Becoming a new mom is beautiful — but it’s not always easy, especially when it comes to breastfeeding. Whether you’re navigating a painful latch, wondering if your baby is getting enough milk, or simply feeling overwhelmed by all the conflicting advice online, you don’t have to go through it alone. That’s why I’m so passionate about connecting families with the very best breastfeeding support in Charlotte. Recently, I sat down with Alexis Ravaioli, RN, IBCLC, to talk about the realities of breastfeeding, from latch challenges to pumping schedules — and the emotional side of it all.
Alexis combines her NICU nursing background with compassionate, judgment-free lactation care to help families feel confident and supported. While passionately serving Charlotte, NC and the surrounding areas of South Carolina, including Fort Mill, Rock Hill, and Indian Land
In this interview, Alexis shares her best tips for breastfeeding success, explains when to reach out for help, and sheds light on the difference working with an IBCLC can make.
What are the most common reasons moms seek breastfeeding support?
Alexis: The top two reasons moms reach out for help are a painful latch and a baby who seems fussy at the breast.
How do you help with those concerns?
For most breastfeeding issues — including painful latch or fussiness — the solution often starts with positioning. Alexis teaches mothers how to position their babies at the breast in a way that supports the baby’s innate feeding reflexes, which often resolves the issue quickly.
What’s your background and training as a lactation consultant?
Alexis became a registered nurse later in life after her own son was born at 34 weeks and spent two weeks in the NICU. She worked as a NICU nurse and realized she loved helping new mothers breastfeed. She went on to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant — the highest certification available in lactation.
“Fun fact,” she says, “anyone can call themselves a lactation consultant, but the clinical hours and education vary widely. Some only complete a one-week program, while IBCLCs go through extensive training and supervised clinical experience.”
When should a mom reach out to a lactation consultant?
“Prenatally is ideal,” Alexis explains. Meeting with a lactation consultant during pregnancy gives moms the confidence and knowledge to avoid or solve common problems early on.
The first few days after birth are also a great time for reassurance that things are going well — or to catch small latching issues before they become bigger problems.
Other times to reach out include:
- Pain with latch
- Baby not gaining weight as expected
- Fussiness or frustration at the breast
- Low wet/dirty diaper count
- Perceived drop in milk supply
- Breast pain or clogged ducts
- Pump flange fitting
- Going back to work
- Bottle refusal
- Weaning support
What’s your approach to breastfeeding support?
Alexis brings it “back to basics.” She sees many new moms overwhelmed by conflicting advice and incorrect information, especially on social media like Tic Tok, and reassures them by focusing on expected newborn feeding behaviors and helping them trust their bodies.
“Mothers are overwhelmed and full of anxiety because of course they only want to do everything exactly the right way. I like to take the stress away by educating them on expected newborn feeding behaviors as well as trusting their bodies to do what they are designed to do. When they understand how breastfeeding works, they can relax and enjoy the experience, letting things fall into place as nature intended.”
How do you tailor your services to meet the unique needs of each lactation client?
Alexis: I bring no judgement to the consult and meet mothers where they are. Every mother and baby is unique, so she creates individualized care plans — not cookie-cutter solutions. Alexis provides a plan to follow for 3–4 days, then checks in to adjust as needed. Each client also gets one week of unlimited text/email support for questions.
What resources do you recommend for new moms seeking breastfeeding support in Charlotte?
Alexis: I love First Droplets, a website for new moms run by Dr. Jane Morton of Stanford University, which offers short videos on hand expression and getting breastfeeding off to a good start.
I run a weekly in person breastfeeding support group on Mondays at 11am. You can learn more and register at The New Mom School in Ballantyne
How do you approach breastfeeding issues like low milk supply or latching difficulties?
Observation is key. Alexis watches both baby and mother during a feeding — including position, latch, and overall behavior. “Most issues can be resolved with good positioning,” she says.
Are you experienced with special circumstances like preemies, multiples or babies with medical conditions?
Yes. Alexis’ NICU background gives her extensive experience with premature babies, multiples, and those with medical needs. All babies are different while some situations require creativity, positioning, patience, and time are often the first steps toward success.
Can you explain vasospasm and how you help with this uncommon condition?
Vasospasm is a circulation issue in the nipple, often causing sharp, shooting pains during and after nursing. It’s sometimes misdiagnosed as thrush. Alexis looks for shallow latch or oral dysfunction as potential causes and helps moms adjust positioning. Covering the nipple quickly once the baby comes off of the breast to prevent the nipple from going from very warm to cold too quickly may also help. One key way to distinguish vasospasm from thrust is again observation. The nipple may turn white, then potentially blue, purple, or red before returning to its normal color, especially after exposure to cold.
What about supplementing with formula or alternative feeding methods?
Alexis: Moms who need to supplement have options! We can use bottles, supplemental nursing systems, syringes, spoons or cups. There are many reasons why supplementing is done, whether medically necessary or a parental choice. Use of formula can be a bridge to exclusive breastfeeding or a permanent addition to breastfeeding. I support all parents in making an informed decision on how they want to feed their baby.
How do you help moms returning to work?
Returning to work is such an emotionally hard thing, so Alexis helps moms develop a pumping plan in advance. This includes gradually introducing pumping and bottle feeding to ease the transition for a smoother reentry to work.
Pumping, storage, and bottle-feeding tips for Charlotte Moms
Alexis: For pumping, you want to have a reliable double electric pump with flanges that fit well for best results. I would love it if all pregnant mothers were told that the super popular hands-free wearable pumps tend to not have a strong enough motor to bring in a good milk supply. We often see problems with clogged ducts leading to mastitis with these pumps.
The current guidelines for storing breastmilk are:
- 4 hours at room temp, 4 days in the refridgerator, 6–12 months in the freezer.
- Never store milk in the fridge/freezer door; once thawed, use within 24 hours and never refreeze.
When bottle feeding a breastfed baby we want to make the baby have to work at the bottle like they do at the breast. This makes the transition between the two easier. We do that by slowing the baby down at the bottle and we can use a slow flow nipple as well.
How do you support decisions about weaning?
Alexis provides evidence-based education so moms can make informed feeding decisions without judgment. “Every mother-baby pair is unique,” she says, “and my role is to support their goals.”
Final Thoughts form our breastfeeding support expert in Charlotte, NC
Breastfeeding is a journey — and no two are the same. With the right support, many challenges can be resolved quickly, making the experience more comfortable and enjoyable for both mom and baby.If you’re in the Charlotte, Fort Mill, or Rock Hill area and need breastfeeding support, consider reaching out to Alexis Ravaioli, RN, IBCLC at Intuitive Breastfeeding NC. Her expertise, compassionate approach, and personalized care can make all the difference in your breastfeeding journey.
