Alyssa was my 10th lactation consultant... 10th! Majority were mainly while in the hospital and one that came to my home. Alyssa is a gem. I took a chance on her after reading some reviews and am SO glad I did. Before her, all the other ladies were telling me I had low milk supply and for the first 3 weeks after birth I was researching and trying EVERYTHING to boost up supply. I was an emotional wreak wondering why I couldn't provide enough milk for my baby. This was a very joyous but stressful time in my life and unnecessarily so. The lady that I hired before Alyssa was from a big lactation group. She was so panicky about my supply and pretty much counted me as a loss, not having much faith that I would produce enough. I had thyroid issues, breast enhancements (twice) - that went through the nipples, and low iron/anemia. I remember them recommending the supplemental feeding system where formula would drip through a tube that was taped to my breasts so that baby could still suck on them but have formula in addition to whatever was coming out. You can imagine how annoying and stressful everything was. I was recommended to do a triple feed: breastfeed, tube feed, and the pump. Oh, and the pumping! I had to pump every two hours! Even at night! Instead of enjoying my baby and just feeding him the way I was naturally supposed to, I was given this stressful advice. On top of this, my son is allergic to dairy, so the formula was making him have really bad eczema! When almost all my hope was lost, I was researching online and found Alyssa/Milk Maven. I thought let's try one more time. Alyssa came over, made her assessment, and said - you don't have low milk supply...! I'm like what? Really? All this time... Yep. She said just nurse your baby. It was that simple. And she said I could reduce my pumping from every two hours to 4 times a day, only if I wanted to pump, and not worry about pumping at night so I could focus on sleep. *Now everyone is different, so a proper assessment is a must. After seeing Alyssa, everything that had to do with breastfeeding was the most beautiful experience ever since! I'm almost teary eyed thinking about it, but my son will be almost 1 years old in about a month and because of Alyssa's help, I am still successfully breastfeeding my baby!!! It has been such an incredible bonding experience that will last a lifetime, and super convenient. I had such issues with my first son, when I was living in another state, and had bad advice from other lactation ladies, I was unable to breastfeed him much. So being able to still be nursing my almost 1 year old is amazing to say the least. When Alyssa came over, it was like having an old friend over. She's so easy to talk to and I felt very comfortable with her. She was so calm and reassuring, the opposite of most of the other lactation ladies I've seen before her. She's also very available via text for any questions I've had. With all the bad advice out there, I think Alyssa should have her own accredited program where other lactation ladies can go through her training and help other moms across the country. She's that good. Thank you Alyssa for all that you do! read more

Alyssa's amazing and should be everyone's lactation consultant. I worked with her after the birth of my baby one year ago. During our very first session, when he was only 11 days old, she immediately noticed that my baby had a lip tie-- which had gone unnoticed by our pediatrician, hospital pediatrician, and hospital lactation consultant. She quickly referred us to a pediatric ENT and the lip tie was confirmed. She continued to give us incredibly helpful information and support for the rest of our sessions. Not only did she help us with breastfeeding and pumping, but she also provided support for my baby blues, my physical and emotional wellness, and for handling the long hours of baby crying. She's available by text and responded to me swiftly every time. I had a milk bleb and she went above and beyond to help me through that. I never wanted to put pressure on myself to breastfeed. I was okay with quitting if it wasn't working out, or supplementing with formula if I needed to. So, I was wary of pro-breastfeeding practitioners who try to pressure you into exclusive breastfeeding. However, Alyssa didn't pressure me at all, and helped me figure out my pumping/nursing/supplementing schedule. She also has lovely bedside manner and is just a caring, genuine, kind-hearted person. Honestly, she was the absolute most helpful resource I had postpartum. I'm still nursing 1 year postpartum and I wouldn't be if it wasn't for her help in the beginning. More importantly, she was instrumental in helping us overcome those really challenging first few months. I really have never recommended a practitioner as highly as I do her. read more

I was compelled to call on Alyssa for support while nursing my 3rd child. Even though I had nursed two babies before I had only nursed them up to 4 months and every child / nursing situation turned out to be different and I was grateful to find Alyssa for my 3rd journey. So, without going into the whole bag of crazy I laid at her feet... I will just sum it up this way: She is... highly educated - you literally cannot stump her with your wild questions and what ifs kind and humorous - you need this so much but you can cry if you need to, most of us do matter of fact - so perfect because I had enough emotion for us and a party of 6 She is not... pushy, militant or overly needy to be involved She saw this as MY process with MY baby not her battle with the world so, our solutions were crafted for me, my baby and our situation. We are still going strong coming up on 8 months now and he's 80th percentile in weight and the pedi LOVES how healthy and strong he is and is super impressed with my breastfeeding chops at 42! Plus as he grows and his nursing needs change I know Alyssa is just a phone consult (or text at 2am) away which is like GOLD! Do yourself a favor and make your appointment with her. It is insane how much more she is worth than what these services cost. Piece of mind and support at anytime throughout your whole nursing journey? Uhm... YES PLEASE! read more

