More About Me

Stephanie Hutchinson (pronouns: she/her/hers) is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and International Public Speaker who lives in southeastern Ohio - specifically Gallipolis, Ohio - with her wife and two daughters. She began her journey into the lactation field in 2007, after the birth of her first daughter. Starting as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer, Stephanie continued to pursue education and certifications, with hopes to mentor young, diverse lactation folx in Appalachia. Stephanie holds three degrees: AA in Communications, BS in Leadership with a Concentration in Maternal Child Health: Lactation Consulting, and MBA in Entrepreneurship with a Concentration on Non-Profit Leadership. 

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Stephanie earned her CLS (Certified Lactation Specialist) in 2012 and her CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor) in 2013. She sat for the IBLCE in July 2015, to find out she passed and earned the credential of IBCLC in October 2015. You can find Rainbow Mountain Lactation online where Stephanie provides individualized consultations and lactation classes. Stephanie also works for Lactation Education Consultants as an instructor, administrative assistant, and media manager and is the Hotline Administrator for Appalachian Breastfeeding Network. Stephanie has presented to many different conferences and symposiums across the world and is also available to present on various Appalachian-centered and LGBTQIA2S+ lactation topics at conferences, meetings, or educational sessions. For more information click here. 

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It is Stephanie's mission, along with the help and guidance of many influential colleagues, to make equitable change in her state, as well as all of Appalachia. Her key focuses are on inclusivity, equitable access to lactation care, and diversification of what the lactation field looks like and how it will continue to grow. She believes in mentoring young aspiring lactation professionals to help them tap into their own strengths and skills, while also working to change policies and structures that are currently not conducive to empowering young folx to desire to enter the lactation field.

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In May of 2016, Stephanie founded Appalachian Breastfeeding Network, dreaming that one day our parents would have the access to lactation care that they deserve. In just one year, the network grew to 11 states and 250 members. By 5 years, the network continued to grow to over 600 members across all 13 states in Appalachia - and beyond! Now, in almost 10 years, ABN has grown to over 800 members! Appalachian Breastfeeding Network continues to grow in its membership, its capacity, and its visibility. Stephanie received an award in March 2017 at Ohio Lactation Consultant Association's Annual "Breastfest" Conference as an "Outstanding Innovation as a Cultural Change Agent" and at this conference ABN received a $1,000 grant to help fund the 1st Annual Appalachian Breastfeeding Conference in October of 2017. ABN has been featured as USBC's June Coalition Spotlight in June 2017 and achieved 501(c)3 status in June 2017 as well. She received the "Emerging Leader Award" from USBC in August 2018. The first listed cultural coalition under USBC continues to grow as Stephanie, along with the rest of the board, works diligently to increase equitable access to care. Stephanie was awarded the 2019 Terry Jo Curtis Award from the United States Lactation Consultant Association for her work with equity and increasing access to care in Appalachia. Stephanie is also OutCare Certified, after completing an inclusivity competency training in 2019. 

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 Stephanie previously served as an Elected Board Director for the United States Breastfeeding Committee as well as many other positions on both regional and state organizational boards.

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When not busy with the above, Stephanie enjoys being a wife and mother, traveling (especially on Disney cruises!), and jigsaw puzzles.​