How Much Does a Lactation Consultant or IBCLC Cost in Downey, CA?

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Median package price

$300

Typical range $175–$1,800

Median hourly rate

$58/hr

Typical range $50–$100/hr

Near Downey California United States
Median package $300 $400 $250
Typical package range $175–$1,800 $175–$2,100 $131–$1,200
Median hourly rate $58/hr $65/hr $50/hr

Based on 199 package prices from 68 providers listed on Bornbir within 150 miles of Downey, CA. Updated July 2026.

See national lactation consultant prices

The cost of a lactation consultant in Downey, CA can be influenced by several factors:

  • Type of Certification

    International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) typically charge more than Certified Lactation Counselors (CLCs) due to their advanced training and ability to handle complex breastfeeding issues.

  • Visit Type

    In-home visits generally cost more than office visits or virtual consultations. Many consultants in Downey offer telehealth options at reduced rates.

  • Insurance Coverage

    Whether insurance covers the cost of a lactation consultant in Downey, CA, depends on your specific insurance plan. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many health insurance plans are required to cover breastfeeding support, including access to lactation consultants, at no additional cost to the policyholder. However, coverage details can vary, so it's important to contact your insurance provider directly to confirm if lactation consultant services are included, whether they require pre-authorization, and if there are specific in-network providers you must use. Additionally, some consultants may require upfront payment, so you might need to seek reimbursement from your insurance company.

  • Number of Sessions

    Some consultants offer package deals for multiple sessions, which can be more cost-effective than paying per visit, especially for ongoing breastfeeding challenges.

  • HSA and FSA Eligibility

    Lactation consulting is an IRS-eligible medical expense, meaning you can use HSA or FSA funds to cover the cost without paying taxes on those dollars.

  • Experience and Specialization

    Consultants with specialized expertise in areas like tongue ties, premature infant feeding, or relactation may charge higher rates.

When looking for a lactation consultant in Downey, CA, it's a good idea to check with your insurance provider first, as many plans cover lactation services. Interview several consultants to find one who fits your needs and budget, and ask about their specific credentials, experience, and what each session includes.

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Found 107 Lactation Consultants in Downey, CA

Rachel Meakins

Manhattan Beach, California

5.0 (1 review)

Rachel Meakins

15 years of experience
Accepts insurance
Packages from $250 · $80/hr

Rachel Meakins is a doula, lactation counselor, childbirth educator, newborn care specialist, and maternal health advocate based in Los Angeles. Through her practice, Zenbari, she supports women and families through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and the transition into modern motherhood with a calm, highly personalized approach. With a background spanning pre-med studies, psychology, public relations, maternal health coaching, and perinatal education, Rachel brings both emotional depth and practical systems-thinking into her work. She is known for helping families feel informed, steady, and genuinely supported — not only during birth, but throughout the massive physical, relational, and identity shifts that come with becoming a parent. Her care combines evidence-based education with intuitive, real-life support. Clients often work with Rachel for guidance around birth preparation, feeding, newborn care, postpartum recovery, household dynamics, partner communication, and creating sustainable systems that allow mothers to feel more resourced and less overwhelmed during the early months. In addition to her private client work, Rachel works in maternal health education and community advocacy, serves as a Fair Play facilitator, and is a health coach focused on the vaginal microbiome and women’s health across fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum. Her philosophy is that mothers deserve thoughtful, coordinated care that considers the full picture — not just the baby, but the woman, her relationships, her recovery, her nervous system, and the life she is returning to afterward.

Recent review

Rachel was knowledgeable and guided us through everything

- Jason E.

