If you’d asked me a few years ago what a lactation consultant does, I probably would have said, “They help you breastfeed?” Not wrong. But barely scratching the surface.
I had three babies with three totally different feeding experiences. Each time, I wished I’d known more, and had more support in those early days when everything felt hard and Google was not helping at 2 a.m.
That’s a big part of why I started my Made for Minnesota Moms YouTube series. As a Minnesota newborn and family photographer, I keep having incredible conversations with women who support families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. And I thought, other moms need to hear this too.
Today I’m bringing you a conversation with Dr. Jess Roth, a Doctor of Chiropractic and certified lactation professional at Chiro for Moms in Wayzata, Minnesota. What makes her different from a traditional lactation consultant is that she combines chiropractic bodywork with lactation support, caring for mom and baby as a whole system. Not just the latch. Not just the supply. The whole picture.
We covered what her lactation visits look like, how birth affects feeding, what pediatric chiropractic care involves (spoiler: way gentler than you think), and the signs that a feeding struggle might not be about supply at all. If you’ve ever spiraled through breastfeeding forums at midnight, this one’s for you.
Meet Dr. Jess Roth, Chiropractor and Lactation Consultant
Dr. Jess Roth is a Doctor of Chiropractic with a focus on women, children, and lactation. She’s a certified lactation professional who brings together her training in chiropractic care, massage therapy, and personal training to offer whole-body lactation support for families.
Dr. Jess is also a new mom herself, which has only deepened her understanding of what families go through during the breastfeeding journey.
When I was planning guests for my Made for Minnesota Moms series, Dr. Jess was at the top of my list. Because so many moms don’t realize that lactation support and chiropractic care can work together. And once you hear how she approaches it, you’ll wonder why this isn’t more common everywhere.
Why Combining Lactation Support with Bodywork Matters
Before we get into the full Q&A from our conversation, I want to touch on why this approach to lactation consulting stood out to me so much.
Most of us think of breastfeeding as something that’s just about the latch. Or just about supply. But Dr. Jess sees it completely differently. In her world, breastfeeding is a full-body experience. And that changes everything about how she supports families.
Here’s what I mean. When a baby latches, what’s happening at the breast doesn’t stay at the breast. It affects their whole body. Tension in the neck, tightness in the jaw, a shoulder that won’t quite relax. All of that can show up during feeding. And on the flip side, when a mom is stressed or her body is tight and uncomfortable, that tension transfers to baby too.
So instead of only looking at the latch, Dr. Jess looks at the whole picture. She calms both nervous systems through chiropractic care and bodywork before diving into the lactation piece. That way, when it’s time to feed, both mom and baby are in a better place to make it work.
As a mom of three, I can tell you that every single one of my babies was different when it came to feeding. Figuring out how to be successful was frustrating at times. To know there’s a lactation consultant out there who is also looking at baby’s body, mom’s body, and the connection between the two? That’s the kind of support I wish I’d known about sooner.
What Pediatric Chiropractic Care Actually Looks Like
I think a lot of parents hear “chiropractic care for babies” and get a little nervous. That’s completely understandable. So I want to share what Dr. Jess explained, because it put my mind at ease and I think it’ll do the same for you.
Pediatric chiropractic care involves a lot of craniosacral therapy. That means very gentle touch along the baby’s skull to help the fluid that flows up and down the spinal cord move more efficiently. Dr. Jess shared that the pressure they use is about the weight of a nickel resting in your hand. That’s it.
Beyond craniosacral work, baby chiropractic adjustments look a lot like a baby massage. Dr. Jess compared the pressure to checking the ripeness of an avocado or a tomato. It’s that light.
The goal is to bring relaxation into the joints and make sure baby can move freely in all directions. That matters for feeding because if a baby has tightness on one side, they might latch well on one breast but struggle on the other. It might not have anything to do with mom at all. It could just be that baby’s little neck or body is too tight to turn comfortably.
Dr. Jess shared that the baby guides every visit. If they want to cry, that’s okay. If they fall asleep, that’s great. If they get hungry, they’ll pause and feed. There’s no rushing. Just meeting baby exactly where they’re at.
Watch the Full Interview
Before I break down the Q&A highlights from our conversation, I want to share the full interview.
If you prefer to listen and watch the conversation unfold naturally, press play below and hear everything directly from Dr. Jess. Sometimes tone and nuance matter, and hearing her explain things in her own words adds a lot of warmth and context.
If you’d rather skim the highlights, keep scrolling. I pulled out the questions I asked and the moments that stuck with me the most.
Q&A with Dr. Jess Roth, Lactation Consultant and Chiropractor
1. What does lactation support look like when it’s combined with chiropractic care?
Dr. Jess explained that her lactation visits always include both chiropractic care and lactation work. As a chiropractor first and lactation consultant second, her approach starts with calming the nervous system before getting into the feeding piece.
