FEEDING. LACTATION.THERAPY.
helping your child THRIVE.
WELCOME
We're Passionate About Getting To The Root Of Your Child's Orofacial, Feeding and Developmental Difficulties.
At Thrive Feeding & Lactation, we provide highly personalized support for children and parents. Our goal is to get to the root of every child’s feeding and developmental difficulties and to guide both parents and children to achieve feeding success and optimal development. From tongue ties, to breastfeeding, to introducing solids, to mastering milestones, we have the expertise to help guide you.
Feeding a baby or child and helping them achieve milestones seems like it should come naturally, but it is such a common struggle. You are already doing the right thing by seeking out resources to provide your child with the support they need! Our approach considers the child and caregiver, with an emphasis on holistic practices and whole-body function that celebrate autonomy.
We are specialty trained in lactation, infant and childhood feeding and development, tethered oral tissues, oral dysfunction, and orofacial myofunctional therapy. We also have a pediatric physical therapist and massage therapist on staff. Recognizing that these issues typically do not occur in isolation, we consider the full body and use a holistic approach when working on feeding abilities and teaching infants and children how to use their mouths and bodies functionally and efficiently.
For children who have oral restrictions (ie. tongue tie), we recognize that pre-op and post-op care is imperative for full function and achieving optimal results when it comes to getting their tongue and/or lip tie released. Go into your baby or child's frenectomy confident knowing what to expect and how to achieve functional improvements both before and after surgery.
Meet our Team
Advanced Certifications Completed:
- International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) through the International Board of Lactation Consultants Examiners
-Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) certification through the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice
Specialty Skills:
- Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTS)
- Pre/Post Frenectomy Therapy
- Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
- Autonomic Nervous System Therapeutics
- Craniosacral Therapy (CST)
- Reflex Pattern Integration
- Suck Training
- Adaptive Baby-Led Weaning
- Sensory-Motor Feeding Therapy
- TummyTime! Method
Stephanie (Winner) Rahe, M.S. CCC-SLP, IBCLC – Founder and Owner
Stephanie is Speech-Language Pathologist and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, specializing in infant feeding therapy and development. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Bowling Green State University. As the field of speech-language pathology is constantly evolving, Stephanie considers herself a life-long learner and is committed to staying up-to-date with the newest research so she can provide clients and their families with the most impactful treatment techniques.
Stephanie has passion for helping all babies, toddlers, and children achieve safe, effective, and functional feeding skills. Whether it be breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or starting solids. It is not only about helping children, but families need supported and loved on too!
Stephanie feels strongly that many of the feeding difficulties she sees are often just the tip of the iceberg. It takes time and thoughtfulness to dig down deep and find the root cause. Feeding is a full body process and she looks beyond just the mouth to get to the bottom of why a child is struggling. Using a full body approach helps babies to feel well so they can feed well.
She also has specialty training in the identification of tethered oral tissues (tongue ties, lip ties, cheek ties) and oral dysfunction. Stephanie is here to support you both before and after your child’s tongue, lip, and cheek tie releases so they can get their oral and facial growth, development, and function back on the right track.
Thrive Feeding and Lactation was founded out of a desire to provide families access to individualized feeding programs in a comfortable environment. Thrive has since evolved to now include lactation consulting, myofunctional therapy, infant and pediatric physical therapy, and infant massage therapy. Knowing that the body functions as a whole, not in silos, having adjunct services readily available is key to build the foundations that the body needs to thrive.
Bethany Graham, M.A. CCC-SLP - Speech-Language Pathologist
Bethany received her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology in 2016 from Ball State University. Following graduation, she completed her clinical fellowship year in Columbus, IN working in the school systems and an outpatient pediatric rehab facility. In 2018, she and her husband moved back to her hometown of Coldwater, OH to prepare to raise a family. She spent 6 years working in the medical system including inpatient rehab, outpatient adult (including modified barium swallow studies), home health, and outpatient pediatrics. Over these 6 years, she found her true love for working with the pediatric population and a strong interest and love for pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders.
