Lactation Consultants & IBCLCs Near Me in Gaithersburg, MD

Hi! Welcome here. My name is Abbie Bridges, and I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), and mom of 2 with experience in assisting breastfeeding in all stages, from pregnancy to introducing solids to weaning. I graduated in 2021 from the University of Maryland with my Masters in Public Health and have been working ever since to advance community health through education, advocacy, and client support. Prior to opening my practice, I provided lactation care with a local pediatric practice and nonprofit aimed at addressing health disparities and supporting underserved communities. I currently live in Gaithersburg with my husband, 2 daughters, 2 cats, and 4 chickens! When I’m not with clients you can find me outside with my girls, baking a decadent chocolate dessert, or reading. I am very passionate about helping families succeed in an infant feeding relationship that is mutually beneficial, enjoyable, and meaningful for everyone involved. If you would like to learn more about my approach, you can read more here: www.bridgeslactation.com/my-approach. Please feel free to contact me here if you would like to chat for a few minutes before scheduling to see if we are a good fit, or book a visit here: bridgeslactation.as.me.

Sarah Early has over thirty years of working in the healthcare industry. Her career has taught her about the importance of supporting women with a mind, body, and spirit approach as women learn to care for their health while also addressing their family’s healthcare needs. Sarah worked in a busy Maryland hospital that delivered ten-thousand babies annually and it was here where she began to focus her time on maternal-child care and lactation. During this time, Sarah interacted with countless new parents struggling to feed their newborn and lacking the guidance or resources necessary to do so successfully. These families and their frustrations inspired Sarah to gain the IBCLC credential in 2011 and open Lactation Room in 2014. Lactation Room has been a staple of lactation and infant feeding support in Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia for a decade and Sarah and her team of IBCLCs, Registered Nutritionists, Nurses, and Doulas have cared for thousands of families along their new parenting journey. Lactation Room was the first practice in the DMV to expand offerings through insurance and now has three office locations to improve access to care. It was important to Sarah that quality and evidence-based care be attainable and not cost-prohibitive allowing women to receive the care they deserve and need. In 2016 she co-hosted the first collaborative conference for tongue-and-lip ties (TOTS) in the DMV bringing together hundreds of people from multiple disciplines. The conference attendees included IBCLCs, Nurses, Physicians, Feeding Therapists, Bodyworkers, Dentists, and more. Her philosophy is that there are many facets to care, and when the approach is team-based and collaborative, the patients receive better quality care and outcomes. She has presented the collaborative model for infant feeding dysfunction at Simon Says Speech, Talk Tools Speech & Feeding Therapy, Southern Maryland Dental Society, and multiple local hospitals and area organizations. Sarah graduated from a Masters in Nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner graduate program with high distinction and was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nurses while working and running Lactation Room. Her clinical education and training paved the way for her newest journey in private practice, Peony Women’s Integrative Health, which she opened in 2023. Working as a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner she serves clients in the DMV. Peony WIH focuses on caring for women with a root-cause, integrative, and functional medicine approach to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. PWIH provides in-office health consults with Sarah, integrative and functional nutrition support by a Registered Dietician, and Craniosacral therapy services. Sarah is focused on addressing the needs of women in the community through a patient-centered and collaborative approach to care. She is an active member of ILCA, USLCA, IATP, AHNA, AANP, and MBC. hello@peonywih.com

I am a Registered Nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. I have experience in the hospital post-partum and NICU units, out-patient and home settings and providing prenatal breast feeding education. I am passionate about helping families feel supported, overcome challenges and achieve their individual breast feeding goals.

Alison Levy is a registered nurse and an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Alison has always been fascinated by the everyday miracles of birth, babies and breast milk. She has devoted her 22+ year nursing career to childbearing families and has been a certified lactation consultant – her true calling – for the last 15 years. She finds it incredibly rewarding to make breastfeeding easier and more successful for families. Alison currently practices both in the hospital and home settings.

