I’m Jaime Reed, RN, BSN, IBCLC

Retired Army officer, nurse, lactation consultant, and research nerd providing inclusive, evidence-based feeding and recovery support for every parent and every body.

My path to lactation care began in the trenches of new parenthood more than 20 years ago. As a new Army mom stationed far from family, I struggled to get my baby to latch. After six weeks of pumping and bottle-feeding, he finally did—and that moment changed everything. It taught me how transformative the right guidance can be.

After graduating from West Point, I served 22 years in the U.S. Army as an engineer and strategic planner. When I retired, I pivoted from military strategy to lactation science—because both require focus, compassion, and a plan. I went back to nursing school, became a postpartum nurse at Tampa General Hospital, and later earned my board certification as an IBCLC.

Today, I bring that same mix of structure and empathy to Tampa Bay Lactation—providing inclusive, evidence-based support for families, parents, and individuals of all identities. Whether you’re preparing for birth, navigating postpartum life, or recovering from gender-affirming or other chest surgeries, my role is to listen without judgment and build a care plan around your body and your goals.

My clinical background and lived experience as a parent of six help me understand that there’s no one “right” way to feed, bond, or heal. Every journey is unique—and every person deserves respect, clarity, and care that aligns with their needs.