Our Team
Michelle Ariante, MA, IBCLC
Hi! I’m Michelle, and I love babies! And food! And feeding the people I love. It is my passion to help parents feed their babies with comfort and ease. I grew up in a big Italian family where food was never just about sustenance. The preparation and serving of meals was always about good nutrition but more importantly about love and connection. For me, infant feeding is the same. It is about nutrition of course, but it is also about love and connection. I want to help you feed and connect with your babies in whichever way works for you all.
After a difficult birth and time in the NICU with my son, Vance, I do not believe I would have successfully breastfed without the help of our IBCLC in the hospital. She advocated for us during a time when I didn’t not have the strength to advocate for myself or my baby. I have gone on to breastfeed two beautiful children until they were ready to wean, despite many obstacles. The joys and struggles of this journey have inspired me to support other families as we have been supported.
Before venturing into the world of private practice, I worked at a high volume not-for-profit outpatient breastfeeding clinic, and in a hospital on the labor and delivery, postpartum, and neonatal intensive care units. As full-time IBCLC I am an active member of the United States Lactation Consultant’s Association, the International Lactation Consultant’s Association, The Pennsylvania Resource Organization for Lactation Consultants, the New Jersey Breastfeeding Coalition, the International Consortium of Ankylofrenula Professionals, the Pediatric and Adult Airway Network of New York, and the American Laser Study Club.
Due to personal and professional experiences I have taken a special interest in infant oral dysfunction, allergies and food intolerances in the breastfed baby, fragile feeders, and have a very special place in my heart for NICU graduates. My personal belief in holistic wellness drives my practice model. Collaborating with a team of providers allows me to address the complexity of each case. When not actively working with families in private practice you can find me lecturing to medical professionals and lay counselors on the topics of infant oral dysfunction, infant-maternal gut health, and jaundice in the breastfed baby.
Before becoming a mother and IBCLC, I enjoyed a career as a biological anthropologist studying the behavioral ecology of non-human primates and indigenous cultures in the rainforests of Central and South America. I now live with my two youngest children in a little beach house at the Jersey Shore.
Laura Sarantinoudis-Jones, BS, IBCLC
Life has truly guided my professional journey, and for that I am most thankful. It has enabled me to see the world from 30,000 feet in the air as a flight attendant, and with the birth of my first daughter Ava, I was immediately grounded when I decided to focus on being a stay at home mom.
My passion for breastfeeding began with my own personal nursing journey: the challenges, the tears, the victories, the uncertainties, and the love. At times it can be very isolating, but this remarkable bonding experience with your baby is something I want to support and help sustain for as many wonderful parents out there as possible. In my experience, our intentions for pregnancy, labor, delivery, postpartum and breastfeeding do not always go according to plan. Breastfeeding can be hard and exhausting, but if you are committed to providing your baby with the best possible nutrition, I am here to support you in your personal journey.
I have now successfully nursed both of my children to term. My perspective, confidence and understanding have helped to guide me in being a more intuitive mother. Not to say we haven't had our challenges because the ability to keep an elementary schooler entertained while feeding an toddler takes talent, energy and a lot of creativity.
I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and member of the New Jersey Breastfeeding Coalition, New Jersey IBCLC Association, and the Pennsylvania Resource Organization for Lactation Consultants. I completed my clinical internship in 2015 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. My personal mission is to empower families, help them to set realistic goals in their breastfeeding journeys, and minimize the stress that comes with new parenthood.
Samantha Battipaglia, MA, CCC-SLP, CBC, IBCLC Candidate
My name is Samantha! I am currently a New Jersey licensed and ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist. I graduated from Stockton University with a BS in Health Science with a concentration in Communication Disorders. I then went on to receive my master’s degrees from Kean University in Speech-Language Pathology. I am also a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist and have been a clinical intern with Lucky Baby since March of 2022. I am excited to sit for the IBCLC board examination in March of 2024.
My career has allowed me to gain experience with so many different populations. I started my career working in public schools where I primarily worked with children with complex educational and medical needs. I then moved on to the private practice and acute inpatient care setting. I currently work with children with articulation/phonological disorders, language disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, and central auditory processing disorders. In the inpatient setting I work with adults with various complex diagnoses such as brain injuries, head and neck cancer, cognitive/memory deficits, motor speech and voice disorders, swallowing impairments, and aphasia.
After becoming a mother to my three beautiful sons, my career has now led me on to the pathway of becoming an IBCLC. Breastfeeding was a complicated journey for me, and I would not have met my personal breastfeeding goals if it were not for the support I received from the lactation consultants I encountered. As a medical professional I am passionate about helping others. As a mother, I am a mom who LOVES assisting other mothers and families achieve their goals. Feeding babies can be a stressful time without the proper help and guidance. I am thrilled to be on the pathway to being able to further assist families on this journey!