Client Testimonials
Basking Babies has had the pleasure of getting to help many families in many different ways! Below are a few "thanks yous" received from moms and dads that have appreciated our support along the way
THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, Angela. You worked with my daughter and I, multiple times, through a very rough postpartum period and I can honestly say are the sole reason that I am was ever able to breastfeed my daughter for an entire 17 months! In those beginning days, with mastitis, nipple damage, low supply, on top of other huge physical and emotional stressors, it seemed like breastfeeding was one more thing we were going to have to give up and it wasn’t going to work but YOU gave us the tools and gave me the greatest gift of being able to provide for her in a way no one else could and a bond/memories that I will treasure forever. Thank you again! In addition, you sparked a passion and turned this cold ICU nurse’s heart soft, as I now work as a perinatal nurse with aspirations of becoming an IBCLC in the future.
Hi Angela I'm rarely on facebook anymore, but my littlest one is 16 months this week and we are still happily nursing. Our last baby stopped at 15 months on his own, and so this is such a fun little milestone after all you helped me through to even get a supply. Thanks for all you do!
Thank you Angela, for your help given to our daughter as she became a mother unexpectedly. Working with you before the arrival of our granddaughter gave Sarah the confidence and support to begin breastfeeding with success. Your follow-up visits were exactly what she needed. You gave Sarah thorough, sound, guided support to troubleshoot initial challenges that can discourage new moms. Years of experience, a broad depth of knowledge, and a passion for helping new moms set you apart as a professional who knows how to help moms of all kinds begin and continue breastfeeding. Both our daughter and our granddaughter have benefited from your expertise! Thank you!
Just wanted to thank you for as great as you were with me when I was a disaster. I would probably have given up if you weren’t as supportive and comforting as you were. I am happy to say for the first time ever, this morning I pumped over an ounce and that has been a huge goal of mine since I’ve had to redefine success. I’m thrilled with it and so proud. Thanks so much!
I wanted to take a moment and send you a note. After a few weeks at home with our daughter I realized we were at an impasse and worried she was getting too used to the ease of a bottle - at which case I called you. You immediately knew how to help her associate my breast with milk and helped us with the most successful nursing session we had ever had that day. From that moment on we never had trouble again I remember you asking me what my goal for breastfeeding was and I said, "as long as I can" - imagining we'd make it to 4-6 months and be done. Your response, however was, "for 12 months?" and I remember thinking that seemed impossible at the moment. Now, as her first birthday is looming on the calendar and we are still nursing 3 times each day - and lots and lots of pumping in between - I cannot thank you enough for the gift you gave the two of us. The bond we created throughout these past 11 month as we struggled at first, figured it out together, worked through mastitis, travel for work, late nights, early mornings, daycare, first teeth and all has been one of the greatest joys of motherhood. Knowing I was able to provide this for the first year of her life is something I will forever treasure. THANK YOU for all you did for us and for all the other struggling women. Without your help I could have missed out on this amazing experience to bond with my baby, keep her healthy and provide her with the best possibly start as I possible.
Angela of Basking Babies is a treasure to any mother breastfeeding, pumping or just looking for nutritional direction. She applies a hands on approach. She offers real facts and calculations to work with tailored to you and baby. Breastfeeding is beautiful and hard! Angela will provide the positive support every mother deserves. My husband was also greatly comforted by Angela's advice and confidence in our efforts. She will stay on my speed dial while we continue this journey. We greatly appreciate all she did for us and would recommend her to any friend. Just wanted to say thank you for all the support provided to me as a new mother and new to breast feeding. You were extremely professional and put me at ease and made breast feeding possible, for that I am very thankful. You are such a blessing to new mothers who are struggling! I recommend your services to all new mothers I know. |
Thank you so much for all the help and guidance you have provided us. There is no way we would have made it 5+ months providing breastmilk to these boys without your help! If there is anything I can ever do to help out, let me know, especially with your milk for multiples class. There just isn't enough good information locally on carrying and giving birth to twins and your class helped me so much!
