Stephanie Bodak Nicholson Mothering Arts

What is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant?

An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant should be chosen when more than support is needed.

Certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners, IBCLCs are the only kind of lactation consultant that can offer clinical care and can work in many different health care settings, from hospitals to private practices. While lactation educators and other breastfeeding support roles can offer education and support, only IBCLCs have completed the rigorous training required to become internationally recognized lactation experts. IBCLC certification programs may take a candidate 2-5 years, in which they must complete 90 hours of lactation-specific education, 14 higher education health science courses, and up to 1,000 hands-on hours of clinical training. And this is just the beginning of the training. Many IBCLC’s specialize in milk supply issues, TOTS (teathered oral tissues or Tongue and Lip Ties), oral habilitation, holistic approaches to care and more.

To maintain their accreditation, IBCLCs must earn their recertification every five years.

In comparison, Certified Lactation Counselors (CLCs) and Certified Lactation Educators (CLEs) complete 45 hours of education and one online or in-person class. CLCs also need to complete 18+ hours of continuing education every three years.

What Does a Lactation Consultant Do?

IBCLC’s are trained professionals with in-depth knowledge of breastfeeding mechanics, experience with many situations and can provide expert guidance and support to mothers experiencing any breastfeeding challenges, from latch issues to oral function and restrictions like tongue and lip ties to low milk supply, ensuring they can effectively troubleshoot problems and offer individual solutions to optimize the breastfeeding experience for both mother and baby; they also provide education on proper breastfeeding management, responsive breastfeeding, post procedure care and habilitation. A lactation consultant doesn’t only offer help with latch, positioning, and milk expression techniques, and includes offering emotional support throughout the breastfeeding journey.

Clinical lactation consultants have extensive training in assessing and addressing complex breastfeeding issues, including those related to oral function and habilitation, premature babies, medical conditions, or other anatomical variations.

As a Board Certified Lactation Consultant, IBCLC’s work in collaboration with preferred providers to discover, support and help resolve breastfeeding obstacles, provide resources and referrals for issues, as well as support the family, promote normalcy and provide education for the birthing and breastfeeding community.

Stephanie Bodak Nicholson, IBCLC, RLC, AAHCC

Stephanie makes herself available on call for your early weeks of breastfeeding concerns and issues, with the ability to schedule home visits in as soon as 12 hours from the time you call. She has the unique ability to support you when needs occur and carry you through those often worrisome nights.

-International Board Certified Lactation Consultant 2020

-Certified Lactation Counselor 2018

-La Leche League Leader since 1992

-Bradley Certified Childbirth Educator and Bradley trained Doula since 1994

-Stephanie has assisted hundreds of mothers and babies to successfully birth and breastfeed in the last 30 years.

Learn More

How Can We Work Together?

In-Home, Clinic & Virtual Consultations

Stephanie and her team of lactation consultants are on-call to support you and your baby on your breastfeeding journey. We offer in-person consultations, assessments, and support services in both a clinical setting and/or in-home.

Triage Care

In-Home, Clinic & Virtual Consultations

Whether it's an urgent middle-of-the-night issue or you need phone assistance, we are available to help you and your baby through those middle of the night worries or Friday afternoon issues. We manage urgent cases via Triage Phone Calls with continued care In-Person with the next available Initial Consultation.

Welcome to [m]othering arts

Central Texas Lactation Services

What is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant?

What Does a Lactation Consultant Do?

Stephanie Bodak Nicholson, IBCLC, RLC, AAHCC

How Can We Work Together?

In-Home, Clinic & Virtual Consultations

In-Home, Clinic & Virtual Consultations

In-Home, Clinic & Virtual Consultations

Triage Care

In-Home, Clinic & Virtual Consultations

In-Home, Clinic & Virtual Consultations

Education

Welcome to [m]othering arts

Central Texas Lactation Services

What is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant?

What Does a Lactation Consultant Do?

Stephanie Bodak Nicholson, IBCLC, RLC, AAHCC

How Can We Work Together?

In-Home, Clinic & Virtual Consultations

In-Home, Clinic & Virtual Consultations

In-Home, Clinic & Virtual Consultations

Triage Care

In-Home, Clinic & Virtual Consultations

In-Home, Clinic & Virtual Consultations

Education

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