Staff
Experts in Quality Lactation Care
Jarold “Tom” Johnston, DNP, CNM, IBCLC
Tom is a world-renowned Lactation Consultant known for his ability to make the complex easy to understand. He is a retired Army Midwife and father to 8 children. He is dedicated to providing high-quality lactation support to breastfeeding families and health care providers. When he isn’t helping with breastfeeding issues, he is busy researching them from a scientific perspective. He routinely contributes to lactation practice by publishing his research and presenting on practical and theoretical lactation to other health care professionals at events around the world.
Laura Swango, BSN, RN, IBCLC
Laura graduated with honors from both the Methodist University School of Nursing and the Mary Rose Tully Training Initiative at the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. Laura is also a Certified Educator of Infant Massage with Infant Massage USA, the US Chapter of the International Association of Infant Massage. She and her husband Dan have 10 children, all of whom were breastfed, as well as a growing brood of grandchildren.
Before joining Mother’s Helper Lactation Clinic, Laura began her lactation career serving thousands of new and expectant parents at Cape Fear Valley Health System. From careful assessment to identify issues that may impact infant feeding, to providing prenatal breastfeeding classes, to promoting the important role partners play in the breastfeeding relationship, Laura is committed to helping families achieve their personal infant feeding goals. She believes breastfeeding support is about more than infant nutrition; it is an opportunity to help nourish growing families in mind, body, and spirit. With a background in public health, Laura believes strongly in the importance of breastfeeding in diminishing health disparities, and the importance of education and equity in feeding choice. Laura currently serves as an Equity Advisor with the International Lactation Consultants Association.