Just wanted to let you know that we have gone two weeks without the shield (Evelyn is 12 weeks today). During that time, she has nursed under a variety of challenging circumstances without any issues. I think it's safe to say that we are free from the shield. We've even graduated to nursing lying down at night! What a change from just a few weeks ago when I was so frustrated, sitting up fiddling with a shield in the dark. Just wanted to thank you again and share our success story so you can use it as encouragement for women who think it might be too late to resolve their breastfeeding issues.
We just got your Happy New Year card in the mail. Thanks so much! It was a pleasure working with you the end of last year. Landry has been doing great and we've been exclusively breastfeeding ever since our appointment with you - no problems.
It was one year ago today that you came to my house and helped my premature baby learn to eat! What a calming, reassuring presence you were to us that day in the midst of all our fears and concerns! Your work has been such a blessing to us as my daughter and I are able to continue breastfeeding into her first year. I tell everyone about Basking Babies and the positive impact you have had on us. Thank you and have a happy new year!
I recommend you all the time:) you have saved many momma's sanity and made it possible for them to breastfeed! You are a huge asset to our community, I hope you know that! We celebrated a big milestone yesterday, thanks in large part to you!! Bella and I have been nursing for one whole year, with no signs of stopping. Shortly after we visited you, she had her last bottle of formula and we haven't needed to supplement in 11 months. After 5 much less successful breastfeeding experiences, I am beyond thankful to still be doing so well. Thank you so much for all that you do; I recommend you to every nursing mom I know. My sister in law visited you recently too, and I know you were a great help to her as well. I felt so comfortable and well cared for with you. God bless you, Angela!! We have had success! He deep latched and everything! Thank you for everything. It helps my confidence to know I will be able to feed him. Hi Angela! I thought I would let you know Paige is doing awesome and it was just a matter of growing as we have been on to a great routine the last month and a half. She is in the 75% for weight and has grown 3 inches!! I refer you often and am so happy we were able to meet and you helped me mentally and physically with our feeding! Thanks again |
The class at the hospital was good. The LC after he was born helped. But having you come was a game changer!!!
Thank you Angela. Would not have made it a month with out your help. You are helping so many mamas have babies that grow up to be big and strong, and are cultivating empowered and confident women through your career path. Thank you.
I just wanted to thank you again for coming to my house on such short notice and helping me and my family with breastfeeding. I am no longer tearing up with pain and that is a WONDERFUL thing! Thank you so much!
Angela, I wanted to thank you so much for all of your help on the day you visited us at my house. You really made me feel so much better and giving me a plan gave me hope that I would still be able to nurse my daughter despite so many early bumps in the road. My daughter turned one a few weeks ago and we are still nursing although starting to slowly wean. I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping us out and making things seem way less overwhelming.
Thanks so much for the words of encouragement! People tell you this is hard but you have no idea until you have a baby! I'm just so glad we asked for help right away and got some answers and a plan to follow to try to do what's best for our baby and our family!
I just wanted to express my gratitude for being a part of preparation and the first few weeks of our little ones life. This was our first child and although there weren't any foreseeable concerns for breastfeeding- I reached out to Angela to express my interest in using her services. immediately, she made sure I was aware of all the free resources in town- even referring me to some. I was shocked that someone would be so kind to make sure my money was well spent. After that and a great phone discussion, I knew she was someone I would want part of my support team. Every single time, we met was helpful, reassuring, and she checked in often to make sure me and my little one we achieving a successful feeding relationship. Her tips and tricks were incredibly helpful. It was important for my spouse to be included and help where he could with feeding. She made it a point to make sure he too felt engaged and was able to help out where he could- which made breastfeeding not just a relationship between me and my daughter but for all of us. I should also add that throughout our meetings she continued to refer me to other services and providers in town- lactation and other new mom support. Thank you Angela so much for all your support, knowledge, and positive energy. We can't say enough about how happy we were to have you a part of our support those first few weeks.
