Lactation Consultants

Ann Marie is the Statewide Breastfeeding Initiatives Manager for the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) in the Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity. She has been supporting Hoosier families with infant feeding for more than 20 years. Ann Marie is a co-founder of Flourish, the nonprofit organization that makes the Milk Matters program possible. She also works in the lactation department of IU Health Bloomington Hospital and currently serves as President of the Monroe County Chest/Breastfeeding Coalition. Ann Marie is passionate about racial equity in maternal and infant health. As part of her position at IDOH, Ann Marie manages grants for the Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition and The Milk Bank. She is also responsible for the development of the Indiana State Breastfeeding Plan and planning the State Breastfeeding Conference.

Robin is a registered dietitian and has been supporting new families since 2002. She currently works as a clinical dietitian at IU Health Bloomington Hospital, including in the NICU. Prior to transitioning to clinical work during the COVID-19 pandemic, Robin worked with the Monroe and Greene County WIC program for nearly 20 years. Robin was a founder of the Monroe County Chest/Breastfeeding Coalition and currently serves as Vice President. She is passionate about racial and economic equity in infant feeding and parenting. Robin’s motivation to pursue being a lactation consultant was solidified when her first son had breastfeeding challenges.
Robin joined Milk Matters in 2021.

MaryAnn was first trained as a cell biologist, a career that brought her to Bloomington in 1995. Motherhood led to her second career as a lactation consultant – blending her scientific training, fascination with the biology of lactation, and enthusiasm to learn directly from parents, babies, and children. MaryAnn has been a La Leche League Leader since 2005 and a lactation consultant since 2011. In 2015 she co-founded Flourish, the nonprofit organization behind Milk Matters.

Whitney has dedicated the last 10 years of her career to helping new families through the Monroe County WIC program. She started as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor and has since taken on the role of Breastfeeding Coordinator for the Monroe, Greene, Knox, and Daviess County WIC offices. Whitney is deeply passionate about supporting new parents and ensuring that they have the resources, information, and support they need to successfully chest/breastfeed their babies. Whitney joined Milk Matters in 2023.

Heather has always had a passion for helping support all families achieve their goals.
She started her journey with the lactation community in Bloomington, Indiana in 2019 when she became a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor for Monroe County WIC. She has since become a Certified Lactation Specialist, Certified Lactation Counselor, and sat for the IBCLC exam in March 2023. She has worked for Lactation Services at IU Health Bloomington Hospital and was recently promoted to the WIC Lactation Consultant for Monroe, Greene, Knox, and Daviess Counties. Heather joined Milk Matters in 2023, first as a Client Care Coordinator and then as an IBCLC.

Lera has been passionate about helping families since she struggled to breastfeed her own baby in 2009. Latching and pumping were both painful and difficult, and with the help of an amazing IBCLC, and a supportive pediatrician, Lera received the guidance she needed. The breastfeeding support Lera received made all the difference, and Lera has been working hard to pay it forward ever since. She started lactation coursework in 2010, became a Certified Lactation Specialist in 2011, and a La Leche League Leader in 2014. Lera became a board certified lactation consultant in 2023 and also completed the postpartum support training in 2023 through MARA (Maternal Advocates Resource Alliance). Lera received the Parent Advocate of the Year Award for Excellence in Breastfeeding Support from the Indiana Perinatal Network in 2010. Lera joined Milk Matters in 2023.

Client Care Coordinators

A Bloomington native, with extensive family ties to the community, Joanna earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Indiana University. Her interests in community support and breastfeeding began during an internship in lactation at Bloomington Hospital in 2008 and she continues to work in the postpartum unit at the hospital. Having breastfed four children, she knows that success comes with the support of community and family, and is an enthusiastic and dedicated advocate of all-things related to motherhood. She started working with Milk Matters in 2022.

Yvonne has been in Bloomington for many years. She has been a phlebotomist, school health aide, and doula. She currently works as the Advocacy Coordinator at Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard. Yvonne joined Flourish in 2021 as a board member and Virtual Client Care Coordinator and now helps with in-person meetings. She also serves on the Monroe County Fair Board. Yvonne loves to spend time with her three children and husband. She also loves to craft, hike in nature, and learn about using roots and plants as medicine.

From a young age, pregnancy, birth, and babies always fascinated and resonated with Margo. After graduating from Bloomington High School North, and then pursuing a degree in Japanese and Psychology at Purdue University, Margo taught preschool in Seattle for a number of years. From there, she moved to Kansai, Japan where she continued working as a children’s teacher.
In 2022, Margo returned to Bloomington to embark on her long-awaited dream of becoming a doula. She is now a certified birth and postpartum doula through DONA International. Margo loves understanding and supporting the dynamics of each unique family she works with and looks forward to learning alongside all families she supports. Margo joined Milk Matters in 2023.

Milk Matters' Lactation Consultants