Trauma-Informed Lactation Care in Oregon

What is trauma-informed lactation care?

For many people, feeding their baby can bring up unexpected emotions — especially if they have a history of trauma, sexual violence, medical trauma, or difficult birth experiences. Standard lactation advice often ignores this reality, focusing only on latch and positioning while the person's nervous system is in fight-or-flight.

Trauma-informed care means creating safety first. It means asking before touching, explaining everything before it happens, giving you control over every step, and understanding that your body's response — even if it seems "irrational" — is a valid protection response. Willow is a Certified Trauma Transformation Specialist and a Registered Nurse with nearly 30 years of experience, and she brings this training to every feeding visit.

Why trauma matters for feeding

Your nervous system controls milk let-down. When you feel safe and relaxed, oxytocin flows and milk releases easily. When your body detects threat — even from a memory or a feeling — the let-down reflex can shut down. This is not "in your head" — it's physiology.

• Trauma can make breast/chest touch feel triggering, even with your own baby
• Medical trauma from birth can make clinic visits feel unsafe
• Postpartum PTSD and anxiety are real and common — up to 1 in 5 birthing parents experience them
• Forceful advice or unsolicited touching can reactivate trauma responses
• You don't need to "have a trauma story" to benefit from trauma-informed care — everyone deserves safety and choice

How Willow creates safety

• Consent before every touch — "May I look?" "May I touch here?" You can say no at any time
• You set the pace — we go as slowly as you need; there's no rush
• Transparency — everything is explained before it happens; no surprises
• Choice and control — you decide what happens to your body, always
• Nervous system regulation — grounding and breathing techniques before feeding work
• No judgment — whatever your feeding goal or experience, it's valid
• Privacy — in-home visits mean no clinic waiting rooms, no strangers

What to expect in a visit

Visits begin with a conversation — not an exam. Willow will ask about your goals, your experience, and what feels safe for you. If at any point something feels too much, you can pause or stop. Feeding support happens at your pace, with your consent. The goal is not just a better latch — it's a feeding relationship that feels safe for both you and your baby.

Pricing: $250 in-home (Central Oregon) · $175 virtual. Most insurance plans accepted. HSA/FSA welcome.

If you're struggling with postpartum mental health, help is available. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or contact Postpartum Support International at 1-800-944-4773. Willow can also help connect you with perinatal mental health providers.

Serving Oregon and beyond

In-home visits in Bend, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver, and Central Oregon. Virtual visits available to families anywhere in the United States. Willow is inclusive of all feeding parents — breastfeeding, chestfeeding, combo-feeding, and pumping families are all welcome.

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