I am so grateful to have met you and received guidance from you! Support from others is essential and I'm thankful for the tools and information you have provided me with. You helped me overcome so many challenges (incorrect...and unnecessary use of a nipple shield, cracked and bleeding nipples, nipple and breast pain, poor latch, tongue and lip ties, reoccurring plugged ducts, and oversupply). You prepared me and provided me with information on the ties, the revision process, and the support to follow up with a pediatric dentist. Following the tongue and lip tie revisions you helped me with getting a better latch and made sure that we were on the right track. You have made a difference in our lives and I will forever be grateful to you for that! Breastfeeding has been challenging at times but completely worth it and very rewarding. I'm so glad that I stuck with it! I will continue to pass your name onto other mothers (as was done for me).
We had such a great experience with Angela, it was so helpful to have an experienced professional coach us explicitly and in the comfort of our home. The results were quick to manifest, and within weeks my wife was enjoying feedings. As a husband, I cannot imagine a more valuable service. I just wanted to say thank you again! I used to get about 2.5 ounces in a day with 3 pumping sessions with my oldest son, and now after everything with you, I have been able to pump 6 ounces in the same amount of time! |
As you are well aware I was quite distraught when I came to you, crying most feeding sessions myself with an upset baby who also cried and wouldn't feed for more than a few minutes. I was on the verge of considering exclusive pumping which was NOT what I wanted out of breastfeeding! In a very short time (1 week!!) we were able to get to consistent, 10-20 min feedings that ended in a happy baby and a happy mom too. Your help on my oversupply as well as my baby's reflux was amazing. Three days after starting to use some of those tools, he slept for a 5 hour stretch for the first time ever. In 6 weeks we had barely had a 2-3 hour stretches with some days and nights him barely sleeping and fussing all night long. Thank you again for your help!!
Just wanted to say thank you for all your help with breastfeeding. Little Scarlett is solely breastfed these days !!! (Just to remind you of our situation ... Difficulty getting her to the breast, low supply, she finally liked the breast but didn't transfer much milk, TONS of pumping, bottle feeding...) Didn't know if this would ever happen and could not be happier about it. Would not have gotten here without your support and advice. I brought her in for a weight check on 3/9 and she had gained 18 oz in 2 weeks. Thanks again!!!
Phenomenal service! Basking Babies gave be such peace of mind. My babe is 5 days old and I've been concerned with his wets and dirties and my milk coming in and being transferred to the babe, etc. I was shown a few techniques and given information that is invaluable and I will have for the rest of my time nursing. You can't put a price on that! I explained my situation and was visited today even though there wasn't room her schedule. I truly felt cared for and was in very competent and knowledgeable hands. Best money I've spent! Thank you!
Thank you so much for your time spent with us and your knowledge on how to handle the acid reflux situation. Ever since changing positions for nursing, he has done much better. I look forward to talking with you again. It would be so great if your job included coming home with me! It would be SO much easier and you make everything seem like a piece of cake!! hahaha :)
We did it!!! Nursing without a shield. He is 6 weeks old today and finally figured it out. Before he wouldn't latch without the shield and then once he would the latch was awful and so painful and then finally today he has done all feedings with no shield, no pain, and no bottle to supplement after feedings. I couldn't be more excited!
Yesterday Alex nursed 2 different times without the shield and was content with no bottle after. My husband rented a scale and we tried it this morning with his second feeding, which also needed no shield, he took 72 ml in 40 min. My breast feel more empty now than ever after pumping, which seems odd because I usually get more milk when I pump, but I have noticed a decline in my supply since cutting the Fenugreek so hopefully my body will respond to him and start producing more. I know I need to improve his latch because it is slightly painful, but that we can work on. I can't believe he just finally got it. We have a ways to go until he is really good at nursing without the shield, but what a huge improvement. I know I couldn't have done this without you. I would have given up 2 weeks ago if I hadn't had your encouragement and support. Thank you for all you've done for us!
