Julie Matheney, MS, CCC-SLP, CLEC, IBCLC Website

Julie Matheney, MS, CCC-SLP, CLEC, IBCLC

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

Julie Matheney is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and the Founder of The LA Lactation Lady, her lactation consulting business based in Los Angeles, California. With over eight years of lactation consulting experience, Julie offers several professional online courses aimed at healthcare providers in lactation and infant feeding. She has also taught several professional courses for BreatfeedLA, The Lactation OT, and various city and state breastfeeding coalitions. Course topics include bottle selection and refusal, and an introduction to speech therapy and lactation. Julie is also a Speech Pathologist, and has provided extensive coursework as part of the Infant Frenectomy Protocol, part of Dr Chelsea Pinto’s professional course that explores the misconceptions around tongue-tie treatment and offers updated research findings on the topic.

Education

  • MS in Speech-Language Pathology, Miami University
  • Certificate of Clinical Competence for Speech-Language Pathologists (CCC-SLP)
  • Certified Lactation Educator Counselor (CLEC) certificate, University of California, San Diego

Professional Achievements

  • Has taught professional, comprehensive courses through The Lactation OT and BreastfeedLA
  • Frequently presents at conferences like GOLD Lactation, where she shares strategies for supporting parents facing physical, mental, or socio-emotional challenges in the breastfeeding journey

Certifications & Organizations

  • International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
  • Member of ASHA
  • TOTS certified

Favorite Piece of Advice

The best advice I could give for a new breastfeeding mom is to be patient with herself and her baby, as breastfeeding is a learned skill for both. Focus on getting a comfortable latch, stay well-hydrated and rested, and seek help from a lactation consultant if challenges arise.

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Q&A Comments (6)

How do I clean my Medela breast pump?
Wash the pump parts in a basin in the sink. Your sink can have bacteria in it for food, so it's best to put a separate container inside your sink, then fill that with soap and hot water for cleaning your breast pump parts. After you wash them, use bleach to sterilize the pump parts. Mix 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of bleach into 1 gallon (3.8 l) of water, then soak the bottles and pump parts for several minutes. When you're finished, rinse them thoroughly, then let them air dry. In addition, once a week, rinse the pump and bottle parts in water with vinegar to help get the fat off the bottles. Be really careful not to get water in the tubing of your pump. The water can condense and mold, and you also run the risk that water will get into your pump. If you do accidentally get water in the tubes, allow them to air dry before you use them again, or just replace them if you're concerned they won't dry completely.
How often should you change breast pads?
You should change your breast pads whenever you notice they're wet. However, for some women, that means you'll change them once or twice a day, while other moms might need to change them 10 or 12 times a day. It's all normal, although if you're changing your pads a lot, it might be worth investing in reusable pads.
How long does cluster feeding last for?
Cluster feeding for several hours at a time is completely normal. It often happens during growth spurts or teething. New moms don't always have the same social support that we used to have when we lived in tribal communities, so it can be easy to feel overwhelmed or alone, especially when you're comparing yourself to images you see on TV or social media. However, you can be reassured that you're doing everything right and your baby is normal.
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Co-authored Articles (15)

How to

Increase Prolactin

Prolactin is the hormone that stimulates your breasts to make milk during and after pregnancy. Not being able to breastfeed due to low milk supply is often the biggest problem with having low prolactin, and is why many m...

How to

Become a Wet Nurse

Wet nursing, the breastfeeding of babies from unrelated mothers, is one of the oldest professions in human history. Breast milk is the safest nutritional supplement a baby can consume. It provides the infants with natura...

How to

Sell Breast Milk

If you’re overproducing milk, you might as well get paid for what you aren’t going to use, right? “Donating” your milk (and getting a check in exchange) is a great way to make some extra money while also helping ...

How to Properly Store Baby Bottles After Sterilizing Them

A guide to washing, sterilizing, and storing baby bottlesSterilizing baby bottles removes germs and bacteria that can make your baby sick, ensuring that your little one has a safe, clean way to get the nutrition they nee...

How to

Treat Nipple Thrush

Thrush is an infection caused by the fungus candida albicans, or yeast as it’s more commonly known. Although yeast is naturally present in your body, certain imbalances can cause it to grow out of control, leading to t...

How to Stop Your Baby from Taking in Air When Bottle-Feeding

Keep your newborn from getting gassy before & after feedings If your baby has gas or an upset tummy from swallowing air, you’re in the right place. We know how frustrating it can be, so we’ve rounded up the best adv...

How to Use a Nursing Pillow for Breastfeeding: Tips for Beginners

Use a Boppy or other nursing pillow to make breastfeeding easier Breastfeeding pillows, like the popular Boppy, are pillows specifically designed for breastfeeding mothers to help support the baby and keep them in the pr...

How to

Know when Expressed Breast Milk is Spoiled

Some moms like or need to express breast milk so that their baby can be fed when they're not around. It is important for your baby’s health that this milk does not go rancid. There are a variety of ways to ensure that ...

A Complete Guide to Bottle Nipples: Best Sizes, Shapes & More

Learn how to choose the right nipple size for both formula- and breast-fed babiesChoosing the right bottle nipple size is all about giving your baby a good flow of milk or formula. How are you supposed to know when it’...

How to

Prepare the Breast for Breast Feeding

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for your baby. It contains exactly what your baby needs for nutrients, energy, and antibodies against illnesses. Your body will prepare your breasts for breastfeeding without y...

How to

Stop Bottle Feeding Toddlers

It is not uncommon for toddlers to become attached to their bottles. Bottles can often become a source of comfort that turns into a habit. However, it is important to transition your toddler to using a cup, rather than a...

How to Fix Nipple Confusion From Bottles and Pacifiers

Healthy ways to help your baby switch back to the breast If you introduce pacifiers or a bottle before your baby masters breastfeeding, they may end up favoring the fast flow and ease of using a bottle. If that’s the c...

How to Mix Breastmilk with Baby Formula

Breastmilk provides complete nutrition for growing babies, but sometimes it might be necessary to supplement breastmilk with formula. Whether you want to wean your baby off of breastfeeding, get them used to the taste of...

How to

Transport Breast Milk

Transporting your breast milk can seem a bit intimidating: you want to be sure that it remains safe to drink and retains its nutritional value. Whether you want to send your breast milk to a particular destination or tak...

How to

Become a Lactation Consultant

The practice of breastfeeding is a natural part of being a mother, but it takes skill and using the proper technique to do it successfully. That's where lactation consultants come in. Lactation consultants are trained to...