Maternal-Infant Leadership Consulting

MILC

Bonnie Rutkowski, DHSc, IBCLC · Founder & Principal Consultant

Leadership in maternal health. From policy to practice.

DHSc Doctor of Health Sciences IBCLC Lactation Consultant Lean Six Sigma Healthcare

What MILC does

MILC is a woman-owned consulting firm that translates the clinical realities of maternal-infant health into policy that is evidence-based, equitable, and operationally sound. We bridge the persistent gap between what we know about maternal health and what families actually experience — from the operating room to the state capitol. Our work begins where policy ends: on the floor, with families, where it matters most.

WOSB Evidence-informed Equity-centered

What we offer

Where clinical authority meets policy fluency

Five ways MILC helps health systems, agencies, and community organizations turn maternal-infant evidence into care that families actually receive.

Policy Analysis & Writing

Policy briefs, legislative analysis, clinical protocols, and SOPs that hold up under federal audit.

Program Design & Technical Assistance

Baby-Friendly designation, perinatal mental health programs, and breastfeeding coalition support.

Grant Writing & Funding Strategy

HRSA, CMS, and CDC applications, needs assessments, and compliance for active awards.

Training & Curriculum

Evidence-based lactation, perinatal mental health, and cultural-competency training for care teams.

Maternal Health Equity

Specialized support for Black, Hispanic, rural, and historically underserved maternal populations.

Not sure where to start?

Tell us about your population and timeline — we'll scope the right engagement.

Start a conversation →

Who we serve

Institutions accountable for maternal and infant outcomes.

MILC works alongside the teams that write the rules, hold the contracts, and deliver the care — engagements scoped to your timeline, your reporting requirements, and the populations you serve.

State health departments

Maternal-infant policy, Title V programs, and perinatal quality initiatives.

Federally Qualified Health Centers

FQHC program design, compliance, and lactation-care workflows.

Hospital systems & birthing centers

Baby-Friendly designation, clinical SOPs, and staff training.

WIC agencies & lactation programs

Breastfeeding coalition support and peer-counselor curricula.

Public health nonprofits

Grant strategy, needs assessments, and equity-centered program build.

Maternal-infant research initiatives

Translating findings into protocol, practice, and policy that sticks.

Evidence becomes equity only when it is written into policy, embedded into procedure, and protected by leadership.

Bonnie Rutkowski, DHSc, IBCLC — Founder & Principal Consultant

From the founder

The Breastfeeding Primer

Evidence-based guidance for new parents — written with warmth, grounded in current research. The Primer gives families the essentials of how lactation works and how to be successful: clinically sound, but written for the people living it, not the journal that publishes it.

Buy on Amazon → Amazon link coming soon

Ordering in volume?

For clinics, hospitals, prenatal classes, and WIC programs — request bulk pricing on copies of the Primer.

Request bulk pricing →

Get in touch

Considering MILC for an upcoming initiative?

Tell us about your population, your timeline, and your deliverable. We respond to institutional inquiries within two business days.