Katie The Traveling Lactation Consultant Katie

In this episode Katie Oshita and Sharon Vallone discuss how lactation and chiropractic are essential for the treatment and support of tongue tied babies.  Both professions support the whole person, going beyond symptoms and looking for the root cause of issues.  Both professions help families struggling independently, but when working together, lactation and chiropractic have the ability to tremendously change the trajectory of a baby and family's life.  Through collaboration lactation and chiropractic professionals are able to co treat by each seeing the patient through a different lens, and the results are magical.  Listen here for more.



Podcast Guest: Sharon Vallone, DC (doctor of chiropractic), FICCP (Fellow in Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics). Dr. Sharon A. Vallone is a graduate of Rutgers University and New York Chiropractic College She completed her Diplomate in Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics at Palmer Chiropractic College and received her appointment as Fellow in Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics. Dr. Vallone has a private in Connecticut and is currently the Chair of the Board of Kentuckiana Children’s Center in Louisville, KY and past Vice Chair of the International Chiropractic Association’s Council Pediatric Council. She is an international speaker, author, and editor of the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics. Sharon brings 36 years of pediatric chiropractic experience with a primary interest in pregnant and postpartum mommas, birth trauma, breastfeeding difficulties and problems with infant /toddler neurodevelopment.


Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine.  Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs.  Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply.  Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email katie@cuddlesandmilk.com or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

Tongue ties are on the rise, some evidence says 25-33% of babies have an oral restriction, and these families need help.  In Olympia, they have a talented Pediatric Dentist at Olympia Untied with Dr Andrea Mason.  In this episode, Katie Oshita and Dr Andrea Mason discuss the necessity of a team approach and how working together helps families thrive.  If you have been wondering about team building for tongue tie practices, listen today.

Podcast guest:  A native of Olympia, Dr. Andrea Mason was introduced to dentistry at an early age. Her father, Dr. Jack Cox, practiced dentistry for over 30 years in Lacey, where Dr. Mason helped as an assistant during summers growing up. Dr. Mason completed her undergraduate studies at Pacific Lutheran University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in biology and minored in chemistry and studio art. She received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree with high honors from the University of Washington. While there, she founded and directed the University of Washington Pediatric Dental Society and served as a Teaching Assistant for the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. Her research has been published in the Journal of the American Dental Association and the Journal of Anesthesia Progress. While in school, she received numerous awards including the Most Distinguished Scholar Award from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and the Ralph E. McDonald Scholar Award for her outstanding performance during residency.
After her time at the University of Washington, Dr. Mason went on to receive a Master of Science in dentistry and a Certificate in pediatric dentistry with a minor in psychology from Indiana University/Riley Children’s Hospital. She is a board-certified diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member many organizations.
Dr. Mason and her husband, Hans, have two beautiful daughters, Violet and Piper. The office therapy dog, Sugar, and her brother, Sammy, also live with the family. Together their family enjoys snowboarding, camping, and spending time on the water. In her free time, Dr. Mason also loves art, especially working on ceramics at the potter’s wheel.  Dr. Mason enjoys all aspects of pediatric dentistry; her passion is laser lip and tongue-tie revisions for infants and children of all ages.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine.  Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs.  Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply.  Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email katie@cuddlesandmilk.com or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

In this episode Katie Oshita discusses how much of medicine in the Allopathic system is a band-aid model and treats everyone the same.  If you go in for depression, they go to the same antidepressants regardless of who you are, they just go down a list.  This method ignores the fact that there are many different causes for any issue, such as depression- low vitamin D, low Omega 3's, MTHFR, and so many more.  Katie discusses how Functional Medicine is not about the disease but the root cause, the cellular function that is impaired, and the individual person.  Katie also discusses how this relates to lactation- that instead of starting formula on a baby not gaining well at the breast, Katie discusses how finding the root cause, whether it's maternal hormone/supply related, baby tongue tie related or anything else is how to truly address issues and find wellness.  

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine.  Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs.  Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply.  Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email katie@cuddlesandmilk.com or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

Katie Oshita and Diana Leon knew each other when they were both in the CA Bay Area, before Katie took to the RV life and Diana moved to Denver.  In the early days, Katie and her family were blessed to see Dr Diana each week for adjustments and to help their body feel its best.  In this episode, Katie and Diana talk about all think chiropractic for babies- both as a wellness practice as and a healing option.  Since both providers work with a lot of tongue tied babies, they both see the same thing, but from different sides.  Listen in as they discuss how to help families thrive.

