About Debbie

After 20 years practicing pediatric speech pathology and running my own practice in Olney and Bethesda, Maryland, I began to refocus my practice to lactation, recognizing that breastfeeding has substantial benefits on a child’s development, especially in the areas of oral motor development, feeding, dentition, learning ability and speech production. Having breastfed my own child, I am aware of the benefits and the challenges of early breastfeeding. Providing guidance and support for breastfeeding is a natural progression. I believe that patience, understanding, and active listening skills are necessary to focus on the mother, her baby and her additional family members. I consider assisting new moms and their babies in the first days, weeks and months on their personal breastfeeding journey to be an honor.

I was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications Sciences and Disorders and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Towson University. I earned a Masters of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology from Loyola University of Maryland. I have dual certification as a certified and licensed Speech Language Pathologist, SLP and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, IBCLC.

I combine pediatric speech pathology skills and lactation skills by weaving my oral motor myofunctional experience into the practice of lactation to enhance a mother’s breastfeeding experience and provide positive breastfeeding outcomes. I have demonstrated proficiencies in neonatal sucking and swallowing assessment and treatment, and feeding treatment for babies born with cleft lip/palate, Down Syndrome, and disorders that may affect early breastfeeding. I have undergone additional training to gain competence to differentiate between normal, disorganized, and dysfunctional sucking patterns in newborns. I use this information to educate parents in suck training, to develop normal/rhythmic sucking patterns. I also offer myofunctional treatment, as a "preemptive" approach to avoid frenectomy when a tongue tie diagnosis has been presented. When frenectomy is deemed necessary, I offer pre-surgical and post-surgical therapy. I provide support for breastfeeding problems caused by hypotonia (low muscle tone), hypertonia (too high muscle tone), and neurological immaturity (seen in pre-term babies).

I have received the American Speech-Language Hearing Association Award for Continuing Education on multiple occasions in recognition of my commitment to continuing professional education. I resigned from my dearly loved lactation position at Virginia Hospital Center in November 2021, to move to Calvert County Maryland with my husband, Kirk.

I spent my summers in Plum Point as a child and young adult. Kirk also loves the Chesapeake Bay. Many are surprised to learn that he lived on a sailboat during his college years and he earned extra money by splicing ropes for a marine store in Annapolis. After college, he sold his sailboat to help pay for law school. Kirk and I have history and a true love for the Chesapeake Bay and the wonderful people of Calvert and St. Mary’s County.