About Heather Hutton

  • Heather has continuously held the IBCLC designation for the last 9 years - the highest level attainable for any lactation professional and the gold standard for clinical lactation care. In addition, she is a exam prep writer for content that helps new IBCLCs pass their board examination.

  • Heather has advanced education and specialization in assessing for tongue and lip-ties as well as therapeutic oral habilitation before and after tongue and lip-tie release procedures to improve the outcomes of a release procedure. Heather also has advanced education and experience with low milk supply, medically fragile and ill babies, first time parents, and bottle feeding.

  • Heather is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and over 10 years of nursing experience. Her nursing background includes working in neonatal intensive care (NICU), labor & delivery, postpartum, surgery, hospital based lactation care and management, as well as a home visiting case management program for first time, low income mothers and their babies supporting enrolled families on a bi-weekly basis from pregnancy through their child’s second birthday.

  • Heather also hold the designation of Certified Case Manager and has case management experience with perinatal clients, pediatric clients, and clients with chronic conditions.

  • Heather is an independent lactation consultant and is the founder and owner of Optimal Nurturing, LLC.

  • Heather has received special recognition for her exceptional patient care and expertise. She has received a Daisy Award, employee of the year award, and has been designated a subject matter expert.

  • Heather believes that keeping up with the latest recommendations and research through annual continuing education is essential for providing quality lactation care. For this reason, she is a member of the International Lactation Consultant Association, United States Lactation Consultant Association, and is a member and serves on the board for the Appalachian Breastfeeding Network.

  • Heather takes a gentle, counseling approach to lactation care through shared decision-making. She seeks to encourage autonomy and self-efficacy. Breastfeeding success is not defined by a lactation consultant; it is defined by YOU. Heather strives to provide a judgement-free zone where we can determine what your goals are and provide you the education and support needed to work toward those goals and maintain realistic expectations in the context of the biology of the breastfeeding dyad and any unique challenges you may be facing.

  • Heather was born in Kingsport, TN and raised in Hawkins County, TN. She has lived in the Tri-Cities Tennessee area all her life and can’t imagine living anywhere else (except maybe the beach, but it would have to be part-time)!

Heather has attended the Nourished Young Reflex-Based Oral Function Course which is a 4+ hour course on assessing the innate reflexes present inside your baby’s mouth which help them feed as well as improving the connection between your baby’s brain and the muscles that control these reflexes. These reflexes can be diminished for a number of reasons, but together we can improve them and make feeding better.

Reflexes are important because they can help babies eat from the breast and from bottles and, if a tongue tie is suspected, this information and these techniques can help us rule out other causes before seeking a surgical release procedure - we want to make sure it is absolutely necessary before doing it! This can also help us see improvement in feeding faster after release, if it is necessary.

Heather has attended the Oral Habilitation of the Breastfeeding Dyad Masterclass which is a 33+ hour course on assessing for tongue and lip-ties, preparing both parent and baby for a release procedure, and teaching the tongue to move more efficiently after a release procedure.

A tongue-tie release is not only a procedure, it is a process. For the best outcomes, it requires preparation and therapy afterward like any other procedure for adults! Through the appropriate processes, we can ensure the best possible outcomes.

Heather has attended the Perinatal Support International Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders: Components of Care course. This PSI course is a 2-day course all about assessment for, common treatments for, and the importance of screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

Your mental health is important!