When working with children with feeding and swallowing difficulties, Bethany finds it imperative to listen to the family and work WITH them as the parents are truly the experts of their children. At Thrive, she assists the child and family to help create the most optimal feeding experience. She finds it important to surround families with a supportive team that can provide whole-body care that may be needed to create the most functional feeding experience for that child and family. She enjoys working with bottle feeding, starting solids, helping families make modifications and decrease picky eating in children of all ages, and facilitating effective oral motor skills for eating and drinking. In addition to early feeding support, Bethany also provides orofacial myofunctional therapy, targeting muscle function and coordination of the lip, tongue, cheeks, and jaw. This therapy promotes optimal breathing, chewing, and swallowing patterns, supporting overall oral development and speech readiness. Bethany is dedicated to creating a nurturing, individualized approach for each child and family, building confidence and comfort at mealtimes.
In her free time, you'll find Bethany with her 4 kids (a few of them may have helped her find her love and passion for working with feeding difficulties ), husband, and sweet old dog. Bethany and her family enjoy attending community events, engaging in social happenings with our friends and families, and tackling home improvement projects around their home!
_HEIC.png)
Specialty Skills:
- Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
- Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTS)
- Pre/Post Frenectomy Therapy
- Guided Oral Movements with Active Patterning
- Baby-Led Weaning
- Sensory-Motor Feeding Therapy
- Responsive Feeding
- Food Selectivity in Toddlers, Preschoolers, and School-aged children
- Neuro-affirming therapy
Advanced Certifications Completed:
- International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) through the International Board of Lactation Consultants Examiners
Specialty Skills:
- Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTS)
- Pre/Post Frenectomy Therapy
- Torticollis/Plagiocephaly
- Dynamic Movement Intervention Therapy (DMI)
- Pediatric Pelvic Floor Therapy
- Neurodevelopmental Treatment Techniques (NDT)
- Sensory Integration
- Kinesio Taping
- Myofascial Release
- Craniosacral Therapy (CST)
- Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTIM)
Haley Phillips, DPT, PT, IBCLC - Physical Therapist, Lactation Consultant
Haley has been a pediatric physical therapist for the last 12 years as well as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She earned her doctorate of physical therapy from the University of Findlay and has spent the past 12 years specializing in the pediatric population. She also holds specialized certifications and training in pediatric pelvic health, intensive Dynamic Movement Intervention therapy (DMI level B therapist), and neuro-developmental treatment techniques (NDT), instruments assisted soft tissue mobilization, myofascial release, and cranial sacral therapy (CST).
Haley has extensive knowledge and experience in treating torticollis, plagiocephaly, delayed developmental milestones, orthopedic conditions, bowel and bladder dysfunction, neurological difficulties including movement disorders, cerebral palsy seizure disorders, and genetic disorders. Haley is also experienced in orthotic, wheelchair and therapeutic equipment evaluations and assessments.
Haley is dedicated to building a supportive breast feeding journey for both mom and baby. She takes a comprehensive approach and will assess the entire body when addressing breast feeding, oral ties, and oral development. She believes breastfeeding is a whole body process and strongly believes in finding and addressing the root issue that maybe causing breastfeeding difficulties.
She is deeply passionate about serving infants, children and their families. She is dedicated to empowering them and supporting their growth and progression through compassionate personalized care.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, four children, and certified therapy dog Penny.
Megan Evers, M.S. CCC-SLP - Speech-Language Pathologist
Megan has been a licensed Speech Language Pathologist for seven years. She hold a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Bowling Green State University, earned in
2018. Her career began in medical settings including home health, inpatient rehabilitation, and acute care, conducting modified barium swallow studies and utilizing neuromuscular electrical stimulation to
support patient recovery. Megan also worked with newborns in the special care nursery, completing feeding evaluations and assisting mothers with breast and bottle-feeding initiation. Prior to joining Thrive, she worked at a preschool serving both general and special education classrooms, where she developed knowledge and skill in treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech. This experience inspired her pursuit of training in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy. Megan provides myofunctional therapy services to help promote optimal breathing, mouth posture, chewing and swallowing patterns, speech readiness, and overall oral development.
