Utica Lactation Consultant Catherine Presite, IBCLC Serving Central NY and Mohawk Valley Area

A Little About Me

**My Family. My Why.**

***“When you have family, you have everything.”***
***I’m Catherine aka Cat! Feel free to call me either one. I’m a Mama and IBCLC in Utica, NY.***

Breastfeeding for my son and I was literally our safe haven during very difficult times. And having the right support helped greatly along the way. Whenever people talk about nursing they like to focus on the immunological components that make it so good which I get. It really is great but the emotional connection and mental health benefits are never given enough credit.

I returned back to work in 2018 and started out as a breastfeeding peer counselor with WIC while still nursing my 2.5 year old. This is where my passion for helping families and lactation began. I’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of Mama’s over the past 3.5 years, offering both lactation and emotional support throughout pregnancy and up until weaning age.

I learned early on things may not go the way you planned, but in my experience, it always turns out to be so much better than expected. When I became a Mama, I was reminded that nothing ever goes according to plan. Welcome to Parenthood. I remember planning on laboring at home, having my son skin to skin with me right after birth. I planned on being a stay at home Mama. I definitely didn’t plan on being a high risk pregnancy.

But nothing ever goes according to plan. And that’s ok.

A few other things I’d like you to know about me:

If you know me, you know that I have a pretty good sense of humor. Laughing and especially making others laugh, brings me immense joy. At any chance I get, I will try to get a laugh.

The Counselor in Me: I have always loved lifting others up and empowering them to believe in themselves. I’m a listener through and through. Connecting with and supporting others is seriously the most favorite part of my job.

From my training and experience, my areas of lactation knowledge include (but aren't limited to):

• latch issues, nipple pain, bleeding and/or cracked nipples
• assessing for tongue and lip tie symptoms and providing families with referrals to local professionals who provide frenotomy services and body work.
• oversupply, plugged ducts, mastitis, thrush
• Low supply, increasing supply
• returning-to-work prep, pumping plans and issues
• weaning from the nipple shield
• Weaning from the breastfeeding/chestfeeding
• Breast/chestfeeding after c-section
• LGBTQIA families interested in co-nursing and/or inducing lactation
• adoptive breastfeeding and chestfeeding
• re-lactation and induced lactation
• Bottle Refusal
• Nursing Strike
• Breastfeeding and Pumping for NICU families
• Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding with Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palates
• Nursing after breast reduction or augmentation
• Hormonal conditions and medications that may affect lactation

I would also like you to know that I approach every consult not only as an IBCLC but as a Mother myself, with the utmost care, because that’s what you deserve.

I look forward to meeting you and having some laughs together.

~Catherine, IBCLC

Catherine McMullen, IBCLC

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

Catherine@TheGoodLatchCat.com

315-316-2977

Education:

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant through the IBLCE
Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Certified through the American Red Cross. Certification Date: 4/29/2021
BA in Theatre Arts from Stony Brook University

5 Random Facts About Me:

I LOVE The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. I can literally watch these (the extended versions) every day and not get sick of them.
I studied the Japanese language for over 2 years and lived with a host family in Japan for a little over one month.
I performed a few one acts for the grand opening of Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. and it was such an amazing experience!
I was accepted into the Screen Acting short course program with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in 2014. Another amazing experience!
I played the clarinet for over 12 years. My one and only solo was from the Lord of the Rings movie soundtrack. I remember begging my band teacher for it.

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Experience:

3.5 years Breastfeeding Peer Counselor with Women, Infant and Children (WIC)
I’ve served families who have delivered at Faxton/St. Luke’s Hospital in Utica, NY, Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, Rome Hospital, Oneida Hospital, Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville, NY as well as St. Mary’s Hospital in Amsterdam, NY.

Volunteer Services:

Mohawk Valley Breastfeeding Network

Breastfeeding Cafe

A Few of My Favorite Things:

Being a Mama to my beautiful boy Luke. He is my mini me and often called my twin. He is a huge fan of imaginative play like I was as a child.
Seatles’s Best Coffee. Side note: I remember finally having my first sip of coffee when Luke was 8 months (after a year of not having any!) and thinking why did I wait so long for this life fuel???
Movies and Plays. I LOVE watching live performances and watching a movie on the big screen or at home.
Exploring Nature. Whether I’m taking walk in the woods or cross country skiing, being in the woods is so peaceful to me and helps keep me grounded.
Family. Being with and spending time with my family is definitely my very favorite thing.