Linn Benton Lincoln Breastfeeding Coalition

Woman with newborn baby

Our Mission: The Breastfeeding Coalition of Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties is a regional collaborative that empowers and educates our community to support families in reaching their breastfeeding goals. Together we are working toward increasing access to lactation resources, improving knowledge of best practices, and enhancing a supportive work and social environment.

Our Vision: A culture that recognizes breastfeeding as the optimum for health and wellbeing.

Linn Benton Lincoln Breastfeeding Coalition Board Members

Leah Brunson BS, IBCLC

Leah Brunson is the Linn County WIC program Coordinator and is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Leah has been serving families in the Linn County WIC program for over 24 years. She is passionate about her work consulting with clients using motivational interviewing strategies to help parents set and meet goals.

In her down time, Leah enjoys yoga, gardening, hiking, and exploring Oregon with her husband and two German Shorthair dogs Molly and Mia.

Megan Dunn, BS, IBCLC

Megan Dunn is a board certified Lactation Consultant and Health Educator who holds a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and Sociology. This educational background informs her understanding of the social and cultural complexities of the feeding relationship. With more than 15 years serving families, her experiences have run the gamut as a volunteer, peer-to-peer counselor, clinical IBCLC, and as an educator for parents and professionals.

Currently, she is the Coordinator for the Breastfeeding and Peer Counseling Programs for Linn County. Her special interests include the fascinating world of our microbiome, empowering parents through Participant Centered and motivational approaches, and creating successful feeding solutions for complex cases. She is eager to collaborate on projects which focus on improving public policy and accessibility to culturally aware and trauma-informed care for all perinatal families.

When she’s not pondering and working on all things human milk, Megan enjoys cooking, hanging out with her teenagers, volunteering, and spinning tunes as a community radio host and DJ.

Shelby Sayer-Cameron

Shelby believes in the power of support and education in motivating and empowering families to make their own best feeding choices for their children. She strives to help mothers build a stronger foundation for child lifelong health by supporting breastfeeding past the first year.

She supported families as a birth doula for several years and currently as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor for Linn County’s WIC program. Shelby is attending PSU’s Human Lactation Program to add to her bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education, and ultimately wants to obtain her IBCLC.

Her hobbies include running, dancing, reading, coaching track, combing the coast, and keeping up with her toddler and son’s sports.

Amanda Wilkerson, BSN, RN

Amanda has been a nurse since 2015 with most of her experience spent in L&D and as a Public Health MCH RN. After making the move to Public Health, she recognized the gap in breastfeeding care that occurs after parents leave the hospital. This created a passion to learn more and to look for ways to help bridge that gap.
As a Family Connects RN who provides in home care, she has a unique opportunity to assist parents with feeding struggles during such a vulnerable time. Her goal is to learn more about breastfeeding support and eventually become an IBCLC to be able to provide that home support.

When not working with families, she loves to spend time with her cats and husband, usually at home on the couch getting snuggles. Her family loves to explore the coast and all that Oregon and the PNW has to offer. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to help our local families and continue learning how to better support our community.

Linn Benton Lincoln Breastfeeding Coalition

Our Mission: The Breastfeeding Coalition of Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties is a regional collaborative that empowers and educates our community to support families in reaching their breastfeeding goals. Together we are working toward increasing access to lactation resources, improving knowledge of best practices, and enhancing a supportive work and social environment. Our Vision: A culture that… Continue reading Linn Benton Lincoln Breastfeeding Coalition

Coalition Meetings

Subject to change, join the email list for the most up-to-date information Dates: January 5th 2023, 3-5pm – Zoom February 2nd 2023, 3:00-5pm – Zoom March 2nd 2023, CANCELED – 1:30pm-3:30pm – Lincoln County – Health Education Center in Newport (Earlier meeting for traveling purposes) April 6th 2023, 3:00-5pm – Zoom  May 4th 2023, 3:00-5pm… Continue reading Coalition Meetings

Black History Month

In honor of our Black parents, I’d like to share the following articles and resources: The B.L.A.C.K. Course – A full-scope lactation and breastfeeding education course made by and for Black People and folks supporting Black breastfeeding. Black History Month 2021 Toolkit Melanated Mammary Atlas – The Melanated Mammary Atlas® is your portal to a… Continue reading Black History Month

What’s an IBCLC?

IBCLC, CLC, CLE…so many letters! What’s the difference? Let’s see if we can break it down to make it a little easier to understand. A couple other articles which may be helpful: Blog post – IBCLC vs CLC – which is better? Why are we asking? CLC scope of practice

Keeping the Holidays Happy

Life with a new baby is exciting and full of new experiences! But the holidays also bring chaos, lots of visits, travel, and stress. Which are the last things that new parents and babies need. When the holiday season rolls around, your family and friends will no doubt be thrilled to include your little one.… Continue reading Keeping the Holidays Happy

Chronic Low Milk Supply (CLMS)

As many as 1 in 7 parents experience chronic low milk supply. An estimated 5-15% of lactating parents experience CLMS (chronic low milk supply). CLMS is associated with many common metabolic and endocrine conditions like: Up to 20% of lactating parents may have PCOS Many parents don’t know why they experience CLMS. There are significant… Continue reading Chronic Low Milk Supply (CLMS)