Here’s what a typical visit looks like:
- A full health history and conversation about what mom and baby are going through
- Baby latches on right away so Dr. Jess can observe what’s happening
- She then works in some bodywork and chiropractic care to loosen things up
- They’ll often try the other side afterward to see if the bodywork made a difference
She usually starts on the side where baby feeds well, does the bodywork, and then moves to the harder side to see if things improve right then and there.
Dr. Jess also emphasized that lactation support in her practice goes beyond mom and baby. It includes making sure mom’s partner or support system understands how to help, whether that’s providing meals, stepping in with the baby, or simply being present. As a lactation consultant, she sees her role as supporting the whole family.
2. How has becoming a mom shaped your work as a lactation consultant?
Dr. Jess had her lactation certification before her son was born, and she’d always loved treating babies. But going through breastfeeding herself changed things.
She experienced the initial pain. She had to figure out her own relationship with feeding and work through the hard parts. That personal experience opened up a whole new level of understanding for the moms she supports.
Whether a mom is dealing with low supply, pain, a shallow latch, or something else entirely, Dr. Jess said going through it herself made her realize the importance of diving deeper into everybody’s individual experience. It made her a better practitioner, and I believe it.
One thing that also stood out to me is that even though she’s a lactation consultant, she still called in a colleague to help with her own son’s feeding. You can’t fully see what is happening as the one feeding them. She shared that sometimes you need that outside perspective, because there might be one tiny thing that could make everything so much better. I think that’s such an important reminder that asking for help isn’t a weakness. It’s just smart.
3. How does birth impact breastfeeding?
This was one of the most interesting parts of our conversation. Dr. Jess broke down how the type of birth can affect how a baby feeds.
- Vaginal birth: Babies begin practicing sucking movements as early as 14 to 16 weeks in utero. But coming through the birth canal helps those reflexes fully kick in, making it easier to feed right away. The canal also exposes baby to beneficial bacteria, and mom’s colostrum helps protect that gut lining.
- Cesarean birth: Because it’s a sterile environment, baby doesn’t get that same bacterial exposure. Breast milk becomes especially important for introducing good bacteria. Dr. Jess noted that breastfeeding after a cesarean may be more challenging, but many babies still latch just fine.
- Fast delivery: Dr. Jess shared an example of a baby who came out in 40 seconds. That’s a lot of compression all at once, and those babies may need help relaxing and lengthening out afterward.
- Prolonged labor: Hours of compression can leave a baby not wanting to be touched or more frantic at the breast. They may need space and time to calm down before latching.
The encouraging takeaway? Most babies are successful no matter how they’re born. But understanding how birth affects feeding can help you and your lactation consultant figure out the best path forward.
4. What are signs that a feeding issue isn’t just about milk supply?
So many moms (myself included) jump straight to thinking it’s a supply issue. But Dr. Jess shared several signs that something else might be going on:
- Pain during feeding. This is one of the biggest indicators. Whether it’s something happening with mom’s nipple or the baby not getting a deep enough latch, pain is a signal worth paying attention to.
- Shallow latch. This is one of the most common things Dr. Jess sees as a lactation consultant. Baby might not open wide enough, or their tongue might not come out past the gum line.
- Nipple shape changes after feeding. If your nipple comes out looking like a lipstick shape or turns white, that’s not typical and worth looking into.
- Baby is uncomfortable during feeding. Screaming halfway through, popping off during letdown, or seeming generally distressed can all point to something beyond supply.
- A high palate or flatter nipples. These structural factors can affect the latch and are worth having a lactation consultant evaluate.
I shared during our conversation that one of the biggest things I learned with my second baby was the importance of dropping his chin to get a deeper latch. Dr. Jess compared it to drinking from a straw. You don’t sip with your chin tucked down because you can’t suck as well. You open up and then you suck. Same goes for baby. Making sure they’re nice and open really does help the latch.
5. Can chiropractic care help with reflux, gas, and fussiness?
Absolutely, according to Dr. Jess. And she connected it all back to the latch.
If baby isn’t latching well and taking in too much air, that can lead to:
- More spit-up
- Gas and bloating
- Colicky-type symptoms
- General discomfort during and after feeding
Beyond the latch, Dr. Jess explained how chiropractic care works with the body’s nervous system to support digestion. Different areas of the spine connect to different organ systems. The neck and lower back are tied to the body’s rest-and-digest response. So when those areas are addressed through gentle chiropractic care, it can help the body calm down and regulate better.
For reflux specifically, she focuses on softening the diaphragm so it can communicate better with the pelvic floor. When those two areas work together instead of creating pressure against each other, reflux and gas can decrease, and baby becomes more comfortable overall.
And remember, when she says “adjusting” a baby, she means those tiny, gentle motions. Like a baby massage. It doesn’t take much.
6. When should new moms consider seeing a chiropractor?
Dr. Jess broke this down for both mom and baby.
