HALCEA Member IBCLCs
Serving Far Northwest Houston
(Outside Beltway 8, North of I-10, West of I-45)
Hi, I’m Suzanne—I'm so glad you're here.
If you're looking for a warm, knowledgeable partner to support you through breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or any part of your feeding journey, I’d be honored to help. I’ve been supporting families since 2003 and became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2014.
We accept most major insurance plans, including BCBS, Aetna, United Healthcare and Cigna.
My approach is holistic and family-centered—I believe you are the expert on your baby. Whether you're navigating latch issues, supply concerns, bottle refusal, or just need someone to listen, I’ll meet you with compassion, clarity, and evidence-based support.
I founded Bayou City Breastfeeding in 2016 to create a place where families feel heard, supported, and empowered. We now serve families across Houston and San Antonio, offering care that goes beyond feeding to include mental health, bodywork, and more.
When I’m not working, I’m a mom, wife, runner, reader, and painter. I truly love what I do—and I’d love to walk alongside you in this season.
Has Scale
L-86703 (2016)
Office Location: Bayou City Breastfeeding - Kingwood Office, One Kingwood Place, 600 Rockmead Dr., Ste 212, Kingwood, TX 77339
I have helped breastfeeding mothers as a volunteer La Leche League Leader since 1993 and as an IBCLC since 1998.
Has Scale
L-16785, (11/1/1998 - 12/31/2023)
Karen joined Bayou City Breastfeeding (BCB) in 2018. Bayou City Brestfeeding is a group practice serving the greater Houston area with home visits and has five office locations. Selected insurance is accepted.
Karen began to pursue her dream of becoming a Lactation Consultant in 2013 while working in the Family Birthing Center at St. Luke’s The Woodlands. She was inspired and encouraged by their lactation consultant to start her training towards becoming an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
Karen works part time at the office of Dr. James, Liu, ENT, who specializes in diagnosing and treating tongue and lip tie. There she works closely with the mothers and babies to help overcome breastfeeding issues related to tethered oral tissues.
As a member of the team at Bayou City Breastfeeding, she is able to give moms, babies and her own family the attention they need and deserve. In her role at Bayou City Breastfeeding, Karen provides in home lactation consultations to new mothers in North Houston, The Woodlands and surrounding communities.
Karen is a mother of three young boys that keep her busy. In her spare time, Karen and her husband enjoy being active members in their church, and volunteers in the pre-school ministry. She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and running.
Has Scale
L-88305, (2015)
Office Location: Bayou City Breastfeeding Magnolia Office, 33300 Egypt Lane, Suite F-400; Magnolia, TX 77354
Tessa has been helping parents and babies with breastfeeding since 2008. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Maternal and Child Health and Human Lactation and became an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2010. She is a member of the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) and the Houston Area Lactation Consultants and Educators (HALCEA) group.
She began her career in Lactation as a hospital-based lactation consultant at the largest delivering hospital in Houston (The Woman’s Hospital of Texas). In 2015, Tessa also began working in the lactation clinic in the office of Dr. James Liu, ENT, a well-known pediatric Ear Nose and Throat physician that performs frenotomies on babies diagnosed with tongue tie. This provided her with extensive experience assessing lip and tongue ties and assisting these patients with managing and recovering from the frenectomy procedure. Her family life directly led to her interests in cases and conditions connected to tongue tied babies as both her daughters were born in need of intervention.
In 2016, Tessa, along with Suzanne Juel, established Bayou City Breastfeeding to provide advanced in-home lactation support for patients in the Houston area. Since that time, the practice has grown, and now has four office locations and has expanded to include several other IBCLCs.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four wonderful children, cooking, taking road trips and crafting. In addition to family time, she is active in her church and enjoys catching up with longtime friends, running outdoors and improving her yoga practice.
Has Scale
L-11255 (2010)
Office Location:
Bayou City Breastfeeding North Spring Office
Kyna joined the Bayou City Breastfeeding team in 2019 where she provides in-home lactation consultations for new families in Northwest Houston, Cypress, Katy and surrounding communities. Kyna continues to pursue advanced training in lactation to provide the best support possible for families dealing with complex lactation and infant feeding issues.
