My baby was born at 34 weeks, making her 6 weeks premature. She was tiny and had to spend a week in the NICU, where they bottle fed her my breast milk to help her gain weight. Although I was allowed to try breastfeeding at the NICU, I was limited to only once or twice a day to avoid exhausting my little girl, and to make sure she was getting enough calories. When she was finally released we brought her home and were told to continue with the bottle feeding method, but that we could slowly incorporate breastfeeding into our plan assuming it didn't exhaust the baby and she continued to gain weight. Because breast feeding was always in my plan, I immediately tried with her a day after we got home, but she had trouble latching and even when she did latch, she would not suck, or would only suck for maybe 5 minutes. I feared that the bottle feeding from the NICU was giving her nipple confusion and that breast feeding was no longer possible.Moreover, I had the extra difficulty of trying to breastfeed a premature baby, which comes with a whole boat load of considerations! At 1 am in the morning I found the Yelp reviews of Thrive Breastfeeding and took a leap of faith and sent an inquiry to Amy. She responded to my online inquiry within hours, and I had an appointment with her within 24 hours! She was there in a blink of an eye, and when she came, she spent plenty of time learning about my baby's story and our feeding routine. Amy is an incredible listener and had so much to offer in advice. That day she showed me how to position, how to patiently allow my baby to latch, how to relax, and how to help the baby retrieve the milk. When all was said in done, my daughter breast fed for 30 minutes, and even consumed 2 ounces of breast milk, which we measured on Amy's scale. I was mind blown! Afterwards she prepared a pediatrician report so that my babys doctors could be involved in the breast feeding plan. And she even followed up with me for each addition feeding that day to make sure I was continuing to have success! I 100 percent recommend Amy for anyone having breast feeding issues, or for those that just want to confirm they are doing it correctly. Being a first time mom, having someone there to teach you and to help you gain confidence is priceless. Working with Amy is like working with a very knowledgeable and experienced friend. Its not awkward or rigid. She makes you feel comfortable and helps you relax and enjoy the experience of bonding with your child. She is not there to sell you anything, and is genuinely concerned only with helping you achieve your goal of breastfeeding. If your considering a lactation consultant in NOVA, you cant go wrong with Amy @ thrive breastfeeding! read more

Amy is truly a lifesaver! About a week after I got home from the hospital with my daughter I was in immense pain every time she fed. I was so close to giving up on breastfeeding and dreaded every feeding. I had met Amy at my breastfeeding class at Sibley a few months before giving birth, and decided to give her a call. I called her late one afternoon and she juggled her schedule to come to my house first thing the following morning. I was so afraid I would have to wait until the following week and endure more days of pain before I could get an appointment with a lactation consultant, so I was very relieved that she was able to come so soon. Even just talking to her on the phone put me at ease because she was so sympathetic to everything I was going through and confident that she could help. The next morning she arrived at my house to meet with my husband and me. Amy is so warm and friendly and just naturally put us at ease from the start. She brought a scale to the appointment so she could weigh my daughter before and after she fed to make sure she was getting enough. Within about a minute of watching me feed my daughter she noticed several issues with our positioning and latching. The issues were relatively minor but I never would have picked up on them on my own. Amy is very hands on, and within just a few minutes of her help the pain literally subsided instantly. She showed me several different feeding positions, and we tried feeding in several different rooms in my house to figure out where I would be most comfortable and relaxed. I really appreciated that I did not feel rushed or judged at all, which I had felt when I met with certain lactation consultants in the hospital. While she was at our house, she also set up my pump, which was a huge help since it was so confusing looking and a bit overwhelming to think about when dealing with a one week old. She also got my husband involved and suggested ways in which he could help me with the feeding process, which made him feel more involved and less helpless. After Amy left I cried tears of joy because I was so relieved, and within one week all of the sores, bleeding, and pain I previously had were gone. Amy followed up several times by email and text after her visit and she has been a great resource for various questions I have had about feeding schedules, bottles, pumping, etc. Three months later I am still breastfeeding 100% of the time, and find that feeding my daughter is one of my favorite parts of the day, which I never thought possible in the days after she was born. I cannot say enough amazing things about Amy and would (and have!) highly recommended her to any new mom. read more

