We can’t wait to welcome you to our cozy appointment space!

Does my health insurance cover lactation appointments?

Maybe! Currently, a few employer-sponsored health insurance plans cover lactation appointments via The Lactation Network (TLN). Through our contract with TLN, TLN pays your appointment fee for you and then bills your insurance as if Optimal Nurturing Lactation is a contractor for TLN. Insurance companies TLN commonly works with include: BlueCross BlueShield, Anthem, Veterans Affairs Community Care Network (VACCN), MultiPlan, and Provider Network of America (PNOA). If you have one of those plans and haven't already checked, you can check your insurance coverage through TLN at go.lactationnetwork.com/OptimalNurturingLLC. Those not pre-approved through TLN should call the member's services number on the back of their insurance card and ask if their plan covers lactation appointments through your out-of-network benefits. If so, you will pay for your appointment as self-pay and Optimal Nurturing Lactation can provide a document called a superbill so that you can file your claim yourself to ask for reimbursement. Reimbursement is not guaranteed.

What does a lactation appointment involve?

Lactation appointments are comprehensive and individualized and no two appointments are the same. First we will discuss your medical history, your birth, and your baby's health history. Then we will assess both mom and baby, observe a feeding session, and provide hands-on or verbal instructions for techniques which can improve feeding. Last we will make recommendations that can help you improve or resolve infant feeding challenges. Initial appointments usually take 1.5 hours and follow up appointments usually take 1 hour!

What will I get out of a lactation consultation?

You will gain practical and applicable knowledge you need to set and meet your individual infant feeding goals. You will be enabled to use the tools you've gained confidently and receive as much or as little support as you want and need. You will receive your written, customized plan after our appointments to refer back to as needed.

How many appointments will I need?

Every family’s needs are different and it depends on what feeding problems you’re encountering!  The vast majority of clients need more than 1 appointment! Research shows that 3 lactation appointments is the ideal number for those who are not experiencing complex feeding situations. Some families need as few as 3 appointments to meet their goals and some families with more complex feeding challenges may need weekly appointments for several months to meet their feeding goals.

How long do appointments take?

Most of our appointments are booked for 1-hour time slots. We feel that one hour is the perfect amount of time to observe feeding, address 1-3 major lactation challenges, give you necessary education, and provide action items for at-home use to improve feeding challenges without overwhelming you with too much information. It is often impossible to address every single concern in only one appointment, therefore, we will prioritize the most urgent or important concerns and address the others at follow-up appointments. We used to do longer appointments, but clients gave us feedback that after the longer appointments, they felt overwhelmed with information. Therefore, we have shortened our appointments and encourage more frequent follow-ups. Initial appointments may sometimes take up to 1.5 hours, if necessary.

Do I need to organize childcare for my older children?

Please bring your child who is drinking your milk to your appointment. As far as older children, not necessarily! We understand that organizing childcare for other toddlers or school-age children can be extremely difficult. If you need to bring your toddler or school-age child to your lactation appointment, we do not mind at all. However, some parents feel they can listen and learn better when there are fewer distractions and prefer to arrange childcare for their older children. If you choose to bring older children, consider bringing something to occupy them during the appointment, and keep in mind that our room where lactation appointments take place is extremely small. It is possible to accommodate a family of 3-4, but it feels a little cramped.

Can I do a lactation consultation while I’m still pregnant?

Absolutely and you probably should! Prenatal appointments provide you with all the information and education you need to be successful after your baby arrives. In today’s healthcare environment where short-staffing is the norm, you cannot always rely on the hospital to give you all the support you need for breastfeeding, so show up empowered and ready on your baby’s birthday!