I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, RN, and Advanced Practice Nurse. With 30+ years of experience in maternal child healthcare, I bring a well-rounded approach to lactation support. My professional journey includes extensive experience as a NICU nurse, where I provided comprehensive care, including assisting breastfeeding mothers. More recently, I've focused on providing skilled lactation support across different stages - from prenatal preparation through postpartum care, in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

I am the founder of Little Whole Me, a family support consultant, advanced newborn care specialist, and infant development specialist with more than 19 years of experience in early childhood education and family care. My work centers on newborn care, postpartum support, infant development, caregiver education, and the early family experience. I support families from pregnancy through early childhood, with particular expertise in the newborn period and first year of development. My background includes professional experience as an infant educator, early childhood education leader, newborn care specialist, postpartum doula, birth doula, breastfeeding educator, and postpartum peer support specialist. I have supported families navigating feeding concerns, pumping and bottle-feeding routines, newborn sleep, reflux and gastrointestinal sensitivities, premature birth, NICU transitions, multiples, developmental milestones, and the adjustment to life with a new baby. My approach is calm, responsive, developmentally informed, and individualized. Families receive more than hands-on care. They receive thoughtful planning, practical education, clear communication, and professional guidance designed to help them better understand their baby, strengthen caregiver confidence, and create sustainable rhythms at home. Through Little Whole Me, I provide personalized care plans and family support experiences that bring together exceptional newborn care, postpartum support, infant development, and caregiver guidance.

As a breastfeeding expert supporting expectant & new moms for over a decade, I absolutely LOVE helping clients like you transform from being overwhelmed, stressed, and completely confused to a calm, confident mother who enjoys breastfeeding. Check out my hundreds of 5-star reviews on Google.

Bianca Flokstra is the founder and owner of Holistic Infant Feeding and is an experienced International Board Certified Lactation Consultant serving families all over the DC, MD and VA area. Having breastfed her own three children through working full time, international travel, and let's not forget the pandemic, she started Holistic Infant Feeding to provide individualized, non-judgmental care in baby feeding choices.

Gennifer, Growing Tree founder, is an experienced doula with over 10 years of service, specializing in lactation, sleep support, sibling support and integration. As a mother of five and bonus parent, she brings compassionate understanding to growing families. Currently studying midwifery, Gennifer is committed to ongoing education and providing comprehensive care, making her a dedicated and exceptional support for expectant parents.

I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with a background in maternal fitness and nutrition. I support families through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond with evidence-based, compassionate lactation care tailored to each mother–baby dyad. My clinical experience includes prenatal education, latch and feeding assessments, pumping support, return-to-work planning, and troubleshooting common and complex breastfeeding challenges. I take a whole-body, mom-centered approach, recognizing that feeding success is influenced by physical recovery, mental wellbeing, and lifestyle factors. I am passionate about empowering parents with education and practical tools so they can feel confident in their feeding choices. My goal is to meet families where they are and provide supportive, individualized care in a calm, respectful environment.

I am a pro-life doula and childbirth educator (including SpBCPE), I am passionate about walking alongside women and their partners with individualized support, encouragement, and evidence-informed care that honors the body’s God-given ability to birth. I spent years in the healthcare setting compassionately caring for others before making the switch to support women in this most special time in their lives. I hold a deep concern for the disturbing ethical changes our American healthcare system and seek to make a difference. I believe every life is sacred—and every mother deserves gentle, informed, and respectful care. I specialize in: *Doula care rooted in compassion and medical truths *Perinatal Parent Advocacy *Clients/partners who are Neurodiverse *Empowered individualized education for physiologic (natural) birth including peri-natal activities and positioning for pregnancy/birth *Partner-inclusive support, education and advocacy skills *Informed decisions. birth plans and birth rehearsal *Lactation *Placental Encapsulation *Care of special needs babies, NICU informed doula

Hi! I’m Mavhu full spectrum doula, peer lactation counselor and Certified Evidence Based Birth Educator.

While photographing my first home birth in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2014, I naturally found myself playing the role of doula between shots. I signed up for official training the next day and never looked back. Soon after doula training, I earned a Certification in Lactation Counseling (CLC) and began helping mothers struggling with feeding issues. I have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of babies in various settings, with varying feeding challenges, and a wide range of feeding goals. Phelicia welcomes families of all dynamics, ethnicities, and backgrounds, supporting births at home, in-hospital, medicated or unmedicated, planned, and unplanned cesareans.

Tamika Harris believes in every family's right to make an informed decision about their infant feeding choice. She is a board-certified Lactation Consultant and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. Tamika is a human milk donor and has provided lactation support to families in home, hospital and community settings. As a WIC counselor, she focused on leading peer-to-peer lactation support groups. Tamika is also an instructor for Lactation Education Resources. She was elected to the Executive Committee of the D.C. Breastfeeding Coalition and the Board of Directors for Breastfeeding USA. Tamika has visited congress members on Capitol Hill with the United States Breastfeeding Committee to advocate for policies focused on supporting lactating families and was selected to a special advisory committee for the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.

