We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Levine and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, what are you inspired by?
I’m forever inspired by parents and babies and the countless tiny exchanges that bring them together and orient them to one another. There is so much innate wisdom and straight up power in that bond.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business is called Gold Dust Lactation & Sleep, which comes from Liquid Gold and Sleepy Dust and are the two big topics I counsel families on. I think what might set me apart is that my approach is very much rooted in attachment science and biological norms. I really center my care on empowering parents to lean into their instincts, listen to their intuition, and trust their babies. This is actually *really* hard for many parents because of the information overload we are all living in; it can be hard to trust yourself as the expert on your baby and trust that your baby can communicate with you from the beginning. That’s where I come in; to support parents in getting to heart of the matter and connecting them with the resources they actually benefit from.

It hasn’t always been easy, but among the many lessons that being a mom has taught me, adaptability has been a crucial one. I began seeing clients in 2020 and feel like I’ve really found my stride.

I put a lot of intention into running my business in a way that feels authentic to me as a person, and hope that the families in my care- as well as potential clients- recognize that the care I provide comes from a really genuine and heartfelt place.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love this question! I would make sure to go see some live music at The Ryman and take a walk at Bells Bend park. I’d get breakfast at the Frothy Monkey (the one in The Nations is my favorite!), a quick lunch at Radish Kitchen or Grekko, coffee at Sip, and dinner at Two Ten Jack…or maybe takeout from Nicoletto’s! If the kids were coming along I’d definitely make sure to have a meal in the backyard at Nectar Cantina and hit up the downtown library, Cheekwood, and the zoo. Lastly, we’d definitely have a shopping day to go thrifting and check out some of our great vintage spots as well. I never miss a chance to visit Anaconda, Live True, Forevermore, and OMG. The Good Fill and Parnassus Books are some of my favorite spots for grownup gifts, and I love Fairytales or The Getalong if I need a baby/kiddo present.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Really it all comes back to my mom. Experiencing her love for me and my siblings growing up, knowing how lucky we were. And then later when I had my own baby, it was my mom who took me to La Leche League meetings, provided endless emotional support, and ultimately inspired my passion and drive to support other moms and families who need care.

Website: www.golddustlactation.com

Instagram: @golddustlactation

Facebook: @golddustlactation

Image Credits
Tim Slinker, Kim Whinnery, Kailee Riches

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