She is the most amazing person on the earth. I will definitely recommend her to my other friends. Thanks Paola for everything. Please keep it up and stay blessed."

    Azadi

  • "I would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Marta for her help and support. She is very professional and knowledgeable! I had a bad experience in hospital when a nurse tried to teach me how to feed my baby and it was so painful and stressful for me. Marta came to us for home visit and we spent some time together, she showed me that breastfeeding is not that scary and painful, I was able to get my baby to latch and successfully breastfeed. I highly recommend Marta!"

    Olga

  • "Moms, cannot express enough the need of a lactant consultant. Better yet if you go with Nadia. I’m a second time mom. My first child and me suffer the breastfeeding journey because during COVID I did not have access to the help of amazing ladies like Nadia. This time around, I’m lucky to have her by my side teaching me, reviewing options and most importantly -I think- showing me how to give myself compassion. I wish I could go back in time and have her by my side as soon as my first daughter arrived to this world."

    Madgalena

  • "Paola was great! I saw her for my newborn who was about 10 days at the time due to the inability to latch consistently. She was able to get her latched that day and showed me various breastfeeding positions. She gave me the confidence and skills to continue my breastfeeding journey successfully. Thank you!"

    Rosa

  • "I'm getting on really well with breastfeeding since we saw Nadia. My baby really seems to enjoy her feeds now - as am I... it's such a special time with her. I'd just like to say how much we appreciate Nadia's kindness and her gentle approach she took to our appointment. I felt safe and empowered in that room with her. It was great to be able to get some reassurance that we're doing ok - something I think both of us needed after three nights of no sleep. Thanks Nadia, you're a real star!"

    Abbey

  • "I highly recommend Paola, my baby had a poor latch and I couldn’t bear the pain anymore... I can finally see breastfeeding as something wonderful. Paola was super attentive to my needs and very aware of our progress. All the moms who are about to throw in the towel like me, reach out to her, you will not regret it."

    Stephanie M.

  • "Paola is a great lactation consultant, she teaches you with patience and passion, without judging you, on the contrary for her it is very important that you feel comfortable and that you understand everything so that you have a beautiful experience when feeding your baby."

    Edith

  • "I hope Paola's work reaches many more moms so that they can have a joyful and happy breastfeeding journey like mine; thanks to Paola!"

    Valeria

Our Google Reviews

Our fees

Home visits

Lactation and feeding support from the comfort of your home. We will come to you and we will work together on your goals.

Initial | 60-90 mins | $250 + HST | Book online

Follow up | 45-60 mins | $215 + HST | Book online

Twins | 120 mins | $425 + HST | Book online

For home visits, the travel fee is included if you are close enough to your lactation consultant’s location, usually within a 15 km ratio. Please consider booking with the lactation consultant closer to you to avoid an additional travel fee. Check their locations below and make sure to include your full address when booking; or make a request here and we’ll book you in with the provider closest to you!

LOCATIONS: Paola (Yonge & Sheppard), Marta (Royal York & Eglinton), Milena (Park Lawn Road & Lakeshore Blvd), Alena (Wilson & Bathurst), Nadia (Dundas & Parliament).

Virtual sessions

Online consultations, through a video-call or phone-call by using a safe HIPPA/PIPEDA compliant software.

Initial | 60 mins | $160 + HST | Book online

Follow up | 45 mins | $130 + HST | Book online

Follow up | 30 mins | $95 + HST | Book online

In-clinic sessions

In-person support and care in our office in Yonge & Sheppard*.

Initial | 60 mins | $175 + HST | Book online

Follow up | 60 mins | $145 + HST | Book online

Twins | 90-120 mins | $290 + HST | Book online

*Hullmark Centre. 4789 Yonge St Unit 902, Toronto, ON M2N 0G3. Inside Dr. Sarah Seaborn’s Clinic.

Our services might be covered by some private insurance companies. Some of our lactation consultants are registered nurses, some others are IBCLCs, and their services might be covered under one of their credentials, you will have to check your individual policy to determine your level of coverage. 

We are here to help

Whether you're seeking breastfeeding support, guidance on pumping, or assistance in overcoming lactation challenges, we are here to help. Our expertise and experience allow us to deliver top-notch care and support, ensuring that you and your baby receive the highest level of attention and care. We will work together and create a plan that suits your family's needs.