Podcast Guest: As a lifelong athlete, she always had an interest in the human body and sports performance, particularly after sustaining a significant knee injury while playing lacrosse. During that rehabilitation, she learned how chiropractic care could positively influence her body's ability to heal.

She attended Sonoma State University and received her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Science. She went on to graduate magna cum laude from Life Chiropractic College West with honors in Clinical Excellence.
After graduating from chiropractic school, her interest in perinatal and pediatric care soon developed into a true passion. Facilitating impactful and positive change through chiropractic care was a gift she never wanted to stop giving!

She had the amazing opportunity in her first 4 years of practice to work for a few of the leading perinatal and pediatric chiropractic experts in the California Bay Area before deciding to move to Denver where Dr Leon opened CalmBody Chiropractic Club.  She has advanced and extensive perinatal and pediatric training in addition to her chiropractic education in order to provide the expert advice and care you and your family deserve.

She now lives in Denver with her soon-to-be wife, Claire, where they enjoy the mountains, live music, and spending time with their family and friends. They hope to start their own family soon, where chiropractic care will be an essential part of that journey.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine.  Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs.  Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply.  Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email katie@cuddlesandmilk.com or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

In this episode, Katie Oshita and Montika Collins discuss the importance of representation in health care, and what it means to be an activist.  Montika Collins is passionate about not only supporting women of color, but also training women of color in order to increase the support for families in Tulsa.  Montika also discusses food deserts, the importance of good nutrition and how using herbs can be healing.  Montika's goal is to become a midwife, but for now she is the only black IBCLC in Oklahoma, opening a birth center for women of color and works hard to create the world she wishes to see. 

Podcast Guest: Montika Collins, MA, BS, BSN, RN, CLC, IBCLCMontika serves as an Advanced Holistic Lactation Consultant at Innovations Lactation and Breastfeeding, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), a Holistic Integrative nurse, Health and Wellness Coach, Body Worker, Medical Herbalist, and nursing faculty at Oral Roberts University. 
As an activist, she served Oklahoma’s breastfeeding coalition, COBA (Coalition of Oklahoma Breastfeeding Advocates) as chair & board member.  Her passion for the health and well-being of minority women and children led her to co-found the 501(c)3, nonprofit organization, Innovations Family Wellness INC.  She serves her community as the Co-President & CEO of Innovations Family Wellness INC.  
Montika graduated from Maryland University of Integrative Health with a Master of Arts (MA) in Health and Wellness Coaching and a concentration in Medical Herbalism. She also earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology and Chemistry from Northeastern State University.  Montika graduated Magna Cum Laude from Oral Roberts University with a Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing.  She has over 300 hours in continuing education courses specific to the care of the mother/baby dyad. 
In addition to teaching nursing students, she also trains healthcare professionals on how to utilize and integrate alternative healthcare practices into their medical practices. She also holds group training and seminars for various perinatal providers. Montika serves local women, breastfeeding mothers, and their infants providing them with health & wellness coaching, herbal support, bodywork, and advanced holistic lactation & breastfeeding support.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine.  Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs.  Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply.  Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email katie@cuddlesandmilk.com or www.cuddlesandmilk.com

Timing of release isn't just a catch phrase, it's the MOST important part of deciding when to have a tongue tie release.  Katie Oshita and Dr Gary Myers discuss how he started doing releases (spoiler alert: he was pushed into this space by Jennifer Tow), how his practice grew (crunchy mom referrals at first then eventually got some Pediatrician referrals).  Dr Gary talks about what he usually sees with clients, how different babies are from adults and how there isn't 1 right way for everyone.  Dr Gary also focuses on what he calls the 3 T's:
Tethers- anatomy- his job
Tension- bodywork space
Technique- Lactation space
Listen here for all the details from Katie and Dr Gary.

Podcast Guest: Dr. Gary Myers is a pediatric dentist in the Jacksonville, FL area. He graduated residency in 2001 from MCV in Richmond, VA.  He currently lives in Middleburg, FL with his wife, 5 kids, and 2 dogs.  He was introduced, recruited, and educated to the world of helping babies achieve proper latch and functional breastfeeding in 2012 by one of the most wonderful IBCLC’s around, Jennifer Tow.  This was back when the Tongue Tie Support Group on FB had less than 1000 members!  He is holistic minded and always looking for novel ways to improve the oral and overall health of his patients and their families.

Podcast host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 22 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine.  Katie is a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs.  Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply.  Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email katie@cuddlesandmilk.com or www.cuddlesandmilk.com