20: The Truth About Infant Feeding and Why Parents Deserve Better with Valana Frohardt

What if we stopped accepting pain and shame as part of feeding our babies? In this intimate and eye-opening episode, Stephanie is joined by Valana Frohardt, a Denver-based lactation consultant and PA, who shares how her personal and professional experiences have shaped her mission to support birthing people with compassion and clarity. Together, they challenge the outdated narratives around breastfeeding and infant feeding, especially the unspoken expectation that parents should just "figure it out."Valana dives into the emotional toll of unsupported feeding journeys, the gaps in medical training around lactation, and why trauma-informed care is essential in this space. Whether you're a new parent, a provider, or someone who simply wants to better understand the postpartum experience, this conversation will leave you feeling more informed, more empowered, and deeply seen.About Valana: Valana Frohardt is an experienced medical provider, lactation consultant, and the owner of Feed & Flourish in Denver, CO. She loves helping moms and babies learn to breastfeed, and supporting women in their recovery after birth. Valana offers lactation visits during pregnancy to prepare for breastfeeding, lactation visits after baby arrives, and postpartum home visits to ensure both mom and baby receive ongoing support during the critical early weeks.As a Physician Assistant with experience in both Family and Pediatric practice - and a mother herself - Valana brings a deep, holistic understanding of the physical and emotional needs of lactation and postpartum care. During postpartum visits, she tailors her approach to each mother’s unique recovery journey, ensuring they feel empowered, supported, and confident as they navigate this transformative time.Connect with Valana: Website: https://www.feedandflourishdenver.com/Instagram: @feedandflourishdenverFacebook: Feed & Flourish DenverPlease leave us a review or rating! These help get the show out to more women like you wanting to have these conversations.Would you like to chat more about this episode's topic? I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @wellmindedcounselingI wrote a book! Becoming Mommy: Aligning with yourself and finding your voice during pregnancy and motherhood, available at all major retailers - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZT9P3RB?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_KFT90ZBDS48FDGG6DH5X&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_KFT90ZBDS48FDGG6DH5X&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_KFT90ZBDS48FDGG6DH5X&bestFormat=trueWhere to find more from Redefining Us:Website: wellmindedcounseling.com/redefining-us-podFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellmindedcounselingInstagram: @wellmindedcounselingIf you want to support the show so we can continue sharing this content with others like you, you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!