Empowering families, one feeding at a time.
Gulf Coast Lactation is a nonprofit lactation support center serving Baldwin and Mobile counties. We believe every family deserves expert feeding support, regardless of income or insurance.
GET TO KNOW US
Our Story
Gulf Coast Lactation was founded by Scotty Thomson, RN, BSN, IBCLC, after decades of seeing the same thing over and over: families who wanted help feeding their babies but couldn't access it because the support that existed was too expensive, too far away, or too hard to reach.
As told by Scotty:
I started doing outpatient lactation care on a limited basis at Thomas Hospital in 2015. What I quickly realized was that access to care after discharge depended almost entirely on which hospital you delivered at, and most hospitals in Baldwin and Mobile counties offered none at all. I'd seen something different while working in Denver a few years earlier, at a hospital that provided real outpatient support to the moms who delivered there. Once I'd seen what was possible, I couldn't unsee what was missing here.
In 2019, I decided to do something about it. I wasn't in a position to start a business, so a nonprofit was the only path that made sense, a way to become eligible for the grants and donations that could actually fund this work. It was a steep learning curve, but God placed all of the people I needed along the way, mentors, advisors, and a community that believed in what I was building, and together we made it happen.
Just as everything was coming together, COVID hit. I shut it all down and went back to the hospital. But the need never left me, and in 2021 a shift toward insurance-reimbursed lactation care opened a door I hadn't expected. What started as a mom or two on my days off grew, gradually, into full-time outpatient care by 2023.
It hasn't been a straight line. There have been seasons that tested me, times when funding was tight and I had to get creative to keep serving families the way they deserved. But every time, a way forward appeared. Gulf Coast Lactation doesn't look exactly like what I pictured back in 2019. It's better, because it's real, and it's still here.
I started this because I kept making follow-up calls to moms after they went home, hearing them struggle, and having no way to actually help. That gap broke my heart. We're so vulnerable after delivery, and when we can't feed our babies and can't find help, it compounds everything, including the depression. I can't reach every family who needs us. But I will keep reaching for as many as I can.
Partners & Affiliates
Coastal Family Partners
United States Lactation Consultant Association
Alabama Breastfeeding Committee
International Lactation Consultant Association
Meet the Gulf Coast Lactation Team
FOUNDER, GULF COAST LACTATION
Scotty Thomson, RN, BSN, IBCLC
Scotty Thomson brings over 31 years of experience in maternal-child nursing and has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) since 1998. Her nursing journey began in the U.S. Navy, where she gained comprehensive experience in maternal-child care, labor and delivery, case management, and lactation consulting — laying a strong foundation for her lifelong commitment to supporting mothers and babies.
Throughout her career, Scotty has worked in both low- and high-risk maternal-child settings, consistently advocating for improved care and support for breastfeeding mothers. In 2015, she reorganized and revitalized the lactation services at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, Alabama, creating a more effective program to serve new mothers. During this time, she also led a weekly Baby Café breastfeeding support group, growing it from 5–6 participants to 18–25 each week over a three-year period.
From January 2021 to February 2023, Scotty worked in Labor and Delivery at USA Children's & Women's Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. She later transitioned to full-time work with Gulf Coast Lactation, where she continues to make a meaningful impact by supporting women outside of the hospital setting.
Scotty is deeply passionate about holistic care in the maternal-child field. She believes every mother deserves ongoing, personalized support after hospital discharge to help her succeed in her breastfeeding journey and she founded Gulf Coast Lactation to make sure that support is available to every family.
Everyone's breastfeeding journey is unique. As a proud mother of two, Natalie and Nicholas, I experienced the deep joy and pride that came with breastfeeding both of my children. One of my most memorable experiences was tandem nursing them both at the same time, which deepened our bond in ways I'll always cherish.
Now that my children are grown, I find purpose in helping new mothers navigate their own breastfeeding journeys. It brings me great fulfillment to support women as they find confidence, connection, and success in this meaningful part of motherhood.
- Scotty Thomson
Cassie Hooks, RD, IBCLC
Cassie is a Registered Dietitian and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who is deeply passionate about supporting moms and babies. She earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and completed her Dietetic Internship at Vanderbilt University.
Her approach is shaped by two things: years working with WIC (the USDA's Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children), and her own experience raising two sons with the support of a strong "tribe," her mother, grandmothers, aunts, and close friends. That's exactly the kind of support she's committed to offering families in our community.
Cassie lives in Fairhope with her husband of 26 years and their 17-year-old son. Their older son, 20, is currently attending Auburn University. Outside of work, she's usually cheering for LSU (Geaux Tigers!), walking her two Goldendoodles, painting, cooking, reading, or playing mahjong with friends.
Cassie looks forward to welcoming you into the tribe, and giving you the same expert support and encouragement throughout your breastfeeding journey.
Melanie Edwards, RN, IBCLC
Melanie is a Board Certified Lactation Consultant passionate about helping new moms and babies get the best possible start. She's thrilled to support families at Gulf Coast Lactation during such an important time in their lives.
After staying home to raise her own children, Melanie followed her calling into nursing, drawn there by her personal experience with childbirth and breastfeeding. She knows firsthand how meaningful, and sometimes challenging, those early days can be, and she's dedicated to walking alongside families with encouragement, knowledge, and compassionate care.
She spent 10 years as a Mother-Baby nurse at USA Children's & Women's Hospital in Mobile, where she also became an IBCLC and served on the hospital's lactation team. Today, she practices as a lactation consultant at Mobile Infirmary and continues working as a travel RN on Mother-Baby units, experience that keeps her skills sharp across a wide range of care settings.
Outside of work, Melanie loves traveling, reading, and spending time with the people she loves most. She's been married for 30 years and has three adult sons.
Natalie Webber
As our Public Relations Coordinator, Natalie helps tell Gulf Coast Lactation's story across social media and throughout the community, sharing families' experiences (with permission), spreading the word about classes and events, and helping connect families to the support they need.
WHAT DRIVES US
Our Mission
Our mission is to deliver expert lactation care, essential maternal health services, and compassionate support through personalized consultations, classes, and resources accessible for all new and expectant parents.