I reached out to Amy one month before my due date. I had always had a desire to breastfeed but with a national formula shortage I really felt that failure was not an option so I wanted to get a head start as a new mom. Prior to the baby arriving Amy came to my house and got my husband and I prepared for the adventure ahead. You may be thinking how much help can you get from a lactation consultant prior to the baby coming and I am here to tell you- with Amy, A LOT. I really feel that initial teaching prior to the baby arriving set us up for success and was the confidence boost I needed as someone who had zero experience. Then after the baby was born Amy came to our house to make sure we were successfully implementing what we learned in our initial meeting. It was extremely comforting knowing that Amy was right there to meet us at our home right when we brought baby home so we again started doing all her best practices from the very start verse getting her involved when a problem arises. She then again came to our house a couple weeks later to ensure we were still smooth sailing. Thanks to Amy I had zero pain (it is really true what she says breast feeding does not have to hurt), baby always met/ exceeded all weight goals, and I would say most importantly she was the anchor to my mental health because as a new mom ensuring I was feeding my baby enough was my biggest fear. She was always available via text for a pep talk when I was nervous about something, she has always been there for me and continues to be (I am 9 weeks postpartum). My next hurdle is ensuring I know what I am doing when I head back to work but I am not even that worried about it because I know Amy will teach me and be there for me just like she was in the beginning chapter of my breast feeding journey. Amy is so passionate about what she does and I truly believe there was never a breast feeding challenge that was over her head- she actually enjoys a challenge! She comes up with a customized plan and support for each her clients because breast feeding is not a one size fits all- my family and I are forever grateful to Amy. #teamlassie read more

I was having pain with breastfeeding from the day my daughter was born, despite confirmation from the lactation consultants in the hospital that she was latching correctly. Instead, the lactation consultants and the pediatrician all suggested that my daughter was tongue-tied and that having her frenulum cut would help with the pain. The oral surgeon, however, disagreed, leaving me without an answer as to why breastfeeding was so painful. By this time, I could only feed my daughter with a nipple shield and even then was suffering from extremely sore nipples; I began to dread having to feed her and would count down the hours between feedings. When my daughter was about 4 weeks old, I called Amy, desperate to find a way to reduce the pain. Amy was able to see me within two days and even drove through snow-covered roads to make the appointment. She came to my home and immediately got to work showing me how to improve my baby's latch. She was very easy to talk to and immediately identified some of the problems with how I was trying to breastfeed. She gave me tips on how to better position her and how to position my self. We practiced getting my daughter to latch several times on each breast, until I was comfortable with the maneuver. Amy also gave me some suggestions on how to address my overproduction. In addition, Amy brought a scale with her and determined how much milk my daughter was transferring on each feed. At the end of the session, Amy drafted up a "plan" for us to follow and then sent a report of our session to our pediatrician. Since I met with Amy, I have been able to feed my daughter without a nipple shield and with minimal pain. I no longer dread feeding times and can now start to focus on enjoying the bonding experience that breastfeeding brings. I am extremely grateful to Amy for her help and would recommend her to anyone with breastfeeding difficulties. read more

Never expected bottles would be our issue. I had an easy pregnancy, great labor/delivery and a wonderful experience easing into breastfeeding with our new baby girl! Really everything could not be going any better. Then, we tried to introduce a bottle and it did not go so well. Weeks later she was still not able to take a bottle. I did tons of research and tried all the tricks and nipples we could. Nothing was working. Finally, I was getting anxious about returning to work and never being able to leave her knowing that she could not be fed without me. We had attended a breastfeeding class at Sibley and really enjoyed it. As a matter of fact, my husband said, "I can't even breastfeed and really liked that class." I think a lot had to do with the energy and enthusiasm of the instructur, Amy Brucker. I contacted Amy having no idea if lactation consultants even addressed bottles. If for nothing else we needed moral support and a boost in our confidence that she would eventually take the bottle. Amy came over and taught us distracting techniques and worked with the different nipples to try to get her to latch. She has successfully taken at least one bottle each day since Amy's visit and has made huge strides in learning how to latch on with a bottle versus always onto me. Amy is personable, understanding and passionate about breastfeeding. Her approach just naturally puts you at ease which is half the battle! Amy is always texting to check back in which is helpful since our baby girl continues to be a work in progress. However we are all so much better off for having benefited from Amy's expertise! read more

