Hello! I’m Catherine Belonogoff, a dedicated lactation consultant, strength coach, mother, and advocate for those who chest or breastfeed. With over a decade of experience, I’m passionate about helping families in Montclair and Essex County, New Jersey, as well as offering telehealth services to anyone, anywhere.
At Mother's Milk NJ, I provide compassionate, evidence-based lactation care tailored to your unique needs. I believe that while breastfeeding is a natural process, it can also be challenging. That’s why I focus on creating a supportive environment where you can feel secure in your decisions and confident in your mothering journey.
I conduct thorough assessments of your medical and birth history along with your feeding goals to provide personalized options. By blending insights from anthropology, history, and human development, I strive to meet the modern mother’s needs in a judgment-free zone.
Together, we’ll build a path to your breastfeeding goals, focusing on your strengths and developing a collaborative plan of action. Whether you prefer home visits or virtual consultations, I’m here to support you every step of the way. Let’s make your breastfeeding experience as fulfilling as possible!
At Mother's Milk NJ, I provide compassionate, evidence-based lactation care tailored to your unique needs. I believe that while breastfeeding is a natural process, it can also be challenging. That’s why I focus on creating a supportive environment where you can feel secure in your decisions and confident in your mothering journey.
I conduct thorough assessments of your medical and birth history along with your feeding goals to provide personalized options. By blending insights from anthropology, history, and human development, I strive to meet the modern mother’s needs in a judgment-free zone.
Together, we’ll build a path to your breastfeeding goals, focusing on your strengths and developing a collaborative plan of action. Whether you prefer home visits or virtual consultations, I’m here to support you every step of the way. Let’s make your breastfeeding experience as fulfilling as possible!
I BELIEVE...
The problem that I see in the US healthcare system is that pregnancy is treated with many doctors visits and classes focused on the birthing process; however, little to nothing is done in response to the postpartum period. You have one or two visits with your ObGyn in the year after you give birth. You are cleared for sex, exercise and “getting back” at 6 weeks whether you feel ready or not. Many employers are eager for you to resume where you left off. If you’ve had a csection, you have less support and the addition of caregiving duties than any other surgical patient. Nobody else is sent home after major surgery with a small human to care for 24/7. The realities of the postpartum period being denied, erased and unacknowledged creates undue hardship and stress on mothers. Looking for a way to help solve this problem of postpartum neglect, I went back to school to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Through my work with postpartum mothers in the last 10 years, I saw that with a little attention, some skills based training, parents have the potential to feel better, stronger and more confident.
My code of ethics...The Code of Professional Conduct consists of eight principles, which require every IBCLC to:
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I stand for...
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My Diversity, Inclusion, Cultural Continuing Education
- Unlearning Obesity
- Decolonizing Lactation
- Learning How to Be Inclusive Practice for the LGBTQ+ Community
- Embracing Neurodiverse families and removing barriers to access in lactation
- Intentional Anti-racism in Private Practice
- Perinatal Mental Health First Aid
Get to Know Me Better
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About Me Welcome! I’m Catherine Belonogoff, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), strength coach, mother, and advocate for those who chest or breastfeed. My journey has taken me across the globe, living in the United States, Russia, Lithuania, England, and Singapore, and I have had the privilege of serving thousands of mothers in New Jersey and Singapore as a breastfeeding coach for over a decade. Kindness Matters I believe in giving back to the community. I volunteered with La Leche League Montclair, BabyCafe, Singapore Breastfeeding Mothers Support Group. I donate to Global Health Media, which provides vital resources for parents and practitioners worldwide to promote infant and child health. I also donate to WFUV, as I love discovering new music and staying connected to global news. My Approach I strive to create a comfortable and welcoming environment for my clients. My style is approachable, and I enjoy using relatable metaphors to simplify complex ideas about breastfeeding. I’m passionate about sharing my knowledge and helping parents find win-win solutions to their breastfeeding and postpartum challenges. I aim to make you feel heard and understood, ensuring you are comfortable in making the best decisions for you and your family. Personal Interests Outside of my work, I love hikes in the mountains, swimming especially in cold water, lifting heavy weights to loud music (@Mother_Of_Invention_Strong), and raising my kids to be confident contributors to the world. I also enjoy exploring the culinary scene, so if you’re looking for the best tacos in Montclair, I’m your girl. At Mother’s Milk NJ, I am committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based lactation care in a judgment-free zone, helping you navigate your breastfeeding journey with confidence and support. |
My Credentials + Education
Education
Bachelor of Arts, UC Berkeley
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), the International Board of Lactation Examiners
Certificated Lactation Education Counselor (CLEC), UC San Diego Extension
Tongue and Lip Tie Assessment and Care Strategies with ILCA and La Leche League
Certified doula and childbirth educator with Childbirth International
IBCLC MasterClass: Oral Habilitation of the Breastfeeding Dyad (tongue tie + oral anatomy and function)
Volunteer and Professional Organizations
Member of the International Lactation Consultants Association
La Leche League Leader with Garden State La Leche League in Montclair, New Jersey (retired)
Baby Cafe Singapore (retired)
Former staff IBCLC at the Maternity Wellness Center at Wombkeepers OBGYN in Montclair, NJ.
Fitness Coaching Education
I have a strong passion for physical fitness and hold several certifications, including Postpartum Corrective Exercise, BirthFit Coach, GGS Level 1 Coach, Underground Strength Coach, Strongman, and Pregnancy and Postpartum Strength Training Coach.
I enjoy lifting heavy weights and participating in strength sports, and I’ve even tackled a few 5K runs and swimming sessions along the way.
If you are an athlete who is breastfeeding, I would love to connect with you! You can find more about my fitness journey and insights www.instagram.com/mother_of_invention_strong/
At Mother’s Milk NJ, I believe that fitness and wellness go hand in hand with the journey of motherhood, and I’m here to support you every step of the way.
Bachelor of Arts, UC Berkeley
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), the International Board of Lactation Examiners
Certificated Lactation Education Counselor (CLEC), UC San Diego Extension
Tongue and Lip Tie Assessment and Care Strategies with ILCA and La Leche League
Certified doula and childbirth educator with Childbirth International
IBCLC MasterClass: Oral Habilitation of the Breastfeeding Dyad (tongue tie + oral anatomy and function)
Volunteer and Professional Organizations
Member of the International Lactation Consultants Association
La Leche League Leader with Garden State La Leche League in Montclair, New Jersey (retired)
Baby Cafe Singapore (retired)
Former staff IBCLC at the Maternity Wellness Center at Wombkeepers OBGYN in Montclair, NJ.
Fitness Coaching Education
I have a strong passion for physical fitness and hold several certifications, including Postpartum Corrective Exercise, BirthFit Coach, GGS Level 1 Coach, Underground Strength Coach, Strongman, and Pregnancy and Postpartum Strength Training Coach.
I enjoy lifting heavy weights and participating in strength sports, and I’ve even tackled a few 5K runs and swimming sessions along the way.
If you are an athlete who is breastfeeding, I would love to connect with you! You can find more about my fitness journey and insights www.instagram.com/mother_of_invention_strong/
At Mother’s Milk NJ, I believe that fitness and wellness go hand in hand with the journey of motherhood, and I’m here to support you every step of the way.
