Welcoming a new baby is a beautiful and busy time. As a newborn photographer based in Manasquan, I’m privileged to capture those first days when your little one is fresh into the world, wrapped in your arms, and filled with potential. During sessions, I often talk with mothers about their early baby‑care journeys—how they’re feeding, resting, and adapting—because those first few weeks set a tone for your baby’s newborn experience and your family’s rhythm.

One of the most meaningful choices you can make is to engage with skilled lactation consultants and breastfeeding support services. If you live in or near Summit, New Jersey, you’re in luck—there are excellent professionals who specialize in helping parents and babies navigate feeding, growth, and comfort with confidence. Let’s explore what to look for, and why choosing expert feeding support pairs beautifully with preserving your baby’s first moments in the studio.

What to Look For in Breastfeeding Support

When choosing a lactation consultant or breastfeeding service, consider these features:

• Certified credentials, such as IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) status, ensuring expert training.

• Support for all feeding paths: exclusive nursing, combination feeding, pumping, or transitioning.

• Services that begin in the prenatal period and continue postpartum, so you’re supported before baby arrives and during adjustment.

• Hands‑on help with latching, positioning, supply concerns, and any infant feeding challenges.

• A gentler, supportive atmosphere where your goals as a mother are respected and partnered with—no guilt, just guidance.

Trusted Lactation Consultants & Services in Summit & Nearby

1. Kathleen Mueller, DNP, IBCLC

Kathleen brings more than 20 years of maternal/child and pediatric health experience. She is an advanced practice nurse and board‑certified lactation consultant who works with families to build feeding success and confidence. Her approach supports not only breastfeeding but every feeding scenario, with individualized care for you and your baby.

2. Breastfeeding Support Program 

Located in Overlook Medical Center, this program offers expert certified lactation consultants who help prenatal and postpartum parents with education, individual visits, and ongoing support. They emphasize helping families during the all‑important early weeks when feeding patterns and baby’s comfort are still forming. 

3. Little Bean Lactation & Feeding 

Though located just a short drive away in Millburn, this practice offers compassionate, hands‑on feeding support including prenatal visits, in‑home visits, and telehealth. Ideal for families who want personalized attention and flexible options. 

4. Branchburg Lactation

This group practice of seven IBCLCs offers home and telehealth visits all over Union County. They focus on prenatal education, latch issues, supply concerns, pump support, and much more. Great for families needing flexible scheduling or specialty support. 

Why Great Feeding Support Matters

Proper feeding support is about more than nutrition—it helps your baby feel secure, comfortable, and bonded with you from the start. When you’re confident in feeding, you can relax a little more, your baby can settle more easily, and your newborn session in the studio becomes a calm, joyful experience rather than stressful.

In my studio in Manasquan, I specialize in newborn portraits—safe, serene, and thoughtfully paced to your baby’s needs. When feeding is going well and baby is thriving, those sleepy settles, sweet stretches, and tender snuggles I capture are even richer. A relaxed parent, a content baby, and the memory of those earliest days—this is what I aim to preserve.

If you’re expecting or your little one has just arrived and you’re in the Summit, NJ area, engaging the right lactation consultant or breastfeeding support service is a wise step toward your baby’s wellbeing and your parenting peace of mind. And when you’re ready to capture those first precious weeks—the tiny hands, the new born gaze, the bond between you and your baby—I’m here in my Manasquan studio to create timeless photographs you’ll cherish forever.

Kristin Baker is a photographer serving Chatham, Scotch Plains, Westfield, Millburn, NJ. Kristin specializes in fine-art newborn, maternity, and family portraiture. Kristin's style is a mix of organic and contemporary, she focuses on muted and neutral tones to create timeless photos that you'll cherish for years to come.

To check out Kristin's newborn portfolio and collections, click here. Booking for newborns is currently open through May 2026 with limited spots available. For more information or to book a session, contact Kristin today!