My breastfeeding journey has not been easy, quite frankly it was a hot mess. When I called Angela the first time I was so lost, insecure & in a very low place in my breastfeeding journey. I had no idea how to get through it & she came to my rescue. I don't know where I would've ended up, but I know that it wouldn't have been where I wanted to be. She took the time to really understand what was going on with me, my son & how we fit together. It meant so much to me. She gave me lots of options & made me feel really comfortable about finding the right path for us. The support she's given me over the last couple of weeks has been priceless. I couldn't have done this without her. Her knowledge, support and kindness is unparalleled. I genuinely feel so lucky to have found her & am grateful everyday for it. She was able to help me feel comfortable with the plan we chose and how to move forward. Thank you Angela for everything you do!
I feel as though I cannot say thank you enough for all the guidance and help you have offered me over the years. Your insight and guidance over the years is invaluable. I feel as though I owe much of time nursing to you. Thank you for also being there for my husband and I when he needed you for medical advice. I am more than happy to help promote your business and the amazing person that you are in order to help other moms on their nursing journey
You helped me out so much...so I truly feel you are a vital piece of our success so I always want to share with others.
I want to share a highly positive experience I had yesterday with Angela Bigler Swieter at Basking Babies. I gave birth to twin boys on December 24. Before they were even born, I had my mind set that I would exclusively pump and bottle feed my boys, as I thought that would somehow be easier than breastfeeding. At first, everything was going great and I was producing about 40 oz/day. Then I ran into mastitis and it cut my supply drastically down to about 15-20 oz/day. I manage...d to get it back up slightly to 20-25 oz/day, but this obviously isn't enough to feed my boys so we were supplementing with more formula than I preferred. I tried literally almost everything and was not seeing positive results so I contacted Angela strictly to help me with my pumping. She asked if I was interesting at all in bringing baby to breast and with no hesitation, I said no to her on the phone. At this point, the boys are 9 weeks old and we have our routine. After thinking about it, I decided to let Angela know that I would like to attempt breastfeeding at the appointment I had setup with her. I wasn't getting my hopes up for success as they had been bottle fed for so long already. Nevertheless, we went to our appointment yesterday and Angela talked with me about the expectations I had for her services. I was still hesitant about the breastfeeding, but we gave it a shot. She was able help me get both boys to successfully latch and transfer milk! Even better, I was able to pump more milk following their feeding than I typically do in a full pumping session! Over 24 hours later, the twins and I continue to have a positive experience with breastfeeding and I am beginning to see positive results with my supply. Not only did Angela exceed my expectations with her services, she gave me the confidence to know that it's never too late to start breastfeeding successfully. I am excited to have started this rewarding journey with my twins and cannot be more grateful for Angela!
What wonderful products you make! The Breast Balm was literally a nipple saver and it worked in less then a day. I want the world to know how awesome it is!
One year! One year! For those of you that have an idea of what I've gone through to make it this far, you will understand my elation. Breast feeding was never easy. With my first, I produced barely 40 percent on a good day of what he needed. This little guy (my second), he's had all momma milk! Thank God for Angela Bigler Swieter with Basking Babies. She worked with me through both kids. With this little guy, she helped establish good tissue, helped bring him into the world, and made his very first latch when I was too shaky to do it. It hasn't been easy... my medical problems that supply so challenging, tongue tie and lip tie, cst work, clogged ducts... I could go on. Plus, being a former low supply mom, there are mind games too. She's been there through all of it! Angela , you always have a special place in our hearts.
Angela I so appreciate your advice and wisdom!!! Honestly I would have been done breastfeeding at like 2 months if it wasn't for you. Now here I am pushing the 6 month mark and still nursing my baby some!
I have insufficient glandular tissue which makes it impossible for my body to produce the breast milk that he needs so we supplement with donated breast milk. Right now I am making about half of the milk he needs. I struggled to breast feed my first child not knowing what was the reason. I took tons of herbs, prescription pills (27 total pills per day to be exact) and lived on my pump only to produce a tiny amount. I mainly supplemented with her. That was my focus. I got consumed. I got mad at my baby and mad at myself because I had no idea why I could not do what most women could. We made it to 4 months before it got to be too much with returning to work full time I could just not keep up doing what i was doing. This time around things started off similar. I knew that I was not making what he needed I just had no idea how much I was making or even why I could not provide the milk my baby needed. I have wonderful friends that purchased me a gift certificate to see Angela of basking babies. She explained what was going on, Helped us with a plan and has encouraged us every step of the way and reminded me that even though I cannot make all of what he needs he is still getting some milk from his momma which means so much. It was a wonderful experience and because of her I can now see us breast feeding long term. I now use an SNS with every feeding to supplement. I do wish that it were easier and I could just latch baby on anywhere and feed him without needing extra supplies. It's not the easiest way to do things but I am very proud of myself that my baby has not had an artificial nipple. This is how I feed my baby.