I just had my third child and was very frustrated and worried as my son was not gaining weight and his pediatrician was insisting I supplement with formula. I had a rocky road nursing my first child, but nursed my second with no problems for 14 months. I couldn't believe as a third time mom I was yet again having nursing problems. Trying to juggle two other young children and a newborn, I was about ready to throw in the towel and just switch to formula feeding. But I love the bond you form with your child when nursing and decided I'd give a lactation consultant a try. Amy Brucker came to my home and went over every detail of my nursing experience from child one to my new baby. After a careful review of my situation she suggested I just needed to overstimulate my milk production to make up for some early problems (I had been severely dehydrated, baby was very jaundiced, and I was also in the ER for hemorrhaging post-partum). She evaluated my pumping tech, gave me some pointers and encouraged me to pump as much as possible. When I tried to resist (pumping is hard work, especially with to other children to care for), Amy was super positive and just encouraged me to do the best I could as every little bit would help. A week later, my baby went from gaining 1oz per week, to 7 oz the next week. My pediatrician was so happy and I don't have to supplement! Hooray!! I owe a huge thank you to Amy for all her support and guidance. I highly recommend Thrive Breastfeeding to any mom (first time or third time!). read more

After having challenges with breastfeeding and experiencing severe nipple pain for a month, I searched for a lactation consultant and fortunately found Amy. She returned my call immediately and moved her schedule around for a home visit on the same day. When she arrived, it was very clear that she is passionate about what she does and genuinely cares about my and my baby's well being. I was immediately comfortable around her and she was patient and answered all of my questions. I never felt rushed during the consultation. During the consultation, Amy was very hands on and helped me understand correct positioning and latch techniques. She also showed me tricks to keep my baby awake during the feeding, and I was amazed to see that she fed for 20 minutes straight (she used to only feed for 5 minutes at a time). Amy also weighed her before and after the feeding to confirm that she had the appropriate amount. After, Amy showed me how to use my breast pump correctly and taught me other ways to relieve the engorgement that I had been feeling and to help my nipple heal. She then took the time to write out a plan for me to follow for the next few weeks. After Amy left, she continued to keep in touch to make sure everything was going smoothly, and I am happy to report that a week later, my baby has been feeding well and I have been healing well, with the nipple pain almost gone by now. I would highly recommend Amy to any moms out there that are experiencing breastfeeding challenges or just want additional tips! read more

I'm a new mom and have absolutely no idea how to breast feed properly. All I know is that I want the best for my baby and to me, that meant giving breast milk a good chance. I was taught a few things at the hospital but was still not as confident about the amount of breast milk I am producing 5 days later. As a result, I have been breastfeeding and then supplementing with formula. I told my pediatrician about my plan of tapering off the formula eventually but I am not exactly sure how to do that without depriving my baby of sufficient nutrition. I really needed somebody to tell me how I'm really doing with breastfeeding and if my girl is getting everything she needs. Amy was recommended by my pediatrician and I messaged her for an in-home consultation. She responded fast! She came to our house the very next day in the morning wearing a mask. She washed her hands first thing after coming into our home. That was such a huge deal for me especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowledge is power and Amy gave me that. She showed me how much milk I am transferring successfully to my baby, showed me how to achieve the correct latch for two feeding positions, drafted a care plan with me, sent a report to my pediatrician, etc. I now feel confident that I will meet my goal of exclusive breastfeeding already--much much sooner than I thought! This was definitely a valuable experience for me. I highly recommend Amy especially for all the new moms out there. read more

Amy was amazing! My son was 8 days old and I was in a ton of pain breastfeeding and emotionally having a tough time. My nipples had scabbed over and I was concerned I was soon going to get a breast infection and was very uncomfortable. On top of that it was the Sunday before Christmas when I reached my limit, so I didn't think my chances were good of getting someone to help me. I contacted Amy on Sunday morning and she immediately responded to me and arranged to come the following day. As soon as Amy got there we discussed my concerns with my son and what I was hoping to get out of her visit. She stayed at our house until we covered everything that I needed. Within a short time of her showing me how to have him properly latch, the pain was gone. I went from having toe curling pain each time my son nursed to being able to have him latch without wincing at all. I am fortunate to have a hefty supply of milk so she also showed me how to hand express and we discussed how I should nurse him to even out my flow. I was asking myself Sunday night if it was necessary to have Amy come to our house. I can tell you with 100% certainty that after Amy left, I realized it was completely worth it. She was incredible and I felt so much better after her visit - I was like a new person. Even my husband commented on how great Amy was to work with and how he could see the difference it made for me as well as our son. read more

