Whole-Person Lactation: A Conversation with Nikki Lee

Behind the Latch

In this episode of Behind the Latch, Margaret Salty interviews Nikki Lee—nurse, lactation consultant, educator, and passionate advocate for whole-person care. They explore what it truly means to practice holistic lactation support, the power of touch, how to integrate craniosacral therapy into lactation visits, and why honoring the parent-baby dyad requires more than just clinical skill.

Nikki’s Journey into Holistic Lactation Support

Nikki shares how:

• Her personal experience with trauma and her mother's breastfeeding shaped her worldview
• Becoming a nurse and then a mother guided her into lactation work
• Public health taught her to “be a guest in people’s lives” and see the full picture
• Grandparenting has opened new insights into intergenerational support and growth

What Holistic Lactation Care Really Means

Nikki defines holistic care as:

• Treating people as whole beings—not just a set of symptoms or body parts
• Considering physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual dimensions of health
• Paying attention to the space, energy, relationships, and dynamics in the home
• Letting intuition, observation, and deep listening guide care—not just checklists

Integrating Craniosacral Therapy into Lactation Care

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Nikki uses gentle, intention-based touch to support healing
• Why craniosacral therapy isn’t manipulation, but rather listening through the hands
• How this work calms the nervous system and boosts oxytocin for both parent and baby
• The importance of in-person, hands-on training to learn this modality safely and ethically

Case Study: When the Problem Isn’t Just the Latch

Nikki walks through a powerful case example:

• A mother presented with nipple pain, oversupply, and a baby refusing the breast
• Craniosacral therapy helped both parent and baby regulate and reconnect
• The home environment—including subtle undermining from family—was a key factor
• Small changes like music, safe bedsharing, and community support transformed the experience

Hospital Challenges, Safe Sleep & Speaking Truth

Margaret and Nikki discuss:

• Why hospitals are often inhospitable places for breastfeeding
• The risks of sleep deprivation and the need for honest conversations about safe sleep
• How to gently guide families while honoring their choices
• The importance of truth-telling and emotional regulation in protecting against burnout

Advice for Future IBCLCs and Holistic Practitioners

Nikki encourages new professionals to:

• Observe as much normal breastfeeding as possible
• Follow their interests—whether it’s mental health, massage, childbirth ed, or herbs
• Bring their whole selves to their work, and pursue therapy to unpack personal triggers
• Remember: “Be the provider you’d want for your own grandbaby.”

Guest Info:

Nikki Lee, RN, IBCLC is a lactation consultant, educator, and holistic practitioner with decades of experience in breastfeeding support, craniosacral therapy, and public health. She offers courses, private sessions, and mentorship in holistic lactation.

🌐 Website: www.nikkileehealth.com

📘 Facebook: Nikki Lee Health

📚 Books: Breastfeeding: A Parent’s Guide and Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Breastfeeding (Proclaris Press)

Resources Mentioned:

📌 Upledger Institute – Craniosacral Therapy Training

📌 James McKenna’s Safe Infant Sleep

📌 Pathways to holistic certification: PSI, childbirth ed, and more

Connect with Margaret:

📧 Email: [email protected]

📸 Instagram: @margaretsalty

📘 Facebook: Margaret Salty

🎙 Hosted by: Margaret Salty

🎧 Guest: Nikki Lee, RN, IBCLC

🎵 Music by: The Magnifiers, “My Time Traveling Machine”

#BehindTheLatch #HolisticLactation #CraniosacralTherapy #BreastfeedingSupport #IBCLC #LactationConsulting #SafeSleep #BreastfeedingJourney #WholePersonCare #ComplementaryMedicine