Alix Farnell

Huntington Beach, California

5.0 (3 reviews)

Alix Farnell

Packages from $1,700

As your doula, my role is to support you and your family in the way that best helps you feel calm, confident, and present throughout labor. That might look like hands-on support to help you labor more comfortably at home, guiding your partner in how to do the same, offering gentle coaching as you breathe through contractions, or even quietly capturing photos and keeping loved ones updated. Every birth is unique, and I’m flexible to your goals and desires—even if they shift as labor unfolds. While some people picture doulas as very “woo-woo” or mystical, my style is more grounded and pragmatic. I believe in giving you practical tools, evidence-based guidance, and steady encouragement so you can navigate the challenges of labor with clarity and confidence. I love preparing families by educating them about what to expect and how to respond intentionally, rather than react impulsively in the moment. My professional background is in leadership, mentorship, and professional development, and I bring that same skillset into my doula work—helping you tap into your own strength, stay relaxed, and move through labor as smoothly as your body allows. My ultimate goal is to help you experience the fastest, easiest birth your body is capable of, while holding space for you to feel calm, supported, and fully present in the process.

Recent review

Having Alix as our doula was the best decision my husband and I made for our birth. I had a long and unexpected labor, and she was our rock through it all. She was knowledgeable, reliable, kind, and incredibly supportive. Alix helped us communicate with the medical staff during stressful moments, making us feel heard and confident in our decisions. She also knew exactly when to step in and when to give us the privacy we needed, which I appreciated so much. After delivery, she helped me with breastfeeding and continued to support us when we needed it most. I truly can't imagine our birth experience without her. I highly recommend Alix to anyone looking for a compassionate and amazing doula.

- Narges S.

Ana Ruiz

Upland, California

Ana Ruiz

9 years of experience
Accepts insurance
Packages from $380

With years of experience as a midwife and birth professional, I support families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with a holistic, grounded approach that honors both physiology and personal choice. Whether you are planning a home birth, hospital birth, birth center delivery, medicated or unmedicated experience, my role is to help you feel fully prepared — physically, emotionally, and mentally — for the birth you desire. My pregnancy bodywork sessions are designed to support optimal fetal positioning, pelvic balance, and nervous system regulation. When the body is aligned and tension patterns are released, babies can settle into ideal positions and labor often unfolds more smoothly. A regulated nervous system allows you to feel safer, more present, and more empowered — which can significantly impact both birth and postpartum recovery. In addition to hands-on bodywork, I offer comprehensive childbirth education that prepares you for the realities of labor, informed decision-making, partner support, and postpartum recovery. My goal is not to push a specific birth path, but to equip you with knowledge, confidence, and tools so you can navigate your experience feeling supported and in control. I bring both clinical insight and steady presence. I understand the nuances of hospital systems and home birth environments, and I help families advocate for themselves while staying connected to their intuition. Birth is a rite of passage — and preparation matters. When your body is balanced, your nervous system is regulated, and your mind is informed, you enter birth grounded and ready. It is an honor to walk alongside families as they prepare to welcome their babies and step into parenthood with confidence.

Candice Echeverria, IBCLC

Los Angeles, California

5.0 (5 reviews)

Candice Echeverria, IBCLC

10 years of experience
Packages from $44 · $95/hr

Hey! My name is Candice Echeverria, and I have been a lactation consultant for nearly ten years. I first began working as a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist in 2016, then received my International Board Certification in 2023. I am also a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Counselor, Certified Patient Advocate, and am pursuing my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I have helped hundreds of families overcome basic to more severe breastfeeding and infant feeding challenges working in the home, hospital, and virtually throughout the world. I love what I do and I would love to be a part of your family’s postpartum and feeding journey! My goal is to make you feel safe and comfortable expressing whatever your concerns might be, so we can process the emotions and feelings that are tied to what you are experiencing. We will go over all of your questions, find solutions for whatever might be bringing you discomfort, and move forward with plans of action that make you feel as calm and confident in caring for your baby as possible. I hope to help you understand the basic functions of breastfeeding, relax in positions that are stress- and pain-free, and help you design a feeding plan that works best for you and your family. Hopefully, we'll get some laughs in there, too! I look forward to meeting you and working with your family. With Love & Liquid Gold, Candice N. Echeverria, IBCLC, Perinatal Mental Health Counselor, Patient Advocate, and Proud Single Mama of two beautiful breastfed babies ☺️

Recent review

I was really struggling before Candice came, and after her visit I felt calmer, more confident, and truly supported. She cares deeply for both mama and baby, follows up afterwards, and brings warmth, expertise, and encouragement every step.

