Meet the Instructors
Leah K. Brown BS, IBCLC
Nurture & Nourish: A Breastfeeding Prep Course
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. My background is in animal care, specific to marine animals. After the birth of my first child, however, I became a stay-at-home momma. Due to my passion for breastfeeding and the miracle that is mother's milk, I pursued the four year long pathway to IBCLC certification. After completing my two year clinical internship in 2016 with Kate, I passed my board exam and was notified of my new IBCLC certification status! A wonderful day! I truly enjoying helping moms and babies with breastfeeding and lactation goals through a variety of support methods. I also enjoy empowering expectant parents by meeting prenatally to discuss goals and "what to expect" from breastfeeding and lactation, in the comfort of their own home.
My husband and I have two beautiful, rambunctious boys. In my spare time I enjoy volunteering for my local Community Pregnancy Center, baking, spending time with my family, watching movies and exploring the outdoors.
Leah provides home lactation consults as well. Click on that tab above for details.
Email: [email protected]
she/her
Nurture & Nourish: A Breastfeeding Prep Course
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. My background is in animal care, specific to marine animals. After the birth of my first child, however, I became a stay-at-home momma. Due to my passion for breastfeeding and the miracle that is mother's milk, I pursued the four year long pathway to IBCLC certification. After completing my two year clinical internship in 2016 with Kate, I passed my board exam and was notified of my new IBCLC certification status! A wonderful day! I truly enjoying helping moms and babies with breastfeeding and lactation goals through a variety of support methods. I also enjoy empowering expectant parents by meeting prenatally to discuss goals and "what to expect" from breastfeeding and lactation, in the comfort of their own home.
My husband and I have two beautiful, rambunctious boys. In my spare time I enjoy volunteering for my local Community Pregnancy Center, baking, spending time with my family, watching movies and exploring the outdoors.
Leah provides home lactation consults as well. Click on that tab above for details.
Email: [email protected]
she/her
Kate Cropp, MSN, APRN, WHNP, IBCLC
Work It Out, Mama!
I am mama to four beautiful children and breastfed for 12.5 years straight, yes, through 3 pregnancies! My husband and I live in Nashville, having moved here in 2004 from Cincinnati, with our kids and a few fur-babies. My childhood was filled with many pregnant and nursing cats and lots of baby dolls in rural Ohio. I was always enamored by pregnancy, birth, and babies. My first job was on a neighbor’s farm as a milkmaid, filling glass bottles with fresh milk for local families. The irony is not lost on me that I have, forever, been surrounded by nursing mamas and lots of milk! I love to hike, identify wild flowers and plants, kayak, and learn about other cultures/cuisines.
I started my career with mamas and babies as a Labor & Delivery nurse. The hospital where I worked in Cincinnati had birth tubs in many rooms and we had nurse-midwives in nearly every practice. Babies stayed with families at all times, even after cesarean section births. So, my entry into the scene of natural birthing came with the territory, even before I was a mother. I quickly decided to go to grad school for midwifery/women’s health while at the same time studying to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. I took both certification board exams within 11 days of each other! It has been my privilege to serve families in a variety of settings: women's & children's hospitals, birth centers, private office, and in their homes. I strive to provide excellence in inclusive and compassionate care to all families.
In 2008, our second son, Elijah, was stillborn at term. He was a perfect, beautiful boy and changed my life in many ways. During maternity & bereavement leave, I decided to leave bedside lactation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center & Children's Hospital and opened a private practice along with a dear friend of mine. It has blossomed into what Nashville Birth And Babies is today! In memory of Elijah, I offer free lactation services to families who have lost their babies or expect their baby to pass. You may take a peek at our birth photos here: www.ElijahPatrick.com
Kate provides lactation consults as well. Click on that tab above for details.
E-mail: [email protected]
she/her
Work It Out, Mama!
I am mama to four beautiful children and breastfed for 12.5 years straight, yes, through 3 pregnancies! My husband and I live in Nashville, having moved here in 2004 from Cincinnati, with our kids and a few fur-babies. My childhood was filled with many pregnant and nursing cats and lots of baby dolls in rural Ohio. I was always enamored by pregnancy, birth, and babies. My first job was on a neighbor’s farm as a milkmaid, filling glass bottles with fresh milk for local families. The irony is not lost on me that I have, forever, been surrounded by nursing mamas and lots of milk! I love to hike, identify wild flowers and plants, kayak, and learn about other cultures/cuisines.