For new and experienced mamas needing any help with the art of breastfeeding you have to call Alyssa! She is the steady, encouraging voice that is needed when trying to master feedings with your baby. Her kind words and patience are the greatest blessing during the storm of having a new born and getting back to your normal self along with adjusting to a new schedule! I am so happy she is in my life because I was finally successful in feeding my daughter. Her advice and knowledge helped me get through the first week and now my baby girl and I are becoming experts! I was very discouraged with my first (my son) because of many factors I was unable to breastfeed him. I didn't have the support to keep working at getting him to latch and being a new mom his screams of frustration were to much for me to handle. It's important to have a good support system and for your partner to receive and understand the education behind breastfeeding. Alyssa has done that for me she was able to get through to my partner in ways I couldn't before and helped me build a great team at home and I credit all of my breastfeeding success to her! She is worth every penny and more! read more

Alyssa has been absolutely instrumental in my breastfeeding journey. In addition to her expertise and willingness to share all kinds of information relating to breastfeeding, what really stands out to me is Alyssa's passion and commitment to supporting her clients to be successful. As a first time mother I had all kinds of worries and doubts that crept in during my first few days at home after the hospital. I was able to text Alyssa (at an ungodly hour of the day) to ask for her help when I was feeling particularly lost and Alyssa not only responded to my text but also came to visit very soon after. Alyssa then took the time to show me several techniques to incorporate in to our routine and was also able to put my mind at ease that things were progressing just as they should be. It was a huge help and relief to have her unwavering support. It gives me a great sense of comfort as I continue on this breastfeeding path that I have a professional that I can reach out to for support and advice. This gives me the confidence that I can exclusively breastfeed successfully and without anyone losing their mind(s) - just like I so badly want to. read more

Alyssa is AMAZING! I had a horrible time with breastfeeding and needed immediate help. I reached out to my local La Leche group and Alyssa was one of several names they gave me. She was the only one that was willing to see me right away. As soon as she walked in I felt comfortable. She spent so much time with me and my daughter, I didn't feel rushed. We made a lot of progress and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. After she left, she kept in touch via text message and made sure to answer any questions that came up. I felt like I had a breastfeeding bestie I could really rely on! Alyssa came back for a follow up visit bc I felt like my daughter and I needed just a little more help and Alyssa came right over again! I was so thankful for her help. We're now 3 weeks breastfeeding and I honestly don't think we could have done it without Alyssa! Not all lactation consultants are the same. I had 3 tell me we had a great latch at the hospital... as soon as Alyssa saw my daughter latch she could see how horrible it was and helped me fix it within a first visit. She is worth the time and money. Absolutely heaven sent! Good luck! read more

The help and information I have received from Alyssa has allowed me to continue my breastfeeding journey with my son. I first reached out to her when I knew I was expecting. I was concerned that previous breast-cancer related surgeries were going to inhibit my ability to breastfeed. She was understanding, knowledgable, and welcoming in helping me understand how the body works and what I could expect after delivery in regards to breastfeeding from my cancer side. She came to my rescue again five months after my son was born. I was afraid my milk had suddenly dried up and I was heartbroken trying to find a way to keep feeding my son. Alyssa worked through everything with me, and turns out it was a pump issue not a Me issue! So even beyond her knowledge of the body and the way it works, she was able to help me with pumping information as well. I am confident that I will see her again when my next breastfeeding related issue arises, and I sincerely hope you also take the time to seek out her services read more

Alyssa is amazing! She is hands on and very knowledgeable. Like most new mothers, I was anxious about producing enough milk and ensuring that my latch was correct. Alyssa came to my home and walked me through everything step by step. She taught me new feeding positions and encouraged me to listen to my own instincts as a mother. I have had her come back a couple more times as I encountered new concerns. Most of the time, all I needed was her steady reassurance that everything was fine and normal. We want the best for our babies and hiring a great lactation consultant can be an important part of early breastfeeding. Now that my son is 4 months old, I still text Alyssa with a question every now and then. It is sooooo helpful to know that she is still there to support me. Sometimes the thing I need the most is someone to listen, validate my concerns and normalize my experience. This is exactly what the Milk Maven does! I highly recommend her. read more

I was referred to Alyssa through my doula after a scary start to our breastfeeding journey. Our baby girl came 3 weeks early and dropped 15% of her birth weight. I was using the nipple trumpet, nipple shield, pumping, you name it and she was not taking in milk at the breast. Alyssa was such a calm, encouraging presence in those early days, and with her guidance and outside referral, we discovered that our baby had a tongue tie at just 10 days old. We had the procedure done and she was finally able to transfer milk at the breast and immediately started gaining weight. She has also been a continued support when other issues came up later. It was through her assessment and recommendation that I went to my OB and asked for a milk culture to catch a bad infection before it got worse. Alyssa is a problem solver, invested, caring, and has a great sense of humor. You don't have to do it alone!i read more

