Nicole M. Vazquez, MBA, IBCLC

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

Welcome! I’m thrilled you’ve found your way here. My name is Nicole, and I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), a trained childbirth educator, proud wife of 24 years and a mother to three incredible daughters who truly brighten my life. Born and raised on the sunny Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, I am fully bilingual in English and Spanish.

After a fulfilling 12-year career in the business world, I discovered my love for babies, childbirth, and breastfeeding through my challenges and triumphs of infertility and breastfeeding. In 2019, I earned my Lactation Counselor (CBI) certification. I furthered my expertise as a childbirth educator and became an Accredited Counselor with Breastfeeding USA while providing in-home lactation support to the Upstate homebirth community.

Qualifications:

Tethered Oral Tissues Specialty Training (TOTS)- 2020
Passed certification examination by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners-L307690- 2022
IBCLC Master Class: Oral Habilitation of the Breastfeeding Dyad- 2022
IBCLC Master Class: Older Babies and Unresolved Challenges- 2023
Certified Munchee/Bebe Munchee Provider- 2023
Approved Continuous Educator Provider for DONA International- 2023
IBCLC Master Class: Gut Brain Axis- 2024
United States Lactation Consultant Association- Member
South Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition- Volunteer & Member of Disaster Recovery Team

Throughout the next few years, I continued supporting families throughout the Upstate as I completed clinical requirements to be eligible for the board examination. In June 2022, I achieved International Board Certification in Lactation, the highest credential in the field.

Since then, I have been dedicated to supporting hundreds of families in the Upstate with a range of services including breastfeeding, bottle feeding, pumping, prenatal education, and introducing solid foods. I have undergone extensive training in assessing and managing lip, tongue, and buccal ties (TOTS), oral motor habilitation, and complex breastfeeding challenges. I excel at guiding families through the TOTS assessment, treatment, and aftercare processes, and I partner with several local experts to ensure the best possible outcomes.

How I can help:

My special interests include tethered oral tissues (tongue/lip/buccal ties), complex oral motor function, oral function habilitation, older babies with unresolved feeding challenges, and breastmilk supply management. I am passionate about helping families navigate challenges to achieve their feeding goals and ensure the best start for their little ones.

My goal with every family I meet is to provide steadfast support by actively listening to their unique needs and guiding them toward achieving their goals. I emphasize a collaborative approach to care and am fortunate to work with a network of trusted practitioners offering complementary services. I am dedicated to empowering families with clear, accurate information, allowing them to make well-informed decisions about their infant feeding journey. It is a privilege to accompany families from the prenatal phase through toddlerhood, offering specialized support in areas such as oral function, pre- and post-release oral restriction habilitation, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, pumping, and the introduction of solids.