I started my career with mamas and babies as a Labor & Delivery nurse. The hospital where I worked in Cincinnati had birth tubs in many rooms and we had nurse-midwives in nearly every practice. Babies stayed with families at all times, even after cesarean section births. So, my entry into the scene of natural birthing came with the territory, even before I was a mother. I quickly decided to go to grad school for midwifery/women’s health while at the same time studying to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. I took both certification board exams within 11 days of each other! It has been my privilege to serve families in a variety of settings: women's & children's hospitals, birth centers, private office, and in their homes. I strive to provide excellence in inclusive and compassionate care to all families.
In 2008, our second son, Elijah, was stillborn at term. He was a perfect, beautiful boy and changed my life in many ways. During maternity & bereavement leave, I decided to leave bedside lactation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center & Children's Hospital and opened a private practice along with a dear friend of mine. It has blossomed into what Nashville Birth And Babies is today! In memory of Elijah, I offer free lactation services to families who have lost their babies or expect their baby to pass. You may take a peek at our birth photos here: www.ElijahPatrick.com
Kate provides lactation consults as well. Click on that tab above for details.
E-mail: [email protected]
she/her
Lakeshia Foster, BS, MPH, IBCLC
CPR + Choking
I am a Nashville born native located in the Southeast area of Middle Tennessee. Since 2017, I have been a lactation educator and I strive to work with families to successfully meet their breastfeeding goals. My background is in culinary arts due to my passion for cooking. I love creating new recipes with foods that nourish the body inside and out!
My desire to educate started while obtaining my Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition and food science with a concentration in dietetics from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and working as a health educator at MTSU’s Recreation Center. For the past seven years I have worked as a Nutrition Educator and for the last two years, as the Regional Breastfeeding Coordinator for WIC of Davidson County.
During my time at WIC, I was able to work directly in the community, collaborate with non-profit organizations, and provide one-on-one and group lactation counseling. I was also able to expand my counseling skills as a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) and then as an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). In 2020 I obtained a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Memphis.
I mentored with Nashville Birth & Babies to sharpen my skills and hone my craft. I want further expand my efforts to support families, improve maternal and infant care, and increase breastfeeding rates and durations for all in our community.
Lakeshia provides home lactation consults as well. Click on that tab above for details.
Email [email protected]
she/her
CPR + Choking
I am a Nashville born native located in the Southeast area of Middle Tennessee. Since 2017, I have been a lactation educator and I strive to work with families to successfully meet their breastfeeding goals. My background is in culinary arts due to my passion for cooking. I love creating new recipes with foods that nourish the body inside and out!
My desire to educate started while obtaining my Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition and food science with a concentration in dietetics from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and working as a health educator at MTSU’s Recreation Center. For the past seven years I have worked as a Nutrition Educator and for the last two years, as the Regional Breastfeeding Coordinator for WIC of Davidson County.
During my time at WIC, I was able to work directly in the community, collaborate with non-profit organizations, and provide one-on-one and group lactation counseling. I was also able to expand my counseling skills as a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) and then as an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). In 2020 I obtained a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Memphis.
I mentored with Nashville Birth & Babies to sharpen my skills and hone my craft. I want further expand my efforts to support families, improve maternal and infant care, and increase breastfeeding rates and durations for all in our community.
Lakeshia provides home lactation consults as well. Click on that tab above for details.
Email [email protected]
she/her
Bess Greevy MSN, APRN, CNM, IBCLC
Bambino Brigade
I am a lactation consultant, nurse, midwife, and mother. When my oldest child was born, I discovered how much determination, encouragement, and support I needed to succeed in breastfeeding. I want to bring this encouragement and support to other families.
I grew up in a sailing, traveling, military (Navy) family. After college, volunteer service with Americorps brought me to Nashville where I worked as a birth doula and in-home parent educator. Mentoring by birth center Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) propelled me on to my calling as a midwife. Through nursing (BSN, 2004) and midwifery (MSN, 2006) studies at the University of Pennsylvania, I continued working as a birth and postpartum doula providing breastfeeding education and support. As a new CNM at Vanderbilt University, I met Kate and we bonded over a shared passion for lactation (and hiking). I loved enabling families to have safe and fulfilling birth experiences. Helping babies gently enter the world, encouraging skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding initiation. As a midwife I continued lactation support through the postpartum months, often collaborating with IBCLCs. I witnessed over and over again the transformation as families increased in confidence, learning to care for their new child. Real life is messy and parenting has stretched me in ways I never expected, I saw that reflected in these new families too. Returning to professional practice after a season of at-home parenting, I am thankful to have worked for several years as a postpartum, newborn, and lactation RN at St Thomas Midtown. Now joining Nashville Birth And Babies as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), I can’t wait to join you in your home or at the office to answer your baby feeding questions. It is my privilege to help you and your family achieve your personal lactation and parenting goals as you welcome a new baby into your family.
