I founded Arbour Lactation because I believe parents deserve a partnership rooted in clinical science and anchored by the permission to be real and unfiltered about the reality of feeding a baby.
Hi! I’m Rachel.
I’m a mother, a partner, and a firm believer that you deserve more than just "getting through" the feeding journey. The truth is, learning to feed your baby from your own body can be extraordinarily hard. There is not enough talk about the steep learning curve and the raw effort it actually takes. We’re often told that feeding will "just happen," but the reality is that it often involves a significant transition period. While the intention to nurture is innate, the actual mechanics are a skill that you and your baby must learn together.
My passion for maternal and infant health is deeply personal, rooted in my own pregnancies and the years spent raising my three daughters. I breastfed my children for a total of eight years—an experience that was as challenging as it was rewarding. I have navigated the monumental highs and the exhausting lows, and I know how much it helps to have a steady hand to hold while you find your footing.
Why the "Arbour"?
The word Arbour evokes a sanctuary of shelter and growth. I chose this name because of the striking parallel between the forest and the human body: just as a "mother tree" nurtures her saplings through a hidden network, our own bodies are etched with mirroring maps of life-sustaining pathways.
I created Arbour Lactation to be the visible reflection of that invisible support. Today’s parents are crowded by a “wall of noise”—conflicting opinions, internet advice, and the pressure to make perfect decisions in an instant. I want my practice to be a space where you can silence that outside noise, let your guard down, and finally exhale.
Clinical Expertise Meets Lived Experience
My approach merges rigorous lactation science with the specialized empathy required to support you in the thick of it. I hold a Master of Social Work (MSW), which means I bring a deep understanding of the emotional complexities of new parenthood. As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), I stay rooted in clinical precision so you can feel confident in every plan we build together. I move away from the "it’s just natural" narrative to provide you with honest tools and judgment-free guidance.
At Home
When I’m not working with families, you’ll find me at home with my husband and three daughters—likely navigating the carpool line in my minivan or triaging the never-ending laundry pile. My own life is lived-in and unscripted, filled with the kind of authentic moments that only happen when you're deep in the experience of raising children. It’s a reality that elicits the full spectrum of emotions—the kind that can only come from fully loving the independent little humans we’re raising. Once the house finally settles into a quiet hum at the end of the day, I take that same deep exhale I want for all my clients.
Feeding your baby is a skill that takes time, and you deserve someone in your corner while you learn it. I look forward to meeting you and your baby soon.