Amy is fantastic! We had a series of problems in the first days home from the hospital... a tongue-tied sleepy baby with trouble latching, my milk not coming in for 10 days, and the pediatrician putting us on a rigorous feeding schedule of pumping & formula to supplement until our baby regained weight. When I found Amy on Yelp I was desperate! Amy came the next day, set up shop in our bedroom, and took control of the situation. She helped my husband and I come up with an action plan, while still respecting the pediatrician's orders. She even faxed the pediatrician a copy of her assessment, which I thought was great and kept everyone on the same page. Amy also helped me figure out my breast pump and helped me use it, which was a lifesaver in my sleep-deprived state. Amy taught me how to properly latch the baby, how to keep her awake during feedings, and different breastfeeding positions. Prior to meeting Amy, I had read several breastfeeding books, watched videos, and took the breastfeeding class offered in the hospital. However, nothing can prepare you for the individual challenges you may face, and it was wonderful to have a professional come to my home and tailor the advice specifically for me. I highly recommend Amy... not only does she know her stuff, but she's also a lot of fun to be around! She was so helpful to our family... thanks Amy! read more

Our baby girl started losing weight rapidly upon our return home from the hospital. By the time she had reached 10% weight loss, we had seen multiple LCs, all of whom gave us contradictory advice. We were willing to try just about anything, but were incredibly frustrated by the lack of clarity, especially because none of the recommendations were working. As first time parents, we were extremely overwhelmed and frustrated and needed someone to just tell us what the right way was and give us a plan. Amy was extremely pragmatic. She worked with us to come up with a new feeding plan and schedule down to the ounce. She took the guess work out of everything and gave us something that was going to work. Within 24 hours we noticed a huge difference. Since meeting with Amy, our daughters weight has continued to go up and we feel a huge sense of relief. Aside from her pragmatic approach, Amy was personable and empathetic. She explained what the issues were in a way that made sense and offered a concrete solution. She was also incredible with her communication. When we reached out, she arranged a same-day appointment at our home. Throughout the days that followed we were in almost constant communication with her via text whenever we had any questions and to report progress. We would have been completely lost without her and cannot recommend her enough! read more

Amy is absolutely amazing! In the hospital I was assured my baby was latching on and feeding properly but after we came home, she just kept losing weight. Our pediatrician had us start supplementing with formula and that was her only solution. I called Amy after leaving the doctor and she came over that evening. Amy figured out the problem within minutes of being at our house. She explained to my husband and me that because our baby was premature, she had not fully developed her suck/swallow skill. She showed me how to use a nipple shield and we rented a scale from her (at a very reasonable price) to see how much our baby was transferring. She have us a plan and it worked perfectly! It seemed like a miracle!! Then she came back a couple weeks later because I was having difficulty weaning my baby off the nipple shield. Again, within minutes of working with my baby and me, she had our issues corrected! She is so knowledgeable, passionate and caring! She makes you feel comfortable and gives you the confidence you need to breastfeed your baby in your hormonal emotional state! I don't know what I would have done without the help from Amy!! I used to dread breastfeeding but Amy changed the entire experience for me! I can't thank her enough for all she has done for my family! I would definitely recommend her to any of my friends and family! read more

I found Amy when I was searching for a lactation consultant who did home visits. I am so glad I found her! She came to see me when my daughter was ten days old. Things had been going ok but I needed support and assistance with the latch and basically wanted as much information as I coud to help with breastfeeding. I have a two year old son and found it impossible to breastfeed him (nipple pain, thrush, latch, etc) and I did not want that to happen again. Well, it's been twelve weeks since her visit and my daughter is still exclusively breastfeeding! Amy showed me proper technique (more than one) and the correct positioning for both me and my daughter. She was unbelievably helpful and I'm not sure I would have been this successful without her. She helped me troubleshoot problems I was having and answered every question I had. She was here for over two hours and I never felt rushed or silly. Equally important has been her communication with me since our visit. She responds almost immediately to questions and gives the moral support that every new mother is craving. She was a pleasure to work with and I would refer her and her workshops to anyone who is a new mom, having trouble breastfeeding or just needs reassurance that they are doing alright! She was fabulous! read more

When we learned that my son was actually losing weight at his one month appointment our pediatrician recommended that we contact Amy. I'm so thrilled that we did. She fit us in right away and came over within 24 hours (even though it was just before the Christmas holiday). She quickly identified problems with positioning and helped us come up with a plan to bring my son's weight back up and increase my supply. She was also very easy to talk with and quickly put us at ease. After she left us, she followed up via text to make sure we were doing well. I really appreciated this approach because text was the easiest way to communicate when it seems like my hands and time are always occupied. She kept the lines of communication open so I did not feel like I was bothering her with questions and helped put me at ease when we faced challenges. Two weeks later my son has gained two pounds (above and beyond expectations) and is all smiles! I also feel so much better because, after she corrected my positioning and my son's latch, I no longer have any soreness. I highly recommend Amy and will definitely share her name with friends and family. read more