I turned to Alyssa when I was completely overwhelmed trying to balance pregnancy and the nursing needs of my one-year-old. She was compassionate, nonjudgmental, and easy to talk to, and really helped me clarify for myself what I needed, and what my son needed. With her help, I made a plan to gently transition my son from nursing to sleep to being rocked to sleep by his dad. Alyssa talked me through the various challenges we might face along the way and I felt very prepared for the night-weaning process. Now I have a few hours to myself at night to care for myself and focus on the upcoming baby. I would recommend Alyssa to anyone expecting their first child, struggling with breastfeeding challenges, or looking to wean in the way that is right for themselves and their child! I will definitely be returning to her for breastfeeding support when my second baby is born in November. read more

Alyssa Goss at milk maven is amazing. My 4 mo old daughter was diagnosed failure to thrive and was admitted to Dell children's and despite the suggestion to get checked for ties and request from us as parents they did not. They however did many serious tests to include mri, ultrasound and many many blood draws. They instead inserted a feeding tube. When i spoke to Alyssa to update her on Monroe's status she was shocked no one looked for ties. She than scheduled a time to check her immediately and found she has a rather good sized posterior tongue tie not allowing Monroe's tongue to go up or side to side. She then referred us to a dr to get it fixed who was able to get us in the very next morning. If it wasn't for Alyssa my daughter's life could have been tied to tubes and tests. Thank you so much for saving us! We are forever indebted. read more

Alyssa is easy to communicate with, intuitive, very knowledgeable and very encouraging as well. I felt so comfortable having her in my home. She helped me to eatablish a good latch with my son and had lots of insight into all the little signals he gives when he is up crying and feeding most of the night. Now that I know what his signals mean I don't feel worried but instead I understand him and am a lot more relaxed and confident in helping him and not wanting to give up. Love that she brings her scale and weighs the baby before and after feeding. Her assessment was thorough, I felt like she was taking all things into consideration to understand our situation and offer help. She's definitely in the right profession and I'm really thankful to have found her on the Aetna website. read more

Sadly we had a very negative experience with Alyssa. She was knowledgeable but rather condensing in her tone and delivery. I found it appropriate she has a mothers point of view but bringing judgement into the experience made the whole encounter very negative. Alyssa clearly sees herself as a teach of sorts, and after seeing much about her attitude on social media it was obvious she holds her superiority above that of kindness and courtesy. In the end while she did help and that's why I paid her was to help, her personal feelings, views, and opinions came across VERY unsettling and displeasing. There are several, if not hundreds of Lactation services here in Austin, I highly recommend trying one of them. read more

Alyssa is the best! My son was severely tongue tied and gained no weight between two and four weeks. After having his tongue tie reversed I called the Milk Maven to meet us and asked for her recommendations. By following Alyssa's advice from our two meetings and a few texts- I have gone from 12 oz of expressed breastmilk a day for my son to exclusive breastfeeding about 36 oz a day. She helped save my breastfeeding relationship and encouraged me. She made me feel listened to, calm, supported, and gave excellent advice for our situation. It's hands down the best money you could spend on your baby. read more

Alyssa was a huge help when I was breastfeeding my daughter. She is extremely knowledgeable, has first-hand experience with breastfeeding, and is very down to earth. With every baby, I have struggled with low supply, and no one has been able to figure out why. After having supply issues with my son, and giving up after a week, I was worried about my future nursing experiences. Without Alyssa's help, and the other lactation consultants I talked with, I wouldn't have nursed my daughter for 10 months (and my next for 18 months!). Can't recommend her services enough! read more

Alyssa is truly my breast feeding guardian angel! I didn't have the confidence with my first baby to be successful at breast feeding and I failed miserably. With this second baby she has given me the guidance and confidence to be successful and for that I am truly grateful! I highly recommend her for your Lactation needs. Alyssa is super professional while making you feel comfortable as if you have known her for years. She even put up with my crazy amount of texting and questions. She is truly gifted at what she does!! I only wish I had her for my first baby! read more

Alyssa was amazing! I am a first time mom and needed some help navigating the world of breastfeeding successfully. We reached out and she was able to schedule me the following day over the phone. She listened to all my concerns/questions and gave me all the info I needed and more which made me feel confident and able to navigate the ups and downs of breastfeeding for the first time. The entire process was so easy & seamless. She really went above and beyond for us. And my baby is nursing better than ever after implementing her advice. Totally recommend her!! read more

Alyssa is a lifesaver! I'm a first time mom and I cannot express how helpful and reassuring Alyssa has been. My infant was not gaining weight or latching well and Alyssa was the first to point out her severe tongue and lip ties. This comes after I had already seen two other lactation consultants and the pediatrician! After having a frenectomy, my daughter is no longer starving all the time and has gained a healthy amount of weight! Alyssa has also been available via text with questions and concerns and has reassured this worried mama so much! read more

Alyssa went above and beyond what I expected to troubleshoot the issues I was having with my second child. I so wish she'd been around with my first, but that was almost 8 years ago. I powered through some really tough times with my first through sheer will and stubbornness, but realize after having a professional's advice things could have been so much easier. So, this time around, when a minor irritant was driving me crazy, I consulted Alyssa and she helped me figure out a solution that I couldn't find anywhere else. Thanks! read more