Welcome to PinkCocoon

Mission: To provide pregnant and breastfeeding families with accurate and research based education and support in the comfort of their own home.

About Cindy Curtis, RNC, IBCLC, CCE, CD

Cindy began working with mothers & babies in 1986 as an RN in a mother/baby/labor & delivery unit. She has held her current job in a small rural hospital for over 22 years as a RN in their birthing center and she also led the facility to be the first Baby Friendly Hospital in the state. Cindy has a passion for working with laboring mothers, breastfeeding babies and their families.

In 1993, she became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and has since worked with hundreds of mothers and babies helping them reach their breastfeeding goals. Cindy founded Breastfeedingonline.com in 1996 to offer high quality breastfeeding information to parents as well as professionals. In 2010 she founded PinkCocoon to help meet the needs of birthing and breastfeeding mothers in the community.  She knows and understands the difficulty many women have trying to reach their breastfeeding goals in a society that is very much dominated by formula feeding.  Cindy networks with private practice and hospital based lactation consultants around the world to stay in tune with the ever evolving field of lactation.

In 2007 Cindy received her childbirth educator certification through PCE and in 2009 she received her Doula Certification through DONA. 

Cindy has been married since 1986 and is the mother of 2 grown children who were breastfed. Her difficulty nursing her own children spurred her interest to help mothers and babies succeed at breastfeeding.

Professional appointments and memberships

Cindy is Licensed and Insured

Lactation Consultatation

What is a Lactation Consultant?

An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is a health care professional who specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding. IBCLCs are certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners, Inc. (www.iblce.org) under the direction of the U.S. National Commission for Certifying Agencies. IBCLCs work in a wide variety of health care settings, including hospitals, pediatric offices, public health clinics, and private practice. 

An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is a health care professional who specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding. She has demonstrated her competence to practice by passing an internationally recognized criterion-reference examination.

Breastfeeding is supposed to be natural, so why do I need a Lactation Consultant?

Breastfeeding is indeed the natural way for us to feed and nurture our babies and young children. Our babies are born with all the instincts and reflexes necessary to find their way to the breast, latch on and nurse effectively.  Like most things in life however, there tends to be a learning curve for mom and baby as they settle into their nursing relationship. This learning curve is often made steeper by the fact that in today’s culture, many of us grow up never having seen a child breastfeeding before. Combine this with medicalized births and primary health care providers who often have little to no education about breastfeeding, and it’s no wonder that for many new moms, breastfeeding doesn’t come as naturally as they expected. The good news is that even with a rocky start, it is almost always possible to get breastfeeding back on track with the right help and support.

Cindy can help you with:

• Adoptive nursing
• Baby wearing
• Biting
• Bottles
• Breast refusal
• Choosing a pump
• Cleft lip/cleft palate
• Failure to thrive
• How to tell baby is getting enough milk
• Low milk supply
• Medications
• Milk banking and milk sharing
• Milk storage
• Nipple confusion
• Normal newborn behavior
• Nursing during pregnancy
• Nursing multiples
• Nursing outside of the home
• Nursing strikes
• Overactive letdown
• Premature babies
• Preparing to breastfeed
• Pumping issues
• Reduction and augmentation surgeries
• Reflux
• Relactation
• Returning to work or school
• Sick mother or baby
• Sore breasts – mastitis, plugged ducts, abcesses
• Suckling difficulties
• Sore nipples
• Surgery
• Tandem nursing
• Too much milk
• Weaning, including night weaning
• Yeast/thrush

With a Board Certified Lactation Consultant, you will receive:

• a personalized and detailed breastfeeding care plan
• evidence-based breastfeeding support and answers
• approximate savings of up too $2,500 a year when not buying formula
• reassurance from an understanding and nurturing certified breastfeeding professional
• successful breastfeeding techniques that apply to your own personal circumstances
  

Childbirth Classes

You will learn how to take the pain of labor and turn it into the power of birth. Birth is normal, natural, and safe.

All classes will be held in the privacy of your own home with a schedule to fit your needs. Full classes and refresher classes are available, I will tailor the class to meet your individual needs.

All of my childbirth education classes include

1. The physiology of how your body works during pregnancy, labor and birth
2. Common interventions during birth and the benefits and risks of each intervention
3. Pain management skills and techniques
4. How to communicate with your health care provider
5. Birth plan writing
6. Postpartum care
7. Emotional support during labor
8. Relaxation skills and breathing
9. Physical and Verbal Signs of Pain and Tension
10. Importance of nutrition, exercise, and water intake
11. How to deal with unexpected outcomes
12. Community resources
13. Cesarean labor (how to avoid it) and VBAC births
14. Motivation during fear, fatigue and pain
15. Suggested reading list.
16. Newborn procedures after birth.

Postpartum Doula

The days and weeks after your baby’s birth can be completely overwhelming, whether you’re a new or experienced mother. You may find yourself struggling to balance caring for your new baby and caring for yourself, not to mention your family. Internal questions of whether you’re doing things right, along with all the “friendly advice” you’ll probably received from family and friends – together, it’s enough to push your nerves to the limit. Add in the hormonal and physical changes your body is going through, and it’s enough to reduce most moms to tears.

But you don’t have to do everything on your own. There is someone who can help you care for the baby and yourself, and has the training and heart to support you, to listen, and to answer all those questions you have – a postpartum doula.

Services provided include but are not limited to

• Routine newborn care and guidance or education about bathing, cord care, diapering, calming techniques, and newborn nutrition and development.
• Household tasks including laundry, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, and meal preparation
• Care of older siblings
• Accompanying mother and baby to pediatrician appointments.
• Running errands.

Testimonials

"A few days after my son was born he developed jaundice. He was not eating the way he should and it was frustrating me since I wanted to breastfeed. Cindy encouraged me to keep trying. Around 3 weeks after his birth he decided to try breastfeeding. Since then he hasn't stopped. When he was not latching right Cindy showed me what I was doing wrong, after that it has been smooth sailing for breastfeeding." —Abby W., Culpeper VA

"I have used Cindy as a lactation consultant for several years and two babies, the newest is 7 months old now. She is wonderful, I cant say enough good things about her. No matter where she is or whether she is on duty she always takes time to speak with me and answer my questions. I have always been able to get in touch with her easily by phone or email and she is always very prompt. She always makes me feel comfortable, even when I have questions that I feel are silly or embarssing. I would recommend her to anyone. She has become more the a consultant, she is a friend. Thank you Cindy!!" —Courtney, Charlottesville, VA

"I was a first-time mom and stressed out about so many parts of breastfeeding that I never thought about before: What position is best for me and baby? How can I tell if she's latched properly? How can I tell if I'm doing anything right? Cindy was a lifesaver for all of those questions and more. She traveled to my house to show me how to comfortably position both me and the baby, which saved my back and shoulders! She quickly answered my endless follow up questions and was always so kind, helpful, and informative. When my baby was later diagnosed with thrush, Cindy sent me information that even my doctors didn't have. I don't know if I would still be breastfeeding if it weren't for Cindy and her amazing help. Thank you so much for all that you have done for me and Sydney!" —Dawn P., Stafford VA

Contact Cindy

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