How Much Does a Lactation Consultant or IBCLC Cost in Washington, DC?

Median package price

$438

Typical range $160–$1,625

Median hourly rate

$50/hr

Typical range $41–$63/hr

Near Washington United States
Median package $438 $250
Typical package range $160–$1,625 $135–$1,200
Median hourly rate $50/hr $50/hr

Based on 230 package prices from 66 providers listed on Bornbir within 150 miles of Washington, DC. Updated August 2026.

See national lactation consultant prices

The cost of a lactation consultant in Washington, DC 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 Washington offer telehealth options at reduced rates.

  • Insurance Coverage

    Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most health insurance plans are required to cover breastfeeding support, counseling, and equipment, which can include the services of a lactation consultant. In Washington, DC, this means your insurance may cover the cost of a lactation consultant, but it’s important to check with your specific insurance provider to confirm details such as coverage limits, in-network provider requirements, and whether a referral is needed. Some plans may only cover services provided by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) or require pre-approval, so reviewing your policy or contacting your insurer is key to understanding your benefits.

  • 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 Washington, DC, 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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Real parent reviews

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Found 63 Lactation Consultants in Washington, DC

Valentine Sakwa

Mc Lean, Virginia

5.0 (2 reviews)

Valentine Sakwa

17 years of experience
Packages from $1,499 · $45/hr

My name is Val and I am a trained NCS, and Lactation Educator. I also have training in gentle pediatric sleep conditioning, COVID safety, CPR/AED/First Aid, Safe breastmilk handling, multiples care and safe infant sleep practices. I have experience providing overnight care, 24 hr care, daytime newborn care as well as travel care. I have worked with families of different ethnicities , religions and orientations, and I am always enthusiastic to learn and follow newborn care practices that are sensitive and inclusive of the families culture. If you choose to have me work with your family, you will find me to be enthusiastic, understanding, diligent, flexible, discerning, level-headed and nurturing to the parents, the baby and other children (and pets) in the home. I genuinely enjoy working with families and newborns, and my favorite part is the exciting privilege of guiding parents through the exhilarating, and at times confusing and frustrating, world of newborns, to a point where they are confident, well rested and enthusiastic about peaceful days ahead as a family.

Recent review

I want to share my strong recommendation for Val as an Overnight Newborn Care Specialist for twins. From the moment she stepped into our home, Val's expertise and compassion shone through. Throughout the nights, she skillfully managed the needs of both babies, ensuring they were well-cared for and content. Val's dedication went beyond just basic care; she provided invaluable support and guidance to us as parents. Her reassuring presence allowed us to rest easier, knowing our twins were in capable hands. I have no doubt that Val's warmth, professionalism, and genuine love for what she does make her an exceptional choice for any family seeking overnight newborn care! Lauren Choung

- Lauren C.

Nikita Johnson-Wise

Columbia, Maryland

2.0 (4 reviews)

Nikita Johnson-Wise

13 years of experience
Packages from $85

Nikita Johnson is a graduate of The National College of Midwifery and is currently preparing to sit for her Midwifery Certification Exam in Spring 2025. She has received hands-on training under the direct supervision of Certified Nurse Midwife Bayla Berkowitz at a homebirth midwifery practice in Pikesville, MD. Nikita has also studied with respected midwives Monika Karaosman at Althea Midwifery in Berlin, MD, and Maureen McIver in Westminster, MD. Nikita Johnson brings over five years of homebirth experience, including three years as a Homebirth Assistant and Student Midwife. Prior to this, she spent six years as a Certified Obstetrics Surgical Technologist, gaining extensive hospital-based labor and delivery experience before retiring from that role. Since 2019, she has been a highly regarded birth rights doula in the DMV area, known for her assertive advocacy and commitment to helping clients navigate the complexities of the Western healthcare system. Nikita is dedicated to empowering her patients to achieve their desired birth experiences while ensuring safety and informed decision-making through evidence-based care. In addition to her hands-on work, she serves as a Doula Trainer and Mentor for The Black Doula Training, a Writer for Healthy Mom & Baby magazine (powered by the Nurses of AWHONN), a Doula Advisor for the Maryland Perinatal Neonatal Quality Collaborative, and a Maternal Health Task Force Advisor for Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She specializes in IVF/IUI and Infertility Conditions, Gyn Wellness, Home Births, Hospital Births, Unmedicated Births, Births with epidurals, VBAC's and High Risk Pregnancies. Individuals and couples working with Nikita benefit from her multi-skilled background and experience. She has been attending births since 2014 and has attended over 350+ births.