After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Science-Nutrition and Foods, in 2003, Kyna began her career as a Nutritionist for the Woman Infant and Children Program (WIC). During her tenure at WIC, she provided breastfeeding counseling and began teaching breastfeeding classes, and it was through this work that she discovered her desire to help babies and mothers. This ultimately led to her pursuit of the IBCLC. Kyna Patrick has proudly been an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant since 2009. After becoming an IBCLC, she began working as hospital-based IBCLC in the Austin area, with a specific focus on supporting parents and babies in Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU). In 2011, while working in the Austin area, she established a private practice to provide home visits to new parents.
After moving to Houston with her family in 2012, Kyna began working at The Woman’s Hospital of Texas with a team of fellow IBCLC’s. After 6 years at TWHT, Kyna transferred to the Kingwood Medical Center and is currently one of the inpatient IBCLCs providing lactation support to new parents. Kyna also sees private practice clients through Bayou City Breastfeeding.
In 2015 Kyna began working in the office of Dr. James Liu, ENT and continues there as a team member, providing pre- and post-frenectomy support for families struggling with breastfeeding/feeding issues and oral anomalies such as tongue tie. In this venue, she has gained extensive knowledge of how to support families through the frenectomy process.
She is a member of the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) and the Houston Area Lactation Consultants and Educators (HALCEA) group.
Kyna is a dedicated Christian and is active in her church. When not working, she spends time with her husband, stepson, young daughter, infant son, and Max (the doggie), Mel and Cloud (the cats).
Kyna’s website (Bayou City Breastfeeding)
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L-26055
Office Location: Cypress, Texas
Ali joined Bayou City Breastfeeding in 2020 to fulfill her longtime dream of working in private practice. This has enabled her to provide lactation care throughout the entire course of families’ breastfeeding experiences. After enduring multiple breastfeeding challenges (including tongue and lip ties) with each of her four children, Ali understands the importance of having easy access to emotional support, community support, and reliable information, far beyond the early days of breastfeeding.
Has Scale
IBCLC L-15421 (2021)
Ali’s Website (Bayou City Breastfeeding)
Office visit location:
Bayou City Breastfeeding Kingwood Office
Jessica joined Bayou City Breastfeeding in 2021 and also provides lactation services at the office of Dr. James Liu in the Woodlands.
Jessica graduated with her nursing degree in 2003 knowing she wanted to work with babies. After working in the NICU at Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital for almost 2 years, she and her husband had their first child and through her breastfeeding experience with her, her passion for breastfeeding began. She stayed at home with their first child and then went on to have another daughter 19mo later. Just as she found out she was pregnant with their third child, she returned to work as a RN, at St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital, in the NICU. After cross-training to the postpartum unit, Jessica found joy in helping moms and well-babies just beginning their breastfeeding journey. This is when the path to becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant truly began. This path would hold many obstacles and life events halting her progress, and even pauses in working in the nursing world to open and run a CrossFit gym with her husband, also a RN, in 2011.
Then in 2015, after a 3-year stint away from the hospital, Jessica returned to St. Luke’s, but as a Postpartum Nurse, in order to begin accumulating the required contact hours for the IBCLC exam. About 6 months later, she was given the opportunity to work on their lactation team, while she continued to accumulate contact hours. She also ran their weekly breastfeeding support group for the almost 5 years she was there as well as teaching the monthly prenatal breastfeeding class. During her time at St. Luke’s she had child #5 and #6, boys that were both tongue and lip tied. She truly believes that she was given these experiences so she can better serve those mommas and babies facing similar challenges in their breastfeeding journey.
Being a homeschooling mom with 4 schooling and 2 littles, she decided once again to leave the nursing world in March of 2020, just before the COVID shutdown. But God had other plans, and out of the blue, just a few months after leaving the hospital, she was offered the opportunity to do what she has always dreamed of; `working with moms and babies on a more personal basis, through private practice with Bayou City Breastfeeding Lactation Consultants as well as working on the lactation team at the office of Dr. James, Liu, ENT, who specializes in diagnosing and treating oral restrictions. In her role at the office, she provides pre and post-frenotomy support for families dealing with feeding problems caused by lip and tongue-ties, something she knows personally from having had children with oral restrictions.
Jessica strives to pursue advanced training in lactation to provide the best support possible for families dealing with complex lactation and infant feeding issues.
