Why I Became a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (and What It Means for You and Your Baby)
By Dr. Alli Chisholm, PT, DPT, CBS
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If Feeding Feels Hard, You’re Not Missing Something
If you’re in the thick of newborn feeding and thinking, “Why does this feel so much harder than I expected?”—I want you to know something first:
You’re not doing anything wrong.
So many parents come into feeding expecting it to feel intuitive and natural, only to be met with clicking, popping off, dribbling milk, long exhausting feeds, gas, reflux-like symptoms, or pain that no one warned them about. Add in conflicting advice, social media noise, and the ever-present “let’s wait and see,” and it can start to feel overwhelming very quickly.
Struggling with feeding doesn’t mean you missed a memo or failed some invisible test of parenthood. It usually means you and your baby need more support—earlier and more holistically than most systems allow.
That belief is at the core of why I chose to become a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist.
The Moment I Knew I Needed Deeper Feeding Training
Let’s rewind for a moment.
I became a mom for the first time at 26. At that point, I was already a pediatric physical therapist working primarily with infants and toddlers. I genuinely thought I’d have a bit of a leg up—especially when it came to feeding.
I was wrong.
Our first daughter needed to be fed via syringe for the first week of her life. Around that same time (back in 2021), the phrase “tongue tie” was everywhere—thrown around on social media like the latest parenting trend, without much nuance or support to go with it.
I remember listening to podcast after podcast while pregnant, absorbing birth and postpartum stories, never really questioning that feeding would come easily for us.
And when it didn’t?
I felt like I was failing at something that seemed so simple: nourishing my baby.
What I kept noticing—not just with my own daughter, but with the families I worked with—was a pattern. Babies were being treated as either “feeding problems” or “body problems,” but rarely both. Oral function without posture. Latch without tension. Symptoms without context.
That disconnect didn’t sit right with me.
So I did what I tend to do when something feels unfinished: I dove in. Oral motor mentorships. Motor development training. Feeding-related coursework. Eventually, that path led me to becoming a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS).
What a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS) Actually Is
A Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS) credential is awarded through an intensive Lactation Consultant Training Program that requires over 52 hours of specialized coursework, followed by a comprehensive exam. The training is designed to deepen clinical understanding of infant feeding and also serves as foundational preparation for those pursuing the IBCLC pathway.
My CBS training expanded my knowledge in areas such as:
Breast and mammary anatomy and physiology
Milk supply and regulation
Positioning for both breast and bottle feeding
Pumping strategies and schedules that support the feeding parent
Ethical considerations and marketing influences in infant feeding
Alternative feeding methods when traditional approaches aren’t working
While breastfeeding is in the name, being lactation-informed means supporting feeding goals—not forcing a specific outcome.
Which brings me to something important.
Feeding Is a Whole-Body Skill (Not Just a Mouth Thing)
Feeding doesn’t happen in isolation.
It’s influenced by how a baby moves, how their nervous system regulates, how their body tolerates positions, and how much effort feeding actually requires from them.
I see it all the time:
Body tension or asymmetry affecting latch depth
Head preference or torticollis making one side harder to feed on
Fatigue leading to popping off or short feeds
Gas or reflux-like symptoms linked to inefficient feeding mechanics
Babies who can latch—but can’t sustain it comfortably
When we support the whole body, feeding often gets easier—without forcing it.
This perspective is where pediatric physical therapy and CBS training come together in a really powerful way.
How I Support Feeding Through Virtual Care (and the Tools That Often Help)
In my virtual wellness assessments, I’m not just looking at a latch or a bottle.
I’m looking at the whole baby—and the experience you’re having together.
That includes:
How your baby moves and positions their body
Head and neck preferences
Overall tension and feeding endurance
Feeding positions that support both of you
Real-time adjustments you can actually use at home
One of the reasons virtual care works so well for feeding is that it happens in your space, with your setup, and without the stress of packing up a newborn and trying to recreate feeding challenges in an unfamiliar environment.
This approach is especially helpful if:
Feeding feels stressful or painful
Your baby clicks, dribbles, or frequently pops off
Bottle feeding feels just as hard as breastfeeding
Your baby strongly prefers one side or position
You’re noticing gas, reflux, or feeding-related fatigue
And yes—this support applies whether your goal is breastfeeding, bottle feeding, combination feeding, or transitioning to alternative methods. I’ve even worked with families whose babies had little interest in bottles despite every effort, and together we decided that moving toward a straw cup was the most supportive option.
At the end of the day, babies need nourishment. How that happens matters—but so does your emotional experience along the way.
Feeding Tools and Bottles I Often Recommend
One of the most common questions I hear is, “Which bottle is best?”
The honest answer is: there’s no single “best” bottle for every baby.
When I help families choose feeding tools, I’m considering things like:
Oral motor needs
Body positioning and tension patterns
Flow tolerance and feeding endurance
Parent comfort and ease of use
That’s why a bottle that works beautifully for one baby may not work at all for another. I’ve linked bottles and feeding tools I regularly recommend—options I’ve used personally and with families I support.
Learn More: Feeding Support Articles I’ve Written for Parents
If you’d like to explore these topics more deeply, you may find these resources helpful:
You’re Allowed to Get Support Early
If feeding feels harder than you expected, that’s not a sign to push through alone.
Your instincts matter. Getting support doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it means you’re paying attention.
If you’re ready for individualized guidance:
Book a virtual wellness assessment
Explore my newborn education course
You don’t have to figure this out by yourself. I’m here to support both you and your baby—together.