- Audrey D.

Ligia Erazo

Upland, California

5.0 (2 reviews)

Ligia Erazo

3 years of experience
Accepts insurance
Packages from $180

I believe with every conviction that mothers hold innate wisdom to birth their babies. , I honor your intuition through holistic care and embodied practice—supporting you through pregnancy, birth, and the sacred postpartum transition. As your Sister in Christ, I offer faith-based birth support for those wanting so. We approach your labor as an act of worship—leaning on prayer and rejoicing to reveal God's strength and love for you. I am a community-first birthworker, passionate about making holistic wellness, coaching, and education accessible to women in my community. My work blends embodied childbirth education and hands-on support across pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. As a Birthing From Within–trained mentor, I offer education that goes far beyond information—our work honors the inner journey, emotional landscape, and transformation that birth invites. Alongside this, I provide holistic, nurturing care including herbal remedies, gentle bodywork, mindful movement, breathwork, and food as medicine—supporting the body’s natural physiology while tending to the nervous system and spirit. My Philosophy: Honoring the MotherBaby Dyad I intimately understand and uphold the crucial MotherBaby bond and believe in family-oriented care that follows natural instincts. This belief shapes every facet of my postpartum support and education: Attachment Parenting: I educate and support families in honoring bonding practices such as exclusive breastfeeding, safe bed-sharing/co-sleeping, elimination communication, and babywearing. Holistic Recovery: I offer nourishing, restorative care in the first 40 days, drawing from my training as a Postpartum Practitioner mentored by Pilar Chandler, Doctor of Ayurveda for Women’s Health. Lactation Philosophy: The Power of Human Milk I am deeply committed to the evidence supporting human milk as the optimal standard for infant nutrition. While I support all feeding choices with heart, my philosophy is rooted in the conviction that exclusive breastfeeding provides unparalleled protection and nourishment. This is not just "good"; scientific consensus confirms that breast is best for both maternal and infant health outcomes.

Recent review

Gia was such a grounding presence throughout my pregnancy and birth. She really listened to what I wanted and made me feel supported the whole way through. From our prenatal visits to labor support, I felt like I had someone in my corner who truly cared. So grateful for her!

- Nicole P.

Carla Michael

California

5.0 (4 reviews)

Carla Michael

6 years of experience
Accepts insurance
Packages from $6,854

I’m a community-based birth worker and maternal health advocate with a deep commitment to supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum journey with care that is informed, calm, and centered on dignity. My work is rooted in both lived experience and years of supporting families through community initiatives focused on maternal wellness and emotional support. I also lead a maternal mental health initiative that brings mothers together in meaningful ways which build connection, healing, and shared knowledge across generations. I am especially passionate about improving birth outcomes and ensuring families feel informed, respected, and supported in every decision they make. My approach to birth is grounded in trust in the body, education, and advocacy which help parents feel safe, seen, and empowered no matter how their birth unfolds. I bring strong skills in emotional support, birth preparation education, and continuity of care, along with experience working in community settings that center Black maternal health and holistic, culturally responsive care. My goal is always to hold space where families feel both protected and empowered as they step into parenthood. Outside of birth work, I bring a warm, down-to-earth energy and love finding joy in the small things, whether that’s roller skating, music that sets the mood, or laughter that makes a hard day feel lighter. I believe joy is part of healing too, and I try to carry that into every space I’m in.

Recent review

Carla is a true God send! I'm so grateful to have found her. I was searching for a doula because I needed someone to go into the labor/delivery room and advocate for me should things not go as planned. With her help and guidance, I was able to labor successfully at home, managing my own pain, and she was right there with me to welcome my little one into the world. After leaving the hospital, I struggled tremendously with breastfeeding. She knew how important it was to me so she wouldn't let me give up. Thanks to her wisdom and helpful tips, I successfully nursed my little one for a yr and a half! Thank you again!!

- Wanda R.

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