Flowerbud Lactation
Blossom into parenthood with us.
About Us
MEET OUR IBCLC
Amanda Ho, RN, BScN, IBCLC
Hi, I’m Amanda, a Registered Nurse and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with over a decade of experience supporting families through the earliest and often most vulnerable stages of their parenting journey. My passion lies in providing personalized, compassionate care to new parents as they navigate the joys and challenges of feeding and caring for their little ones.
My career began in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where I spent 10+ years working alongside families of premature and medically fragile babies. It was here that I witnessed firsthand the power of breastfeeding—not just as a means of nourishment, but as a profound bonding experience that brings hope and healing to parents facing difficult circumstances. This foundation shaped my deep commitment to helping families overcome feeding challenges with kindness, understanding, and evidence-based strategies.
My Approach
I believe breastfeeding and infant feeding are about more than just latch and positioning. They encompass the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of both parent and baby. My goal is to empower families to create feeding plans that align with their unique circumstances, whether that means exclusive breastfeeding, combination feeding, or pumping.
Many of the families I work with have experienced mental health challenges such as anxiety, postpartum depression, past trauma or PTSD (sexual assault). I understand how these factors can complicate feeding, and I provide a safe, non-judgmental space to address these concerns with sensitivity.
My Specializations
Explore the areas where my expertise shines. Click on each specialization below to learn more.
1. Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) Expertise
With over a decade as a NICU nurse, I’ve supported families through some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Caring for premature and medically fragile babies has shaped my clinical expertise and deepened my understanding of the resilience and love parents bring to their journeys. My specialties include: • Helping parents of preterm or medically complex infants navigate breastfeeding—whether through exclusive pumping, transitioning to oral feeds, or achieving a successful latch. • Creating practical strategies to boost milk supply and establish a feeding routine that fits your family’s needs. • Providing emotional and hands-on support to guide you through the NICU experience and beyond. I’ll never forget working with a mom of a 28-week preemie who felt overwhelmed and unsure if breastfeeding was possible. Together, we developed a plan to pump, store milk, and eventually transition to latching. Seeing her baby take their first full breastfeed was a powerful reminder of why I do this work.
2. Perinatal Mental Health Expertise
Feeding your baby isn’t just a physical task—it’s deeply connected to your mental and emotional well-being. Postpartum life can feel overwhelming, especially when feeding challenges arise. With additional training in perinatal mental health, I support families navigating: • Postpartum depression and anxiety • Emotional wounds from past trauma or PTSD, including birth trauma or a history of sexual assault • The stress of feeding difficulties, such as latch issues, supply concerns, or oral ties As a Registered Nurse (RN), I integrate psychotherapy techniques into my care, in line with the College of Nurses of Ontario’s (CNO) guidelines. This allows me to address mental health concerns while supporting you during your postpartum journey. Your mental health is as important as your baby’s growth. I take a compassionate, gentle approach, meeting you where you are and helping you find a feeding plan that honors both your well-being and your baby’s needs. I recently worked with a mom who experienced a traumatic birth. She was overwhelmed with guilt and struggling to breastfeed. Through weekly visits, we developed a feeding plan that combined breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, focusing on small wins to rebuild her confidence. By the end, she felt proud, in control, and ready to embrace motherhood with a smile.
3. Oral Ties and Feeding Challenges
Working in a specialized tongue-tie clinic has given me advanced expertise in identifying and managing oral restrictions like tongue, lip, and buccal ties. These challenges can feel daunting, but they don’t have to stand in the way of successful feeding. My step-by-step approach empowers families to navigate oral ties with confidence and clarity. Here’s how I can help: • Educating parents on how oral ties impact feeding and overall well-being • Creating personalized plans to improve feeding techniques, even for families who choose not to pursue a release • Preparing babies for release procedures with tailored stretches, exercises, and pre-release care • Providing ongoing post-release support to ensure healing and optimize feeding outcomes I worked with a mom whose baby struggled to latch due to a tongue tie. She was exhausted, in pain, and worried she’d have to stop breastfeeding. Together, we navigated the release process, including pre- and post-care. A few weeks later, she shared, “For the first time, feeding my baby feels peaceful, not painful.” Moments like this fuel my passion for helping families thrive.
Beyond Lactation
When I’m not supporting families, I find solace in my creative outlets, whether it's painting, writing poetry, or hiking in nature. I believe these passions fuel my ability to be present for others, allowing me to bring a calm, balanced energy to my work.
In addition to my professional commitments, I am deeply dedicated to ending Violence Against Women. Through Flowerbud Lactation, I allocate a portion of our profits to support organizations that help women, children, and survivors of violence. This cause is close to my heart, and I am committed to using my platform to advocate for those who have experienced abuse and trauma.
Why Flowerbud Lactation?
The name Flowerbud Lactation holds a deeply personal and symbolic meaning for me. A flowerbud represents potential—fragile yet powerful, waiting for the right nurturing to bloom. Just as every flowerbud carries the promise of something beautiful, every new family holds the potential for growth, connection, and transformation.
In my work, I see the postpartum journey as a tender season, much like the delicate unfolding of a bud. It’s a time of immense change, filled with challenges, resilience, and profound beauty. A bud needs light, care, and the right environment to thrive—just as mothers and babies need compassion, support, and guidance to flourish in their feeding relationship.
Choosing this name reflects my commitment to honoring each family’s unique journey, meeting them where they are, and helping them bloom in their own way. It’s a reminder that even in the hardest moments, there is hope, growth, and the possibility of something extraordinary waiting to unfold.