You are so awesome at what you do and so passionate and kind it's refreshing! Without your help, I doubt I would have made my 1 year goal in nursing....I will have met that goal in 18 days!!! :-)
Your services to us were like hitting the lottery for breast feeding. We are very grateful for you. Thank you.
I went in for my daughter’s 4 month Doctor's appointment and found out she had only gained 3 ounces since her 3 month appointment. Her pediatrician didn’t seem overly concerned but wanted me to try and feed her few more ounces of breast milk in a day and come back in 3 weeks to see if she had grown. I took it upon myself to reach out to Angela with Basking Babies to make sure there wasn’t an underlying issue that was causing the lack of weight gain.
During my visit with Angela, we weighed my daughter, I fed her, and then we weighed her again to get an idea of how much milk she was getting when she nursed. This helped gauge about how many feedings she should be getting in a day. After doing all the calculations, Angela advised that she actually needed 7-8 feedings a day in order to be getting enough breast milk for her age/size. Angela and I came up with a plan to get her these extra feedings. I added in an extra bottle at daycare, a feeding right before I went to bed, and a dream feed around 2-3 in the morning. Within 5 days, my daughter had gained 6 oz. I also started pumping 4 times a day at work instead of 3; however, I decreased my pump time so in the end, I am spending the same amount of time pumping at work. I also increased the amount of Fenugreek I take to 4 pills 3 times a day and I now take 3 Blessed Thistle pills 3 times a day. Another thing I added was Moringa which is the main ingredient in Go-Lacta. I take 1 ½ teaspoons of this per day which is 3 grams (the recommended dosage per Go-Lacta’s website). I have definitely seen an increase in my supply within a week after making all of these changes. My daughter is happier than ever and I owe a big thanks to Angela!!!
Thank you so much!!! I watch all of the amazing things you do with mammas and babies, and it is so wonderful! You have blessed my life tremendously with your love for your work and your encouragement to me personally! I'll never forget my first support group meeting! You were teaching and you complimented how beautiful I looked days after having my first baby. It always stayed with me! That little comment made me ( a tired new mommy) feel like a million bucks!! Thank you for that all all of the support and education over the years!!
I can't thank you enough!! You seriously calmed my nerves so much and had such wonderful input and advice!! Thank you so much for your time and expertise!!! Emily and Hazel
Sent via email on April 15, 2013 from a Des Moines area midwife:
I want you to know...I am so grateful that you are in our community! I LOVE it that you are doing what you are doing!....and am SO COMFORTABLE with sending you moms!
Sent via email from a mom who responds better to breastfeeding then pumping and needed to do more breastfeeding and less bottles at daycare:
I just wanted to say thank you for our conversation yesterday. I spoke to daycare and they are okay with stretching out that last bottle. SR
Posted on FB page on March 22, 2013 by a Certified Nurse Midwife
Hello, all! I just accompanied one of my new post-partum moms to an appointment with Angela at her office in Altoona, Iowa - for support and instruction on getting that latch right! This is Sarah's 3rd baby and BFing in her first two babies was challenging - so Mom & Dad were nervous this time! The visit was very gratifying for Mom! - Dad relaxed as Mom relaxed, and baby relaxed, too! Oh My Goodness! It is wonderful to have Angela's practice available - and her passion and expertise are a gift! If only we could clone her and have lactation support like hers in every neighborhood! -Dana Ericson, CNM, MidwifeandDoula.com
FOLLOW UP NOTE ON MARCH 25, 2013
Follow up note! Things are going VERY well for little guy and his Mom after the visit with Angela Friday morning!!! Everything feeling better! Keep up the good work, Angela! and THANK YOU! - Dana
From a mom who had a prenatal visit/plan-making session with Angela:
I just wanted to thank you again for what you do! I'm very encouraged that I'm going to be as ready as possible to attempt successful breast feeding of this second baby. Thank you for all the wonderful tips, and for making me feel so comfortable with whatever the outcome... I will be in touch once we are home and settled. And if I'm having any frustration or confusion I will be sure to call on you sooner!