Has Scale
IBCLC: L-301988 (2026)
Call/Text Jessica
Visit Jessica’s Website (Bayou City Breastfeeding)
Office Location:
Bayou City Breastfeeding Magnolia Office
Ariel began her career as a neuroscientist studying the neural basis of learning, memory, and drug addiction but quickly found that her passion for scientific research was surpassed by caring for her first child in 2009. Living in Paris, France at the time, she left the research world to stay with her daughter full time. She was surprised at how breastfeeding became so much a part of caring for her daughter and helping others with breastfeeding became a passion when she moved back to the US in 2010 and started leading meetings at a local breastfeeding support group in Katy, TX. After a few years of volunteering, Ariel became certified as an IBCLC and began a private practice in Vermont where she was living at the time. Life brought her back to the Houston area in December of 2020 where she joined Bayou City Breastfeeding and is happy to be part of such an amazing group! Ariel successfully breastfed all three of her girls, though not without its challenges, and she therefore knows that support is critical! Although she doesn’t work in the scientific field any longer, the scientific method has helped guide her methodology as an IBCLC since she believes getting to the root cause of a breastfeeding issue is critical, and that temporary fixes often hide important underlying functional or structural issues which need to be addressed in order to have the best breastfeeding experience. Ariel is happy to be part of Bayou City Breastfeeding and looks forward to supporting families in any way they need.
Has Scale
IBCLC: L-98391 (2026)
Ariel’s Website (Bayou City Breastfeeding)
Office Location:
Bayou City Breastfeeding Houston Office
Brandy joined the Bayou City Breastfeeding team in 2021 providing in home and in office lactation consultations.
Has Scale
L-133138
Office Location: Bayou City Breastfeeding Katy Office, 26077 Nelson Way, Unit 601, Katy, TX 77494
Bayou City Breastfeeding Houston Office
As a medical professional and lactation consultant, I strive to provide holistic, evidence based support and care in an empathetic, educational, and empowering manner. I have personal experience with breastfeeding twins, breastfeeding our special needs child, pumping, and extended breastfeeding. Each feeding journey has been unique and special, and my desire to help others led me to start Leading Lactation. I have a medical background, working for 7 years as a labor and delivery nurse and 2 years as an emergency room nurse.
For appointments:
Telephone number: 281-832-4628
Email: jennifer@leadinglactation.com
Website: www.leadinglactation.com
Bring scale to consults: Yes
Virtual visits -Yes
Home visits- Yes
L-311471 07/01/2023
Hey there, I'm Kristin Ramirez, IBCLC RLC, here to support and empower you on your breastfeeding journey. With a sprinkle of warmth, a dash of expertise, and a whole lot of passion, I'm dedicated to helping families in Tomball, Spring, and Cypress thrive.
My path to becoming an IBCLC was paved by my own experiences breastfeeding my children. Five years as an IBCLC and three years prior as a CLC have given me a deep understanding of the joys and challenges that come with nurturing little ones.
I believe in taking a holistic approach to lactation support, seeing the breastfeeding dyad as more than just the baby. By addressing the physical, emotional, and environmental factors at play, I'm able to provide comprehensive support tailored to your unique needs and preferences.
I firmly believe that family members play a vital role in the breastfeeding journey. Where there's support from partners, grandparents, and other family members, successful breastfeeding flourishes.
Comfort is key in my book! I'm all about getting cozy during feedings and practicing skin-to-skin contact to enhance communication between you and your little one. It's not just about optimizing latch and effectiveness – it's about strengthening the bond between parent and child.
What fuels my fire? It's the incredible feeling of helping families reach their infant feeding goals and supporting them every step of the way. When I'm not in my professional role, you'll likely find me in the kitchen, whipping up delicious meals and experimenting with new recipes – cooking is my happy place!
So, if you're ready to embark on a journey of breastfeeding success, I'm here to guide and cheer you on every step of the way. Let's make your breastfeeding goals a reality – together!
Has Scale
L-139971
Office Location: Bayou City Breastfeeding - Jones Road Office, 12777 Jones Road STE 455, Houston, TX 77070
Lisa knew from a young age that she wanted to be a nurse. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in Fall of 2012, from SFASU. In 2013, she started her career working for a Neuro-Oncologist in Houston who specializes in treating brain cancers. She married her husband, Brian, in 2014. After she experienced breastfeeding difficulties with her own tongue and lip tied baby her journey towards supporting breastfeeding dyads began.
