Business Details
8 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Expert Lactation & Infant Feeding Support in Rockville, MD
Founded in 2012, Nourishing Start has dedicated itself to providing compassionate, evidence-based lactation and infant feeding support to families in the Maryland/Washington DC area. Our founder, Christina Sainato, brings over 18 years of clinical expertise as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Registered Dietitian, combining her professional credentials with firsthand parental experience to address breastfeeding challenges, nutritional concerns, and family mealtime dynamics. We prioritize personalized care, offering in-home, office, and virtual consultations tailored to each family's unique needs while maintaining partnerships with pediatricians and specialists for comprehensive support. Our services are designed to empower parents through education, practical solutions, and ongoing follow-up, ensuring confidence in infant feeding decisions. With a focus on accessibility, we accept major insurance plans and provide flexible scheduling options, including urgent care availability.Our commitment to quality care is reflected in our clients' success stories, demonstrating measurable improvements in breastfeeding outcomes and family well-being. We continuously update our practices through advanced training, including current participation in a pediatric food allergy certification program. Operating from a client-centered philosophy, we respect individual feeding choices while applying rigorous clinical standards. Our practice environment - whether virtual, office-based, or in-home - maintains a warm, nonjudgmental atmosphere to foster trust and open communication. This combination of technical expertise, empathetic service delivery, and community engagement has established Nourishing Start as a trusted resource for infant feeding support in the region.
Services
Lactation Visits
Virtual Consultation
In-Office Consultation
In-Home Consultation
Prenatal Support
Nutrition Counseling
Food Allergy Management
Details
- Year established: 2018
Highlights and features
- Over 18 years of clinical experience in maternal/child nutrition
- Offers in-home, office, and virtual consultation options
- Accepts major insurance plans including Aetna and Blue Cross
- Provides 24/7 urgent care availability for critical situations
- Personalized care plans developed with evidence-based research
Associations and certifications
- International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE)
- Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
What people say
Kind and compassionate
Knowledgeable expertise
Supportive nonjudgmental approach
Timely responsive communication
Life-changing breastfeeding support
Services
Lactation Visits
Comprehensive lactation consultations include feeding history analysis, oral assessments, and personalized care plans. Our IBCLC-certified specialists observe feeding patterns, provide weight measurements, and develop customized strategies for successful breastfeeding. Each session includes follow-up communication and coordination with pediatricians for optimal infant nutrition outcomes.
In-Home Consultation
Private lactation support in clients' homes with full equipment access. Includes mobile baby scale, personalized demonstrations, and immediate environment-specific solutions. Available with additional travel fees beyond standard service areas. Combines clinical expertise with comfortable setting for effective breastfeeding guidance and troubleshooting.
Virtual Consultation
Remote lactation consulting using video technology and multimedia resources. Ideal for follow-up care and non-urgent concerns, this service includes demonstration techniques, photo/video analysis, and digital care plans. Particularly effective for established feeding routines requiring minor adjustments or educational support.
Prenatal Consultation
Specialized sessions for expectant parents covering breastfeeding fundamentals and challenge prevention. Focuses on high-risk pregnancies, previous breastfeeding difficulties, and specific medical conditions. Includes personalized birth plans, feeding strategies, and postpartum support planning to ensure successful early breastfeeding experiences.
Nutrition Consultation
Expert advice on infant and toddler nutrition, including solid food introduction and allergy management. Addresses vegetarian diets, picky eating, and weight gain concerns through evidence-based strategies. Delivered via virtual platform with personalized follow-up resources for ongoing nutritional support.
People
Christina Sainato
Founder & Lead Lactation Consultant
IBCLC-certified lactation consultant with 18+ years in maternal/child nutrition. Former WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator and NICU dietitian. Holds MPH from UCLA and specializes in food allergies. Combines clinical expertise with personal parenting experience to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care.
Questions
Do you accept insurance for lactation services?
We are in-network with Aetna, BCBS, Carefirst, Cigna, and United Healthcare. Tricare covers office/virtual visits only. All other plans receive superbill for potential reimbursement.
What areas do you serve for home visits?
We serve Montgomery County including Rockville, Bethesda, and Silver Spring. Additional travel fees apply beyond our standard service zones for home visits.
How can I book an urgent appointment?
Text us directly for urgent situations to check cancellation availability. We prioritize urgent cases across all consultation formats - virtual, office, and home visits.
What services are available for food allergy concerns?
Our specialized nutrition consultations address food allergies through evidence-based strategies. We provide guidance on allergen introduction, reaction management, and dietary adjustments for infants and toddlers.
Do you offer prenatal lactation education?
Yes, our prenatal consultations prepare parents for successful breastfeeding. We cover latch techniques, milk supply concerns, and create personalized feeding plans for high-risk pregnancies or previous breastfeeding challenges.
Reviews (4)
Abby Schmidt
Sep 14, 2021
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Christina was an amazing consultant! I was having a difficult time with breastfeeding and feeling discouraged about the process. She responded extremely promptly and drove to my town for an in person visit within just a few days. She was caring, patient, understanding and so informative about the feeding questions I had. I honestly felt more confident and relaxed about breastfeeding after one session. Would highly recommend to anyone in the DMV area!
Stephanie Rademeyer
Jan 31, 2020
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I booked Christina for her lactation services and she was incredibly helpful. She gave me a ton of breastfeeding tips that made a huge difference when feeding my little one. By my baby's two week checkup with his pediatrician, he had gained an entire pound from his birthweight, after losing 12oz during his hospital stay!! Needless to say, I would highly recommend her services.
Patrice Jones
Nov 25, 2019
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Christina is kind and caring and extremely knowledgeable. She is well worth the money as an IBCLC. If you are wondering if it is worth spending the money to get some help - dont hesitate. You will be so much better off after meeting with her.
Dotti Ozolins
Sep 11, 2019
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Christina was amazing in helping my daughter and I in our breastfeeding journey! She was knowledgeable and helpful, was able to diagnose the problems that we were having, and helped us come up with solutions that would work best for our family. Later she checked with us to find out how we were progressing. She was attentive and compassionate and Im so thankful for all the help she could provide us!
