Monica Bird, MSN, RN, IBCLC-RNC
Monica Bird has been working with postpartum moms and babies as a registered nurse for over 20 years. She became an IBCLC in 2010 and has been involved in building a lactation program at a growing hospital system in central Indiana. In leadership, her focus has been on developing evidence- based breasting policies, providing outpatient services, and designing and teaching breastfeeding courses for families and healthcare professionals. Monica has additional training in Perinatal Mood Disorders. In 2019, she earned her Master’s degree in Nursing Education. Most recently, she has focused her lactation practice providing in-home consultations and classes. Her passion is empowering moms by listening to their birth/breastfeeding journeys and contextualizing their experiences with relevant and researched-based education and solutions. She finds no greater fulfillment than watching a mom experience self efficacy.
Monica has been married for over 25 years. She and her husband, Sean, have 7 children, 2 sons-in-law and one granddaughter. She enjoys learning, playing tennis or pickle-ball with her family, serving in her church, listening to podcasts, and chatting with a friend over a hot cup of tea.
Kathy Thomas, BA, BSN, RN, IBCLC-RNC
Kathy, a Registered Nurse for 35 years, has held her Certification in In-Patient Obstetrics and as an International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) both for 25 years. She has worked in NICU, L&D, and Postpartum as well as a Practice Manager for an OB/GYN group in Indy. Her ultimate passion is to help moms work through various feeding issues with their little ones, and to journey along with families during this time. Kathy began her training in tethered oral tissue or tongue tie in 1986 and her practice specializes in this area. She has also designed and developed lactation educational tools for both Lactation Consultants and Registered Nurses.
Kathy's oldest son, Joel, lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife Leigh. Zach, her middle son, lives in Delta, Colorado with his wife Alyssa and their two children, Nolan and Amelia. Her youngest, Samuel, moved recently to North Carolina to work for Fidelity and so his fiancé Laura could attend Duke Divinity school. Last is the love of Kathy’s life, Jeff, her husband and friend for over 41 years. Jeff pastors at LifePointe Community Church in Moorseville, IN. Kathy has been known to sing a little and work with women’s ministries at the church.