Thank you so much for stopping by! My journey to birth work began in 2017, following the birth of my first baby. I have been a fully certified childbirth educator and doula since 2018. Additionally, I recently obtained my Certified Breastfeeding Specialist certificate (CBS) from Lactation Education Resources in October 2025. Prior to getting into birth work, I attended Notre Dame of Maryland University, where I studied biology and graduated with high honors. I have since become a mother of 2. Both of my children were born without intervention and at home. When not working, I can be found reading for pleasure, exercising, doing yoga, hiking, or gardening. I reside in Bowie, MD and serve clients within a 50-mile radius of my home.

Hi! I’m Jocelyn, a postpartum nurse and a lactation consultant! I do outpatient lactation consults to help you with any feeding issues/needs!

Taiwo Ikeoluwa Adeloye-Ajao or "Tia Ajao" has served in the maternal-child health arena for over 20 years. She obtained her MPH in maternal and child health, community health & prevention in 2008. Tia decided to become a nurse & a doula in 2014 due to her own experiences as a mother & as an advocate in her community. These roles empowered Tia to become a certified birth & postpartum doula, a certified maternal-newborn nurse, a Lamaze certified childbirth educator, a birth assistant with midwives, and an international board certified lactation consultant. She enjoys helping families to be intentional about preparing for their birth & postpartum experiences.

Hello! I'm Lauren the founder of Lactation with Lauren. I am a RN since 2009 at a large birthing hospital in Maryland and an IBCLC for the last 8 years and counting. I love that each family I work with has their own story and their own journey. I am honored to be part of each situation as we find the next right thing and reach personalized goals. When I am not using my IBCLC skills I love to spend time with my husband, 3 school aged kids, and standard poodle. We enjoy visiting extended family members spread out along the East Coast, hiking in Patapsco State Park and traveling by airplane to new places when we have extra time together.

I wear many titles with pride — Wife, Mother, Lactation Specialist, Licensed Massage therapist (LIC#R03337), Student Midwife, and Author. But at the heart of it all, I’m simply someone who is devoted to women’s health, healing, and empowerment. My passion for nurturing others comes from a long line of generous souls — my mother, my grandparents, whose kindness and selflessness shaped who I am today. My grandfather devoted his life to serving his community, and my grandmother has always been the quiet backbone of our family, giving from the heart without hesitation. Their example taught me that true generosity is showing up for others with love and presence, and that principle runs through every part of my work. I’m a proud graduate of the Holistic Massage Training Institute, where I began my journey into bodywork and holistic healing. Over the years, I’ve specialized in prenatal, fertility, infant, and postpartum massage, helping women release physical tension and rediscover balance in their bodies. I also help many clients find relief from chronic neck and lower back pain, drawing on more than four years of therapeutic experience. In 2020, I founded a private practice specializing in pregnancy and postpartum manual therapy. Over the years of practice, I have helped over 300+ women relieve pain, improve mobility, and prepare for birth. My educational journey has included studies at Anne Arundel Community College and Western Governors University, and midwifery studies through the National College of Midwifery while apprenticing under several licensed midwives. I have attended over 50+ births in a mix of hospitals, home births, and birthing centers. My calling toward birth work was born of my own motherhood journey. My first childbirth experience showed me the power of a supportive birth team, but my second reminded me how deeply a lack of support can impact a woman. That moment became the turning point that led me to dedicate my life to women’s wellness — ensuring that every woman feels seen, supported, and cared for during one of life’s most transformative experiences. In 2022, I was honored to receive the Good Heart Award from The Shades of Blue Project during Black Maternal Health Week, recognizing my commitment to uplifting and caring for families in the birthing community. My work has also been featured in publications such as Motherly, Beauty Boost Baltimore, and Voyage Baltimore. Every client I serve, every birth I attend, and every family I serve is an extension of that same legacy of care that was passed down from my family. I’m here to create spaces where women feel safe, nurtured, and empowered to trust their bodies — because generosity, to me, is the act of helping others remember their own strength.

Birth coach labor doula 22 years 614 births. This includes attendance for a C-Sections (81). I attend births in most metropolitan Maryland. Travel expenses over 50 miles are additional and not covered by Medicaid. Please complete on my website "Schedule to Meet Dale" also, send a picture of your "insurance card"to my email. Complete these steps your due date will be saved to my calendar. Once I received your information I will call you to introduce myself...and proceed to meet in person. I am a doula provider for all "MEDICAID" managed care providers, in Maryland. As of January 1st 2026, BCBS will also be accepting doula coverage via all employer benefits.... Visit: www.birthcoachcooladoula.com Please review my testimonials. Please provide a working cellphone number.