Thank you again for what you do, I know it's going to make my experience this time around better! KS
From an ER nurse who works for the largest birthing hospital in Iowa.
You are truly a blessing to us nursing moms and AMAZING at what you do. It is so great to know there is help out there where you don't have to wait 2 weeks because for a new nursing mom 2 weeks can make or break you. Thanks for all you do! You are wonderful!
From other moms:
Angela is the reason I was able to nurse by child for an entire year, after having a bi-lateral breast reduction years ago. She is tuned in to a mother's needs and baby's demands and takes every bump in the road in stride. She truly lives by what she practices and teaches parents and was fundamental in my pregnancy and many months after. My family has nothing but gratitude for this professional and passionate woman.
I attended Angela's class after I had been back to work for a week. Wonderful resource! Moms it is hard enough to go back to work, throw pumping into that and I guarantee some tears. I learned a lot at the class and recommend all moms who plan to return to work and will be pumping attend! Angela is a great resource and I've already had to email and call her since the class! Breastfeeding my son for a minimum of one year is super important to me and pumping at work is a huge part of that. Thanks for putting on this class!
I think about you often and I've been thinking about you extra this week as I'm trying to prepare to wean. I've introduced cow's milk but he still prefers the real deal and isn't real impressed with the substitute. My goal was always to nurse him for a year but when he was a week old I never would have dreamed it would be possible to make it that long. At this point we've made it and it looks like he won't be giving it up anytime soon. I am so thankful for your help in those early days. Before being a mom I took breastfeeding for granted and assumed it was something easy enough that anyone who wanted to could do it. I now know I could not have met my breastfeeding goals without the great support that I was blessed to get and I'm so thankful to you.Thanks so much, Angela! I think what you are doing is awesome. I so wished we could have made it to a Basking Babies Buffet this year. I enjoy the pictures and stories from them. Thanks again for everything! Take care!
Thanks so much for being passionate and knowledgable about what you do. You've been a blessing to our family and I have already talked to several new breastfeeding moms about you in the WDM area. Don't be surprised if you hear from some more ladies. Tara
Thank you again for the phone consultation and the information. I think I am in the mend and luckily still no symptoms in my daughter. Thanks again! Also, I really like your website. Very informative! Melissa
Thank you so much for coming out to the house. I had almost two successful weeks of breastfeeding before Lily began to have problems. I had become very frustrated and in tears almost every night after watching my baby choke and scream all day after every feeding. Our breastfeeding session has left my baby with a full belly and a happy mom. Thanks so much! You are truly a blessing to all of new parents! T.W.
Hey Angela I just wanted to say thank you for all of your help, after nearly 3 months we are FINALLY yeast free. You are a wonderful person and great at what you do, if I had not come to see you I think I would have given up breast feeding all together. Thanks again for your help, this is definitely not something I wish to go through again. -Tanya
When I was ready to give up, you worked hard to help me figure it out. You followed up with me with phone calls, and understood how important it was for me to solve the problem so that I could continue breastfeeding. I didn't think that I would need the help of a lactation consultant (especially since I had already nursed two other children for a year each!), but I'm so glad that I called you. I would definitely recommended you to ANYONE having any breastfeeding issues, and not just at the beginning stages. The small consultation fee was well worth it, and I wish I would have saved my time and money spent prior to that and just called you in the first place! Thank you, Angela!! K.O.
I feel like we owe a lot of our breastfeeding success to your initial help! I'm really grateful, having a brief conversation was exactly the reassurance I needed those early days. -Maggie