Amongst her career growth, Megan and her husband put down roots in New Bremen. Having children of her own has helped her find her passion for working with the pediatric population, as it is so rewarding helping them learn to eat, talk, grow, and more! She thoroughly enjoys helping families overcome similar challenges, and having
the opportunity to provide these services locally is the cherry on top!
Megan enjoys spending time with her growing family doing a lot of
swimming, baking, and reading!
Specialty Skills:
- Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
- Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTS)
- Pre/Post Frenectomy Therapy
- Speech Sound Disorders/Articulation
- Childhood Apraxia of Speech
- Swallowing Disorders
.jpg)
Advanced Certifications Completed:
-Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) certification through the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice
Specialty Skills:
- Breast and Bottle Feeding
- Swallowing Disorders
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit background
- Pre- and Post-natal education
Aimee Rodeghero, M.A. CCC-SLP, CLC - Speech-Language Pathologist, Lactation Counselor
Aimee is a licensed speech-language pathologist and Certified Lactation Counselor. She received her Masters of Arts at Ball State University in 2012 where she began working in the medical setting as an SLP in adult acute care, providing bedside swallow studies, modified barium studies (including pediatric studies), and then transitioned to the NICU in 2016 where she supported moms and babies throughout their journey of breast and/or bottle feeding. She is passionate about this population and loves listening and supporting moms during this difficult and challenging time.
Aimee works Monday-Thursday at the Nicholas School and Rehabilitation Center in Piqua. However, when not at school, she loves joining the Thrive team to help moms be successful at breastfeeding.
When not working with infants and babies, Aimee enjoys spending time with her babies at home. She has a daughter and two sons who keep her very busy. She enjoys spending time with her husband, kids and dogs, doing home improvement projects, baking, and soaking up all the chaos.
Mallory Puthoff, LMT - Licensed Massage Therapist
Mallory has been a Licensed Massage Therapist for nearly 14 years. She earned her license from the Dayton School of Medical Massage. She began her career in the spa setting but quickly realized her passion lies in the medical side of massage therapy.
Mallory is a certified in infant massage, and working with infants and their mothers is a dream come true. Holding a baby as they finally relax and settle into her arms is one of the most rewarding parts of her job. Mallory spent a year working in a hospital providing massage therapy to newborns and their mothers within 12-48 hours after birth. She is thrilled to offer massage therapy services to moms and infants at Thrive!
She resides in Minster with her husband and their four children. In her spare time, you can find her on the softball field coaching Minster High School’s softball team, or on their family farm taking care of their horses.
.jpg)
Advanced Certifications Completed:
- Licensed in Cupping and Kinesio Taping
Specialty Skills:
- Infant Massage
- Prenatal Massage
- Fertility Massage
- Sports Massage
“I was continually impressed by the abundance of information for each aspect of my concerns with nursing! The detail she was able to go into to provided clear insight to best aide in my understanding of both how my body and my baby’s body work as a team to be most efficient together. She truly helped make something that is suppose to be so natural feel genuinely natural. I feel more bonded with my baby through the help she was able to provide!"
- J.S.
"Stephanie was excellent to work with. She was a wealth of knowledge and answered every question I had. As a new mom, I was struggling with my feeding routine and feeling overwhelmed. Stephanie helped me to find a routine that successfully upped my supply and helped me to meet my goal of exclusively breastfeeding. She understood that prioritizing my wellbeing was important in order to be the best I can be for my baby and I was so appreciative of that support."
- K.G.
"I cannot say enough good about Stephanie! We came to Stephanie from Dayton Children's and I was blown away by the services and Stephanie's expertise. I was beyond stressed dealing with my son and his lack of interest and success with eating as he was not gaining weight. Stephanie helped us get him right on track and for that I am forever grateful! I now have a kiddo who is climbing his growth chart and LOVES to eat!!"
- S.M.
