Christina Sainato, IBCLC

Welcome to Nourishing Start, your trusted partner in providing caring and professional lactation and infant feeding support in the Maryland/Washington DC area. We are committed to helping families navigate the challenges of feeding their children, offering a range of services tailored to meet your unique needs and goals.

I am Christina Sainato, the founder of Nourishing Start and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Registered Dietitian, and mother of two. I have worked with hundreds of families over the years, providing guidance and support to help mothers breastfeed successfully, solve nutritional challenges, and make family mealtime pleasant and stress-free. My personal experiences have given me a deep compassion and understanding for my clients, and I strive to create a gentle and pressure-free environment in which to address your concerns.

I have over 18 years of full-time experience in maternal/child nutrition and lactation, having worked as a clinical dietitian in pediatrics, PICU, NICU, and outpatient nutrition counseling. I have also served as a Lactation Consultant, Nutritionist, and agency Breastfeeding Coordinator for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program for over 15 years. My extensive background in lactation and nutrition has equipped me with the skills and knowledge to provide evidence-based solutions tailored to your needs.

Nourishing Start offers a range of lactation services, including detailed health and feeding history assessments, discussion of concerns and goals, observation of feeding and/or pumping, pre-and post-feeding weights to measure baby's milk transfer, infant oral assessment, and personalized plans of care. I provide gentle and compassionate support, with your goals guiding our session together. You will receive an electronic copy of your personalized plan of care, one week of messaging or email follow-up, visit reports sent to primary providers, any needed specialist referrals, and, if out-of-network with insurance, a superbill for you to submit for reimbursement.

In addition to in-person lactation visits, I also offer virtual consultations, which are effective in addressing most lactation concerns. For those who prefer the comfort and convenience of their own home, I offer in-home consultations, bringing all necessary supplies and equipment with me. I also provide prenatal consultations, which are an excellent way to prepare for a smooth start to breastfeeding.

Services

• Lactation Visits: Detailed health and feeding history, discussion of concerns and goals, observation of feeding and/or pumping, pre-and post-feeding weights, infant oral assessment, and personalized plan of care.
• Virtual Consultation: Extensive experience providing virtual lactation support through a combination of live video sessions, pre-recorded video clips, photos, and demonstrations with baby dolls and props.
• In-Office Consultation: Held in a private and cozy home office in the Twinbrook area of Rockville.
• In-Home Consultation: In the comfort and convenience of your own home.
• Prenatal Consultation: Prepare for a smooth start to breastfeeding with a prenatal lactation consultation.