ABOUT
MAHALA
WHO ARE WE?
"Mahala" is a Yokuts (Native American) and Balkan word that means "woman, tenderness, and neighborhood." It embodies the gentle touch, expert help, and community spirit that we provide to our clients.
Each one of our IBCLCs offers an unmatched level of expertise. While we each bring our own unique perspective and approach to a consultation, you will experience a consistently high level of care as we help you reach your breastfeeding goals - whatever they may be.
Mahala Breastfeeding Center - Hackettstown, NJ
*now accepting most insurance plans! call for details.
Elizabeth Myler, MSN, FNP-C, IBCLC
Beth is a family nurse practitioner and international board certified lactation consultant. Beth received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from John’s Hopkins University and her master’s degree in nursing from Georgetown University. She began her clinical nursing career in pediatric and adolescent medicine at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) eighteen years ago and has worked in many different areas of healthcare including women’s health, mental health, school nursing, safety and epidemiology and most recently breastfeeding medicine. Beth is the clinical director of lactation services at the practice of Jeffrey Merkle, MD, where she is also seeing patients as FNP, and has operated and owned Mahala since 2010.
Beth was selected for a two year volunteer service in the US Peace Corp as a Maternal/Child Health and Nutrition Extension Agent in French-speaking Cameroon, West Africa, where her passion for working with mothers and babies was born. She is an accredited La Leche League Leader (since 2006) and has trained as a birth and postpartum doula. She enjoys working with medically diverse mother/infant dyads, and training and mentoring prospective medical professionals. She is also an international speaker at professional lactation and perinatal conferences and writes for popular breastfeeding publications.
She is the proud mother of three breastfed sons and she lives with her family in Hackettstown, New Jersey.
Kate Fresso, BA, IBCLC
Kate is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with a bachelor's degree in communications from Rutgers University and certificaiton from University of San Diego. Her passion for breastfeeding was born with her first child, and continues to grow with each mom and baby pair that cross her path. Kate was formerly a full-time corporate working and pumping mom, so she has lots of pumping and milk storage tips and tricks.
Kate has special areas of interest in mom-to-mom milk sharing, babywearing, breastfeeding and working, and how to make breastfeeding work for each individual family unit as practically as possible.
In addition to empowering moms and helping them meet their breastfeeding goals, Kate enjoys many hobbies, including knitting, furniture refurbishing, writing, and cooking (to name a few). She lives in Sparta with her husband, son, and daughter.
Faith Pedersen RN, IBCLC
Faith is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and a New Jersey licensed Registered Nurse (RN). In addition to working with families at Mahala, Faith is also a labor and delivery nurse at Hackensack Regional Medical Center.
Faith lives in Allamuchy, New Jersey, with her husband and their twin son and daughter.
CLIENT STORIES
I was so thrilled with the consultation! I was determined to nurse and I honestly could not have done this without Beth's support and encouragement. I realized my goal and encourage any new Mom to not give up but instead to reach out for help and support through Mahala
Nan
I can't express what a gift Dana's help was for our family, bringing my baby girl and me from an absolute nightmare into the most lovely breastfeeding relationship I can imagine. No nipple shield, no more pumping, just a sweet happy girl grinning up at me as she nurses. Thank you so much Dana - you are our hero! <3
Sarah
Breastfeeding my daughter has been the greatest challenge of my life—and also the best thing I’ve ever done. And, to this day, I say that Mahala is the reason I was able to do it! I’m proud to say that my daughter is now one year old and we are still nursing. She is beautiful, healthy, happy, and absolutely in love with her mama, and I owe so much of that to the commitment and compassion of Mahala.
Kelly
Mahala has given our family the gift of their expertise, their compassion, their vast experience, and their loving support. Beth is an astute listener, and a truly gifted clinician.
Cecilia