In 2017, She returned to work and switched fields of nursing, leaving private practice and entering into the hospital setting. She worked as a postpartum mother/baby nurse at St. Luke’s and quickly became part of the lactation team, having the privilege to enter into many families' first feeding moments and experiences with their newborns.
In 2018, she gave birth to her first son, who was diagnosed with a rare congenital heart defect and who spent 1 month in the level IV NICU. During this time, she experienced exclusive pumping for the first 3 weeks until she was allowed to breastfeed him in the NICU. She continued to pump while separated until he came home, where she was able to breastfeed him. In 2020, she became pregnant with her 3rd child. During her pregnancy she obtained her CLC while working towards obtaining her IBCLC. She gave birth to her second son in the Fall of 2020. She has been a licensed IBCLC since January 2021, and later joined Bayou City Breastfeeding that Spring. Lisa has successfully breastfed all three of her children through various challenges including returning to work. More recently, she has become certified with the Child Sleep Institute after having difficulties night weaning her own 2 yr old at the time. The Child Sleep Institute has given Lisa the tools needed to help support families experiencing difficulties in their child’s sleep.
Lisa's approach as an IBCLC is to bring compassion, evidence-based information, and support to her clients as they navigate the many facets of infant feeding. She is eager to continue her education to better support and meet her client's needs throughout their feeding journeys, however it looks from infancy to weaning.
Lisa and her husband, Brian, have 3 young children. They enjoy spending their free time with family and friends, and training in Jujitsu. Her husband pastors a church and Lisa stays at home with their children, homeschooling, working part-time, and enjoying other hobbies as she has time.
Has Scale
Location: Virtual Only
Hello, I’m Katelyn Kleiber, and I’m passionate about empowering families on their breastfeeding journey. As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Registered Lactation Consultant (RLC), I’ve dedicated my career to supporting new parents and their little ones.
I took a unique path to becoming an IBCLC. Unlike many others, I started working in lactation before experiencing my own breastfeeding journey. But my fascination with a woman’s incredible ability to grow and sustain life has been with me since childhood. This lifelong passion for women’s health led me to explore various avenues within the field.
Then came my “aha” moment: lactation. I realized there was a significant gap in support for postpartum families, and I felt drawn to fill it. Guided by this newfound purpose, I embarked on my journey as a lactation consultant.
Since July 2022, I’ve officially held the title of IBCLC. However, my journey began earlier—back in December 2021—when I worked with clients as a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS) and intern. These experiences shaped my approach to lactation support.
I firmly believe that our bodies and beings are interconnected. When working with families, I consider both mother and baby as part of a system. It’s essential to address complications on both sides. But my philosophy extends beyond medical care.
I create realistic, sustainable plans that preserve positive relationships around feedings. Breastfeeding isn’t just about nutrition; it’s a beautiful dance between two souls. I encourage laid-back breastfeeding, allowing families to feed without cumbersome nursing pillows. Babies can use their reflexes to their advantage, making feeding a more natural experience.
At Bayou City Breastfeeding, we’ve designed a care model that allows us to continue supporting families over weeks, months, or even years. These meaningful relationships are incredibly special. Witnessing progress and positive changes during our journey together fills me with joy.
Breastfeeding success isn’t a solo endeavor. Families—partners, grandparents, and all—are crucial. Their support eases the transition into life with a newborn. Together, we create a nurturing environment where everyone plays a vital role.
Every family is unique. I take the time to understand their goals, challenges, and dreams. Whether it’s baby-led latch, side-lying bottle feeding, or other techniques, I tailor my recommendations to fit their specific situation. Realistic, doable plans ensure families thrive.
Breastfeeding can be overwhelming. When mothers feel uncertain or stressed, I work collaborativel with the mother to identify stressors and create a personalized strategy to minimize discomfort. We’re a team, supporting each other through the ups and downs.
When I’m not helping families, you’ll find me exploring the world. Traveling allows me to learn from different cultures and connect with people. I’m an avid reader, diving into books that expand my horizons. And nature—oh, how it rejuvenates my soul! Whether hiking through lush forests or strolling along sandy shores, I find solace in the great outdoors.