I contacted Amy after having trouble getting my newborn to feed efficiently. He would not sustain a latch and fell asleep during feedings. Feedings were lasting up to an hour and half and he would be hungry again an hour later. We were supplementing with formula based on our pediatrician's recommendation which I wanted to get away from. Our pediatrician recommended Amy and I contacted her immediately. Amy rearranged her schedule and searched for someone to watch her children so that she could come for a consultation. She met with me for about an hour and worked with me to find the best position to keep my newborn latched, awake, and eating efficiently so feedings only lasted 30-40 minutes and we no longer needed to supplement with formula. After our consultation, Amy continued to follow-up with me to see how things were going and to offer encouragement. I have reached out to her several times since with questions and she is quick to respond and always very helpful. A week after our consultation, at my newborn's 2 week checkup, he weighed more than he did at birth. We definitely would not have been there without Amy's help. read more

I am a first time mom and never could imagine how difficult this parenting thing is!!! My son is now 5 months old and we are loving every second of it! The first 2 months were a different story. All of the changes of bringing a new bundle of joy into the world is a lot to handle. Then you tack on breastfeeding and its like have 3 full time jobs! Thank goodness I had Amy's information and scheduled an appointment with her the first day we got home from the hospital. She was at my house 2 days later and full of helpful information. My son had latched on, but using a nipple shield. I needed someone to help me latch him on properly and reassure me that I could do it! I can honestly say that I didn't know if I would be able to nurse all the way to 6 months. But here I am 5 months later and loving the bonding time I get with my son AND nursing without the aid of the nipple shield! I plan to nurse past the recommended 6months! Amy was always available for me if I had questions or concerns. She was great with advice and it was comforting to know I had someone to look to. Thanks Amy! Leslie read more

I had a very difficult labor/delivery and was not able to bring my baby to my chest until hours after delivery. Then for the following two weeks, I struggled with pains from the delivery and extremely low milk supply in spite of my pumping efforts. My baby lost more than 10% of his birth weight. He would not take my nipple most of the time, which gave me mental breakdowns. I was on the verge of giving up breastfeeding when my husband contacted Amy Brucker. It was such a wonderful experience having the in-home session with Amy. As others have mentioned, she is funny and passionate and to me she is very understanding and empathetic with my situation. After the first session, my baby was able to latch a lot better and I was able to increase my milk supply despite having to go through another painful surgery to fix my wound from the delivery. Amy continues to follow up regularly and check on us. She even did a weight-check session with additional advice for free. I highly recommend Amy Brucker to any mothers with breastfeeding problems and in need of encouragement. read more

Amy was fantastic. Our baby had terrible jaundice when he was born, so we could barely get him to eat from a bottle, let alone try to latch on to breastfeed. Being first time parents, we were ridiculously worried and had no idea what to do. Amy set us up on a maintainable schedule and showed us tricks to keep the baby awake. I also appreciated that she worked with our pediatrician and kept her updated with our progress. Once the baby had worked through his jaundice issues, she helped me get him latched on and showed me a number of different positions and tricks to try with him. She was very supportive and encouraging, and was great about checking in on us. The first few weeks weren't easy, but our son has been exclusively breastfeeding for 2 and half months, and is growing like a weed. That was always my goal, and there were times in the beginning when I wasn't sure we'd make it. Amy was a great help to get us there. I'd highly recommend her to any moms out there having breastfeeding difficulties. read more

I was having latch issues and was having to nurse my daughter using a shield for about an hour per feed, then supplement with bottled breast milk that I had pumped. By week 3, I was completely overwhelmed with all of the steps I was having to do for each feeding and was ready to give up on breastfeeding altogether. I called Amy as a last effort and am so glad I did! Within 15 minutes of her arrival, we had worked out some basic positioning issues and even got my daughter to latch and feed without the shield--which is something I hadn't been able to do with any success previously. Since Amy's visit 3 days ago, I haven't had to pump or supplement, which is such a relief! She had followed up several times to make sure things are going well and has been available to answer all of my questions. I would definitely recommend her to anyone I knew who was having issues with bfing! read more