For mom:
It depends on what you’re going through. Dr. Jess herself was back in the clinic three days after giving birth because her tailbone was bothering her. She’s seen moms the day after birth, three months later, and a year later. There’s no one-size-fits-all timeline.
That said, she recommends getting in within four to six weeks postpartum as a general guideline. That way, you can get ahead of things instead of waiting until months of holding, feeding, and hunching over have built up more tightness.
For baby:
If there are nursing struggles, the sooner the better. If you’re struggling on day one, two, or three, don’t wait. Those early days are huge for milk supply.
If baby is feeding well and thriving, Dr. Jess said babies often show their true colors around two weeks. That’s when gassiness or reflux might start showing up. So if nothing is going wrong, two to four weeks is a good time to come in.
If anything concerns you, don’t wait. Getting in early gives your lactation consultant and chiropractor more to work with.
7. What’s one thing you wish every mom knew about lactation support and chiropractic care?
Dr. Jess’s answer here was simple and powerful: your preferences and your goals guide every single visit.
She’s not there to push a specific agenda. She’s focused on making sure you’re comfortable, baby is comfortable, and your feeding relationship is supported. Whether your breastfeeding journey lasts one day, one week, one month, or one year, what matters most is that you’re taken care of and your mental health is a priority too.
As moms, we put so much pressure on ourselves. We think we should be able to do it all, and that it should come naturally. So it’s really nice to know you can walk into a place like Chiro for Moms and just feel supported. No shame. No pressure. Just someone in your corner with real experience and real care.
8. Can you share one powerful moment from your work?
Dr. Jess told the story of a full-term baby who was struggling with the latch. Mom really wanted breastfeeding to work, but baby had a significant tongue tie. His tongue wasn’t reaching the roof of his mouth, he couldn’t latch deeply, and he was arching and uncomfortable.
Dr. Jess identified the tie and did several chiropractic visits to loosen up baby’s body. Mom was nervous about pursuing a tie release, which Dr. Jess completely respected. She’d gone through it with her own son, so they talked through it mom to mom.
After the release, everything changed. Mom’s supply went up. Baby was comfortable, eating well, growing well, and latching without pain.
That stress around the decision makes sense, though. You want to protect your baby. You want to take away the pain. It’s scary, and you’re making big decisions while running on no sleep and a lot of hormones. It’s nice to know you can have that conversation with someone like Dr. Jess and it won’t feel like pressure. It’s more like, “Let’s talk through this. Let me share my experience.” Sometimes that’s all we need.
A Moment That Stuck with Me
At the end of our conversation, Dr. Jess and I talked about something that I think every new mom needs to hear: do less.
Don’t do the laundry. Don’t worry about the dishes. If you can let someone else handle that, let them. The goal in those first couple of weeks is to spend time with your baby.
Snuggle more, do less.
That was one thing I really tried to embrace with my third. The days would fly by because all we did was snuggle, and I’d feel somewhat guilty about it. But then I’d remind myself, “No, this is my job.” I spent all this time making this human, and now I’m going to enjoy him and take care of him and myself.
It goes so fast. Enjoy each moment when you can.
Where to Find Dr. Jess
Dr. Jess Roth is a chiropractor and lactation consultant at Chiro for Moms in Wayzata, Minnesota.
The team at Chiro for Moms is not pressure-based. You don’t need an appointment just to ask questions. If there’s anything you need, just reach out.
- Chiro for Moms Website
- Contact Chiro for Moms
- Chiro for Moms on Instagram
- Chiro for Kidz on Instagram
- Dr. Jess on Instagram
- Pelvic Floor for Moms on Instagram
- Dr. Jess’s Amazon Storefront
A Personal Note from Me
I started the Made for Minnesota Moms series because I kept meeting incredible women doing this work, and I kept thinking, “Why don’t more moms know about this?”
Whether it’s a lactation consultant who also treats the whole body, a resource you’ve never heard of, or just a conversation that makes you feel less alone in the mess of it all, I want to be the friend who passes it along.
My day job is photographing families during some of the most beautiful, chaotic, tender seasons of life. But behind every photo is a mom doing her best with a lot on her plate. And I want to help beyond the camera too.
→ If you’re in the thick of postpartum right now, check out my Postpartum Care Kit. It’s full of small, doable things that can make those early weeks a little easier.
→ If you’re still pregnant and getting ready for baby, my free Minneapolis Pregnancy Guide has local resources and ideas to help you feel more prepared.
→ And if you want more conversations like this one, come join my newsletter. I share helpful tips, local recommendations, and updates from the Made for Minnesota Moms series straight to your inbox.
You don’t have to figure this out by yourself. And you definitely don’t have to do it at 2 a.m. alone with baby and your phone.
If you’re ever ready to capture this season of your family’s story, I’d love to hear from you.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek advice from your physician, midwife, or other qualified healthcare provider with questions about pregnancy, labor, postpartum, or your health.
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