Has Scale
Location: Bayou City Breastfeeding Katy office and Jones Road Office
Hi there! I'm Amanda Wilson, RN IBCLC, but you can just call me Mandy. Let me give you a glimpse into my journey and approach to lactation support.
My path to becoming an IBCLC was deeply personal. After facing my own breastfeeding struggles with my first son in 2015, I realized the critical need for accessible help and support. As a Labor and Delivery nurse, I made it my mission to aid new moms with breastfeeding, often becoming the go-to person when lactation support was scarce. This passion led me to obtain my IBCLC certification in December 2021, following years of dedication in the field.
With a background in both nursing and lactation support, I blend the best of both worlds in my practice. I have a holistic approach, preferring conservative options and homeopathic remedies while valuing the importance of Western medicine when needed.
What drives me most in my work is witnessing the triumphs of breastfeeding families. From setting goals to achieving milestones, I find immense joy in helping mothers bond with their babies through breastfeeding.
Every family is unique, and I tailor my support accordingly. By discussing specific goals and concerns, I create individualized plans to meet their needs. And when uncertainty or overwhelm arises, I offer validation, simplification, and a focus on small victories.
In my practice, I believe in the power of different techniques for different situations. From co-bathing to utilizing nipple shields when necessary, I advocate for responsive parenting and safe co-sleeping while educating parents on their options.
Beyond my professional role, you'll find me hitting the pavement as an avid runner. For almost 25 years, Saturday mornings have been reserved for 10+ mile runs with my running crew.
As Thomas Edison wisely said, "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always just to try one more time." This quote resonates deeply with me as I continue to support and empower breastfeeding families on their journeys.
Has Scale
Location: Bayou City Breastfeeding Magnolia office, 33300 Egypt Lane #f-400, Magnolia Texas 77354
About Me
Hello! I’m Dana Gillman, and I wear several hats in the world of lactation support. As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), a Certified Doula (CD) through DONA International, and an ICEA Certified Childbirth Educator (ICCE), I’ve dedicated the past decade to empowering families on their breastfeeding journeys.
My Journey
Breastfeeding wasn’t always smooth sailing for me. When I welcomed my first child into the world, I faced challenges that left me feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. But fate intervened—I was fortunate to have a pediatrician who recognized the importance of lactation support. With just a few simple techniques, I found renewed hope and determination. That experience ignited a passion within me: I wanted to be that guiding light for other moms who felt lost amidst the breastfeeding maze.
Education and Expertise
B.S. in Health Science: My foundation was laid at Texas A&M University, where I earned my degree in Health Science. Armed with knowledge, I set out to make a difference.
TOTS – Gold Conference Training: I’ve honed my skills through specialized training, including the TOTS program. Staying up-to-date is crucial in this ever-evolving field.
Holistic Approach
My philosophy centers around a holistic approach. Nutrition matters. During pregnancy and lactation, a mother’s diet plays a pivotal role in nourishing her baby. With proper guidance and nutritional counseling, moms can confidently provide the best for their little ones.
The Rewarding Path
What keeps me going? Witnessing the magic between a mother and her baby. I stand alongside moms as they work tirelessly toward their breastfeeding goals. Whether it’s overcoming latch issues, boosting milk supply, or navigating pumping schedules, every victory is a shared celebration.
Beyond the Consult Room
When I’m not supporting families, you’ll find me immersed in various passions:
Photography: Capturing life’s fleeting moments brings me immense joy.
Reading: A good book is my escape.
Exercise: Staying active keeps both body and mind in balance.
Family and Friends: Quality time with loved ones is non-negotiable.
Knitting Baby Hats: There’s something magical about creating warmth stitch by stitch.
The Village Matters
Breastfeeding isn’t a solo journey. Family members play a crucial role. Partners, grandparents, and siblings—all need to rally around the breastfeeding mom. Their support creates an environment where success thrives.
Tailoring Support
Every family is unique. I tailor my support to meet their specific needs. Whether it’s a virtual visit or an in-person home consultation in Tomball and its surrounding areas, I’m there, cheering them on.
Join me on this beautiful journey—one latch, one smile, and one baby hat at a time.
Has Scale