Recent review

Nikita has been a delight to work with. She provided us with everything we needed to make informed decisions. She offered us a host of resources for doctors and other practitioners that were able to help us along the way. We’re very appreciative.

- Randy M.

Nikki Williams

Mount Airy, Maryland

Nikki Williams

16 years of experience
Packages from $6,000

Nikki Williams is a Certified Professional Midwife licensed to practice in the states of Maryland and Virginia, specializing in the management of normal, low-risk pregnancy and birth in both the home and birth center setting. Nikki Williams strongly supports parents in their right to true informed consent and refusal for all decisions. It is Nikki’s expectation that her clients research all of their pregnancy and birth choices and take responsibility for educating themselves, and for communicating with Nikki whenever there are questions or concerns. Nikki will take the time to make sure that clients are clear and comfortable with all the decisions they are being asked to make during their experience in her care. Nikki respects your ultimate authority over your pregnancy, labor and birth, and baby, and strives to create family-centered birth experiences. During birth, partners or support people will be encouraged and supported to participate as much or as little as they desire. The role of Nikki as a midwife is to monitor fetal growth and development, support the mother to grow a healthy baby and to stay physically and mentally healthy themselves, provide as much or as little information as the family needs, and get to know the entire family in order to foster a positive and optimistic attitude toward birth. At birth, the midwife’s role is to assist with the birth of the baby and the placenta, monitor mother and baby vitals, support a normal neonatal transition to extrauterine life, repair any lacerations, facilitate bonding and breastfeeding, transfer to higher levels of care if needed, and clean up. Nikki’s postpartum support focuses on ensuring a healthy newborn who is feeding effectively, rest and healing of the newly postpartum mother, and integration of the baby into the whole family. Nikki Williams provides care that supports pregnancy and birth as a natural process, which minimizes but does not exclude medical intervention. Nikki carries emergency medications and equipment to manage postpartum hemorrhage, GBS prophylaxis, shock, dehydration, minor perineal repair and neonatal resuscitation at home. Nikki is unable to provide medical induction or pharmacological pain relief at home, but is knowledgeable in the use of herbs and homeopathics to encourage healthy labor and relieve pain. Nikki strongly encourages the use of water in labor and birth (hydrotherapy) and will provide all of the client education and supplies needed to allow water labor and waterbirth. Overall, Nikki Williams became a homebirth midwife after the birth of her only child, after experiencing the profound positive change in her outlook on life and new respect for herself after receiving midwifery care that allowed her to realize her power and capability for the first time. Nikki is now working her dream job that has always been waiting within her, after dedicating her early adulthood to other careers and other college degrees. She is dedicated to helping others achieve their own individual hopes and dreams for their births and themselves, so they can also realize their full power as humans and parents.

Medina W

Woodlawn, Maryland

5.0 (15 reviews)

Medina W

5 years of experience

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.

Recent review

Having Medina by my side was the best decision. Doing our pre labor meetings a month before definitely made me more comfortable with Medina and my husband also was more comfortable. We both loved having Medina as part of our journey. Two months postpartum and I absolutely I am so blessed that Medina was there. Medina truly and genuinely cared for my baby and myself. I can’t even put it to words how supportive Medina was. I loved her quick responses even at 2am! Her guidance. I’m so glad she’s a doula and I hope she becomes a midwife.and I will be recommending Her to everyone I know. I Love her and misss her!!!!!!

- Zartasha C.

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