Bess provides home lactation consults as well. Click on that tab above for details.
Email: [email protected]
she/her
Bambino Brigade
I am a lactation consultant, nurse, midwife, and mother. When my oldest child was born, I discovered how much determination, encouragement, and support I needed to succeed in breastfeeding. I want to bring this encouragement and support to other families.
I grew up in a sailing, traveling, military (Navy) family. After college, volunteer service with Americorps brought me to Nashville where I worked as a birth doula and in-home parent educator. Mentoring by birth center Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) propelled me on to my calling as a midwife. Through nursing (BSN, 2004) and midwifery (MSN, 2006) studies at the University of Pennsylvania, I continued working as a birth and postpartum doula providing breastfeeding education and support. As a new CNM at Vanderbilt University, I met Kate and we bonded over a shared passion for lactation (and hiking). I loved enabling families to have safe and fulfilling birth experiences. Helping babies gently enter the world, encouraging skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding initiation. As a midwife I continued lactation support through the postpartum months, often collaborating with IBCLCs. I witnessed over and over again the transformation as families increased in confidence, learning to care for their new child. Real life is messy and parenting has stretched me in ways I never expected, I saw that reflected in these new families too. Returning to professional practice after a season of at-home parenting, I am thankful to have worked for several years as a postpartum, newborn, and lactation RN at St Thomas Midtown. Now joining Nashville Birth And Babies as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), I can’t wait to join you in your home or at the office to answer your baby feeding questions. It is my privilege to help you and your family achieve your personal lactation and parenting goals as you welcome a new baby into your family.
Bess provides home lactation consults as well. Click on that tab above for details.
Email: [email protected]
she/her
Heather Price MA, IBCLC
Pro Parent Support + Education Series
Many people in the Nashville area know me as a childbirth educator and car seat tech (CPST) at the Vanderbilt Birth Center (formerly Baby+Co), as I have worked there since we opened in 2015 and continue to work there part-time today!
I am an educator at heart--my master's is in teaching, and I taught high school English for 6 years before becoming a mom for the first time. Even before my first pregnancy I was curious about labor, birth, and breastfeeding. That curiosity carried me through my first birth in 2012, and two years later I became a childbirth educator and birth doula. One of Kate's colleagues helped me through a very difficult breastfeeding journey with my first child, and Kate helped me with my second child, born in 2015, who had similar challenges! It is Kate's confident, expert guidance that equipped me to reach my breastfeeding goals, and she inspired me to pursue IBCLC certification. I worked through over 1000 contact hours by offering breastfeeding support and education at the Birth Center for five years and interned with Kate from 2019 to 2021, earning my IBCLC certification in December 2020.
It is a joy to support families through a diverse range of feeding experiences and family variations! I especially enjoy helping new parents find their footing when breastfeeding a newborn, guiding parents as they return to work and incorporate pumping and bottles, and supporting parents as they begin the weaning process, whatever that looks like for them.
Outside of work I love gardening, reading, baking, and spending time with my two children and husband.
Heather provides office & home lactation consults as well. Click on that tab above for details.
Email: [email protected]
she/her
Pro Parent Support + Education Series
Many people in the Nashville area know me as a childbirth educator and car seat tech (CPST) at the Vanderbilt Birth Center (formerly Baby+Co), as I have worked there since we opened in 2015 and continue to work there part-time today!
I am an educator at heart--my master's is in teaching, and I taught high school English for 6 years before becoming a mom for the first time. Even before my first pregnancy I was curious about labor, birth, and breastfeeding. That curiosity carried me through my first birth in 2012, and two years later I became a childbirth educator and birth doula. One of Kate's colleagues helped me through a very difficult breastfeeding journey with my first child, and Kate helped me with my second child, born in 2015, who had similar challenges! It is Kate's confident, expert guidance that equipped me to reach my breastfeeding goals, and she inspired me to pursue IBCLC certification. I worked through over 1000 contact hours by offering breastfeeding support and education at the Birth Center for five years and interned with Kate from 2019 to 2021, earning my IBCLC certification in December 2020.
It is a joy to support families through a diverse range of feeding experiences and family variations! I especially enjoy helping new parents find their footing when breastfeeding a newborn, guiding parents as they return to work and incorporate pumping and bottles, and supporting parents as they begin the weaning process, whatever that looks like for them.
Outside of work I love gardening, reading, baking, and spending time with my two children and husband.
Heather provides office & home lactation consults as well. Click on that tab above for details.
Email: [email protected]
she/her
