Vanessa Prinz IBCLC, RLC

KATE MANUSOS RN, IBCLC, RLC

ANDREA PEACH RN, IBCLC, RLC

MEET VANESSA

Hi! I’m Vanessa Prinz, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and owner of VP Lactation Consulting based in the western suburbs of Chicago. As a former IBCLC at a local hospital, I have experience providing both inpatient and outpatient breastfeeding support. In private practice, I have worked with hundreds of families throughout Chicagoland and beyond in the form of in-home, in-office and virtual consultations in addition to teaching breastfeeding classes and facilitating support groups. 

I regularly attend professional breastfeeding conferences and complete ongoing training to keep up with the latest medical research and advances. Additionally, I hold a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; I graduated summa cum laude in 2000. Since I began my career in lactation consulting in 2010, I have cultivated my own network of knowledgeable and experienced medical professionals in various specialties related to breastfeeding. In addition to offering you my own vast experience and resources as an IBCLC, I coordinate with these specialists to ensure that you receive comprehensive care when you need it most. As a mother of four, I understand how important it is to have a village.

I’ve learned that breastfeeding comes more easily to some mothers and babies than others. And most of us need help at some point or another. Just like walking, breastfeeding is instinctive and natural, but getting it right requires patience, practice and perseverance, along with some support and TLC.

I address the individual needs of both mother and baby. I am committed to providing warm, caring and unbiased support to help you reach your breastfeeding goals and enjoy the motherhood journey. Together, we will find a way.

Meet KATE

I’m Kate Manusos, a registered nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. I currently support families during their inpatient stay at a local hospital and have expanded to outpatient support. Seeking new learning opportunities and staying updated on best practices in the lactation community is important to me as there is always space to grow. Fun fact - I found out I passed my IBCLC exam at 38 weeks pregnant and went into labor with my second child a week later!  

I graduated Purdue University (Boiler up!) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2013 and practiced at the bedside for ten years in a Chicago Neonatal ICU - eight of those as a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor. Having a newborn in the NICU is undoubtedly one of the scariest experiences for a new family, but my favorite part of my time there was helping a parent bond with their baby. If they wanted to breastfeed - I was going to find a way to safely support them!

Early in my breastfeeding journey, I felt like no one was really listening to me and understood how much I was struggling.  These experiences shaped my approach: listening to and acknowledging your experience and goals. Your breastfeeding journey is unique to you, and my hope is to give you the strength and confidence to see that you are doing an amazing job for your baby and family.

Meet ANDREA

Hi! I’m Andrea Peach, a registered nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and a mom of two! I bring a unique blend of ten years of clinical nursing experience and my own experiences as a mother. These personal experiences have deepened my empathy for and understanding of each of the families I work with. 

I hold a Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree from Aurora University and spent the majority of my nursing career in Labor and Delivery. I loved being a Labor and Delivery nurse, and believe the only job better than bringing new life into this world is helping mothers sustain their babies' lives through breastfeeding. In addition to outpatient consultations to address breastfeeding challenges, I alsoassist with breastfeeding initiation in the hospital setting. 

As a nurse and mother, I believe strongly in the importance of evidence-based care and continually seek to expand my expertise through ongoing education and professional development. I personally understand the complexities and anxieties that can accompany the breastfeeding journey; it is this that fuels my desire to continually learn. 

My approach is grounded in empathy, compassion, and a commitment to creating a judgment-free space for mothers. Whether you are a first-time mom seeking reassurance or a seasoned parent facing new hurdles, I'm here to provide tailored support and evidence-based guidance to help you achieve your breastfeeding goals. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, I aim to empower mothers with the knowledge, confidence, and resources they need to nurture their breastfeeding relationship with their little ones. Let's work together to reach your goals!

Vanessa’s Breastfeeding Story

With my first child, I got pretty lucky. Breastfeeding came easily, aside from the typical learning curve. The second time followed suit. But my third baby challenged me in ways I hadn’t expected. Although her tongue tie was pointed out to me shortly after birth, I carried on as usual, trying to enjoy breastfeeding my new baby girl as much as I had her two older siblings. At this point, I was already a lactation specialist, so I was determined to make it work despite the obstacles. Feedings seemed to last forever, and my baby appeared eager to nurse almost immediately after finishing. As much as I loved the bonding, I just couldn’t devote so much time to breastfeeding one child when I had two others to care for. At her next weigh-in with the pediatrician, I was disappointed to learn that she’d gained very little despite all the extra time and effort spent breastfeeding. We decided to bring her to a specialist for an oral tie release followed by additional support. It was a process for sure but she began to gain more weight and became much more efficient at her job. Fortunately, my fourth was a pro at nursing...so much so that she never wanted to stop! 

Kate’s Breastfeeding Story

When I had my first son, I thought, “I teach breastfeeding—I should know how to do this!” But it was challenging from the start. I struggled to latch him without intense pain and felt discouraged when told I wouldn’t make it through nighttime cluster feeding. Determined to make it work, I advocated until he received a posterior tongue tie release. My second experience was much smoother, and by my third baby, I thought, “I’ve got this.” But three weeks in, despite good weight gain, something didn’t feel right. The signs were subtle, but I trusted my gut. It turned out my third had a posterior tongue tie and upper lip tie. Seeking support carried me through. With my first, I faced nipple damage, vasospasms, triple feeding, low supply, thrush, and slow weight gain. With my third, we navigated bottle refusal and oral ties requiring a laser release. These experiences taught me that the beginning doesn’t define the whole journey—and that the right support can make all the difference.

Andrea’s Breastfeeding Story

I know firsthand the ups and downs of the breastfeeding journey. When my daughter was born, I thought everything was going smoothly until we faced the unexpected. We faced the challenge of jaundice, hospital readmission, triple feeding, and a shallow latch. It was tough navigating through. At the time, I felt devastated that things were not going as expected. As a labor and delivery nurse, I felt like I knew or should know how to get things started. I thankfully still opted to have a prenatal consultation with an IBCLC, which proved to be invaluable. Throughout my breastfeeding journey, my goals shifted and evolved, from aiming for one year to taking it one day at a time. With my son, I felt much more prepared and knowledgeable, but once again the unforeseen happened. We struggled through reflux, shallow latch, tongue and lip tie, and CMPA among other allergies, leading to colic. Without the unwavering support of my husband and the guidance of an expert IBCLC, our journey could have looked very different. I am forever thankful for the support. Today, I’m proud to say that I’m tandem breastfeeding my 2.5-year-old and my happy 6-month-old. One of my greatest joys has undoubtedly been breastfeeding, and the next best thing is helping others reach their breastfeeding goals.