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Lactation Services

Minnesota Birth Center offers comprehensive lactation services, including a prenatal breastfeeding class, individualized postpartum support, and a welcoming postpartum support group.

What We Offer

Prenatal Breastfeeding Class

1-on-1 Lactation Appointments

  • Personalized, one-on-one visits with lactation consultants and specialists
  • Support tailored to your individual feeding goals
  • Hour-long appointments
  • Available throughout the week
  • Locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul
  • Call to schedule your appointment

Postpartum Support Group

  • Join us for a FREE drop-in lactation group
  • Led by one of our lactation specialists
  • Enjoy basic lactation guidance, group discussion and fresh baked bread!
  • Every Monday from 10:30am-12:00pm
  • 624 Smith Ave. St. Paul MN 55107
  • Open to the public

Our Lactation Providers

Abbie Hull

RN, IBCLC

Abbie's Bio

Aszani Stoddard

APRN, CNM, IBCLC

Aszani's Bio

Shelby Fonley

APRN, CNM, IBCLC

Shelby's Bio

What's the Difference Between a Lactation Consultant and a Lactation Specialist?

At Minnesota Birth Center, we offer care from both IBCLCs (International Board Certified Lactation Consultants) and Lactation Specialists.

IBCLCs are highly trained professionals certified to manage more complex feeding challenges, including latch issues, supply concerns, pumping strategies, tongue/lip ties, and more.

Lactation Specialists have completed specialized training in lactation support and offers compassionate, practical help with positioning, latch, newborn feeding cues, and early breastfeeding guidance. They’re often a first point of contact for new parents needing timely, supportive care.

Together, our team works collaboratively to provide personalized, compassionate support for every feeding journey.

To schedule an appointment, please call:

Minneapolis: 612-545-5311, ext. 1

St. Paul: 651-689-3988, ext. 1

Get scheduled with us!

If you plan to use insurance for our services, please vivist our insured patients page and follow the steps to verify your coverage.

Call us to schedule an appointment: Minneapolis 612-545-5311, ext. 1, St. Paul 651-689-3988, ext. 1

Abbie Hull

RN, IBCLC

Abbie started her journey into the birth world by watching baby goats be born on her family’s farm and also by seeing the births of her two younger brothers. She first started at the Minnesota Birth Center as a facility cleaner, then became a birth doula, then went to nursing school, and has been at the Minnesota Birth Center as a registered nurse since 2017. In 2020, she became a certified lactation counselor and loves helping families in their feeding journey. Abbie, her husband Brandon, and their daughter love exploring local coffee shops, traveling whenever they can, enjoying the outdoors, and gardening.

Aszani Stoddard

APRN, CNM, IBCLC

Aszani has been a midwife for over 20 years and an IBCLC for over 10 years. She founded and directed the first nationally accredited, baby-friendly birth center in Wisconsin in 2003. Aszani has deep experience in all birth settings, including home, birth center and hospital birth. She is passionately committed to supporting women and birthing people in their power during the maternity cycle and beyond. Aszani has her own private practice doing Functional Medicine and loves the detective work that comes with solving complex medical issues. In her free time, Aszani enjoys live music, gardening, knitting, moving her body in the outdoors and hanging out with friends and family.
Aszani Stoddard

Shelby Fonley

APRN, CNM

Shelby grew up in the Midwest and lived in the Twin Cities during high school. She received her BS in Biology at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls. As a wildlife biologist, she has lived and traveled to many areas of the US and developed an appreciation for its diverse cultures. After raising a family and having three home births with midwives, she was inspired to pursue her passion for mothers and babies by returning to school to become a Certified Nurse Midwife. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida and her master’s in Midwifery at Frontier Nursing University, KY. She has clinical experience in med surg, pediatrics, labor and delivery, worked with the Santa Fe Maternal and Child Health Council, and was a La Leche League Leader for four years. Outside of her clinical work, she enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, and the arts, as well as spending time with her family and Jack Russell Terrier. Shelby is a dedicated and compassionate Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) providing comprehensive, patient-centered care to individuals throughout the childbearing years, with a deep commitment to supporting women and families. In addition to midwifery care, she is passionate about educating and empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health and childbirth options and providing evidence-based care that is holistic and personalized while always ensuring a collaborative approach with their patients and families.
Shelby-fonley