Erin obtained her bachelor’s degree in nursing from The University of Alabama in Huntsville. She has been a labor and delivery nurse for twelve years, working in lactation for ten years. Most recently, she earned the highest tier title in lactation by becoming an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). When Erin returned to the Decatur Area after living in Charlotte, NC, she took over the lactation and education program at Decatur Morgan Hospital. She started The Milk Bar in June of 2022. Erin is married to Hartselle native, Chris Rigoni, and together they have four children (one boy and three girls ages 9, 7, 3, and 10 months).

Heather earned her degree from the University of North Alabama in Sociology/Family Studies. She also worked as a social service caseworker for Alabama DHR in both Lauderdale and Morgan Counties before staying home after her first son was born. She recently completed the steps towards becoming an IBCLC and will sit for the board exam in September 2024. Heather is originally from Muscle Shoals. She married Priceville native Austin Smith and moved to Decatur in 2019. Heather is the mother to three children (two boys and one girl).

Erin and Heather both attended a breastfeeding support group in Madison, AL (at separate times), where they met the excellent lactation consultants Kristine and Stacy. Kristine and Stacy connected Erin and Heather, and the rest was history! Erin and Heather are both incredibly passionate about helping women on their journey through motherhood, beginning in pregnancy.

As mothers, Erin and Heather had phenomenal support systems to assist them in transitioning to motherhood. Knowing the vital importance of a stable support system and the desire to see breastfeeding rates increase in Morgan County, Erin and Marie Burgess (Director of Women’s Services at Decatur Morgan Hospital) had the vision to create a safe space for mothers to come, regardless of how they choose to feed their babies. The Milk Bar is the FIRST and ONLY postpartum support group in the state of Alabama that provides support and community for mothers who are breastfeeding, formula feeding, or combination feeding.

Several of our breastfeeding mothers are first-generation lactating parents. This means they have never been exposed to many, if any, other lactating mothers. Our formula/combo feeding mothers are also learning “knowledge nuggets” about lactating alongside these mothers. Even Erin and Heather continue to learn from the group!

One example – Erin had never had a formula-feeding infant before adopting her last child who mainly receives formula. Erin had questions about how to travel and transport formula and knew that firsthand experience from those mothers would be beneficial. This shows how the conversations at The Milk Bar benefit all mothers regardless of how they choose to feed their babies.