Hi, I'm Ava! I'm a Maternal and Pediatric Registered Dietitian and Lactation Counselor who specializes in prenatal nutrition and breastfeeding! Welcome to Nourish By Ava, LLC, a complete solution for moms who need support feeding themselves and their babies.
By offering nutrition and lactation counseling and support, I help women throughout their whole reproductive life, supporting their nutrition and feeding and helping them achieve their short and long term goals using a gentle, progressive, and personalized approach. My philosophy is that feeding and nutrition changes should be comfortable, yet effective.
I graduated from the #1 ranked nutrition program in Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh's Dietitian Nutritionist Accelerated BS/MS Program, where I earned my Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and Master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition and was 1 of 2 students selected to partake in the Maternal and Pediatric Nutrition Specialty Rotation. During this time, I completed my Dietetic Internship at St. Clair Hospital, The Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Health Network Pediatrics, and UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital. I completed my breastfeeding and lactation training through The Healthy Children's Project, where I learned evidenced-based tools and techniques from some of the best lactation counselors in the country.
I specialize in prenatal nutrition, breastfeeding and lactation support, and transition to solids/Baby-Led Weaning, though I also offer counseling for fertility nutrition, family nutrition and general women's health.
I teach women how to nourish their bodies to better support fertility, choose foods that are appropriate for each trimester of pregnancy in accordance with the changes happening to their bodies and to that of their growing baby, master the art of breastfeeding and enjoy nursing, design personalized breastfeeding schedules and regimens, discover the best transitional foods and how to offer them, learn how to practice Baby-Led Weaning, eat intuitively postpartum, and create sustainable changes that they actually enjoy. Outside of work, you can find me planning my wedding in Italy, watching documentaries with my fiancé, exploring new group exercise classes, cooking and baking, or spending time with my family.