A woman with long curly brown hair and blue eyes sitting on a gray couch, wearing an olive green top, smiling at the camera with her hands resting on her lap. Behind her is a decorative wall hanging with a floral pattern.

Hi, I’m Katie Kavjian, CLC!

My path to lactation has been shaped by my love of helping others, my background in science, and my own experiences as a breastfeeding mother. I know that every family's feeding journey looks different, and I believe parents deserve support that is compassionate, evidence-based, and tailored to their individual needs. It is an honor to help families feel more confident and supported as they navigate the challenges and joys of feeding their babies.

Before becoming a lactation professional, I built my career around caring for and supporting others. I spent several years training service dogs to help individuals gain greater independence, and I later worked in the biopharmaceutical industry overseeing the quality of testing and packaging for life-saving medications and vaccines. Although these roles were very different, they all shared the same purpose: helping people and making a positive impact.

My own breastfeeding experiences are what ultimately brought me to lactation. As a mother, I have experienced both the rewarding moments and the unexpected challenges that can come with feeding a baby. Those experiences have given me a deeper understanding of how personal and unique each feeding journey can be. Combined with my lactation education and clinical training, they allow me to provide practical support that meets families where they are.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Penn State University and completed the Pathway 2 Lactation Consultant Professional Certificate through UC San Diego. I am a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) through the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice and hold a Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider certification through the American Heart Association. I have completed over 120 hours of lactation education and more than 300 clinical hours through a combination of online simulation and hands-on clinical training at WellSpan York Hospital in the Maternity and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). I have also completed all requirements to sit for the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) examination and recently took the exam in September 2026. I am currently awaiting my results.

My background has given me a unique combination of scientific training, attention to detail, and a genuine desire to support families. I strive to provide lactation care that is practical, personalized, and grounded in both evidence and empathy.

A mother in a green dress playing with two young children in a kitchen, with one child spinning and the other holding her hand.
A woman with curly hair sitting on the floor, hugging and surrounded by children, smiling and embracing in a home setting with a white wall and kitchen appliances in the background.

Evidence-Based Care with Personal Understanding

As a Certified Lactation Counselor and a breastfeeding mother, I understand that every feeding journey is unique. My two children had very different starts—one required extra support with latch, was very sleepy while feeding, required supplementation, and careful weight monitoring, while the other breastfed easily at first but presented different challenges later. Those experiences deepened my appreciation that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to breastfeeding.

Like many of the families I serve, I've also balanced breastfeeding with returning to work. I know firsthand the logistics of pumping during the workday, storing and transporting milk, coordinating feedings with another caregiver, and maintaining breastfeeding while managing a professional career. That personal experience, combined with evidence-based training, allows me to offer practical guidance that fits the realities of everyday life.

Throughout my own feeding journey, I've navigated triple feeding, pumping, bottle feeding, nipple shield use, introducing solids while my children attended daycare, breastfeeding through toddlerhood, weaning, and donating breast milk to a human milk bank. These experiences don't replace clinical training, but they help me approach each family's situation with empathy, perspective, and the understanding that feeding plans should be as individual as the families themselves. My goal is to meet families where they are, providing calm, evidence-based support that honors their goals and helps them find a feeding approach that works for their unique circumstances.