LAURA COULTER, CNM/APN, MS, IBCLC

I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC, first certified in 2006) located in Chicago. Prior to opening my own practice in 2013, I had the honor of working with both Lactation Associates and JOC Lactation Consultants, as well as Home Healthcare of Newborns and Families, which provided home phototherapy and breastfeeding support to jaundiced newborns. I have been working in maternal-child healthcare since 1995, when I received my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Rush University. While working as a nurse in Labor & Delivery at Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital, I earned my Master of Science degree with a focus in nurse-midwifery from the University of Illinois at Chicago.  I hold Registered Nurse (RN) and Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) licenses in the State of Illinois. While I no longer practice midwifery, I maintain that certification as well.

I am also a mother to 3 amazing children, and my breastfeeding journey started like most – confusing to say the least! Here I was – a labor & delivery nurse and aspiring nurse midwife – and I honestly didn’t have a clue! But luckily for me, breastfeeding was easy and worked very well, while fitting easily into my busy life as a full-time professional and student. I had my challenges, like all mothers do, but my children taught me so much about their needs, which encouraged me to learn everything I could about human breastfeeding – it is so much more than food to our children. Most importantly, I learned to trust my instincts and to trust my children, as they each breastfed far longer than I was aware was even possible. In fact, many mothers I have worked with also find that they breastfeed much longer than they anticipated, once they trust the process and know how breastfeeding can and does work. After all, we wouldn’t be here as a species today if it didn’t! Most IBCLCs come to the profession after their own experiences as mothers; I am no different. That is why I am passionate about helping you achieve the breastfeeding relationship you dreamed of when you became a mother.