My baby is not latching since we came home from the hospital. What can I do?
Well, I am happy you've reached out. You can set up an office or telehealth visit on my appointments page. If I am not the one for you, you can find another IBCLC, contact Breastfeeding USA or La Leche League Garden State or at the very least talk to that one breastfeeding friend that is just so eager to help you out.
How much do you cost?
Hopefully, you've probably already checked out my appointments page and seen the prices. Maybe you thought, Holy Moley, what the heck?! Keep in mind that you can be partially or totally reimbursed from your insurance company and that's up to you to determine. The price is inline with my level of expertise, education (which is significant to earn the board certification for lactation consulting) as well as all the time I spend on your care. I offer a bespoke service. Initial consultations are 90 minutes and follow ups are 60 minutes. What other health professional provides that level of time and attention? Our value is high and if you live in this metro area then you know that's the price of a super nice dinner or a massage at a fancy spa, but with a home visit you get compassionate, expert help to feed your baby and peace of mind - both are priceless, imho.
Why don't you take all insurance?
I am in-network with Aetna so usually that means up to 6 visits are covered by Aetna as free - great for you and baby! Most other insurances do not contract with any IBCLCs. Even though lactation care is covered as a preventive health service for women under the ACA - the insurance companies have yet to catch up. I focus on caring for lactating people and their babies and not chasing insurance companies for payment. On the bright side, I do provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company to get reimbursement. I advise you to call your insurance before the visit to see what your benefits are - and my visit should be covered as preventative healthcare under ACA by law. The National Women's Law Center has developed a toolkit called New Benefits for Breastfeeding Moms: Facts and Tools to Understand Your Coverage under the Health Care Law. Breastfeeding support is considered preventative and by law is a covered, but every plan differs and you are responsible to know your own benefits. Some "grandfathered" plans do not cover lactation services as preventative! If they do not have a lactation care provider in network, you can ask them to make a gap exception. This allows health insurance companies to compensate for gaps in their network by entitling you to use an out-of-network provider as in-network participant.
Can you help me increase my milk supply?
Yes, I can *help* you, but no one can do it for you. While I do dream about having a magic wand that can fix all problems without any effort, it's just not happening. Increasing milk supply is usually down to increasing the frequency of milk removal. So it's not about harvesting the milk and getting all focused on that (at first at least). It's about frequent emptying of the breast with the baby or the pump or a combo of both. There are things called galactogogues that can help, but just like you buying new running shoes, you actually have to use them and go running to increase your running abilities. Galactogogues are like running shoes - they look nice, they feel nice, and they help you look awesome, but you still have to run to reap the benefits. So take some oats, or fenugreek (as long as you don't have a thyroid issue) and get to removing milk (ie running in this metaphor) and you will make more breastmilk in about 3-5 days. Don't worry about how much you are harvesting, worry about how frequently your are pumping. Realize that at first it's thankless work, but you are putting in the time to get the benefit - it just takes longer than anything these days. Amazon, you've spoiled us! More frequent stimulation = more milk in about 3-5 days. As with everything, there are exceptions and that's where expertise comes in to play and I can help you design a plan to increase production or help you evaluate what you are doing that's beneficial. Hit me up for a visit.
I tried to book with you via the appointments page, but you are not available when I want you to come ie right now and today!
I might be able to fit you in. That's when you should text me directly at 646 465 0163 and I'll see what we can do to make it work. If it's more than 24 hours ahead then please for the sake of yours and my sanity use the appointment page.
This baby latches on, but it hurts so bad! OUCH. Help!
I am going to tell you to book a visit, but in the meantime check out this ace video from the good people at the fantastic non-profit Global Health Media Project and if you end up not needing my help, consider donating to them.
Well, I am happy you've reached out. You can set up an office or telehealth visit on my appointments page. If I am not the one for you, you can find another IBCLC, contact Breastfeeding USA or La Leche League Garden State or at the very least talk to that one breastfeeding friend that is just so eager to help you out.
How much do you cost?
Hopefully, you've probably already checked out my appointments page and seen the prices. Maybe you thought, Holy Moley, what the heck?! Keep in mind that you can be partially or totally reimbursed from your insurance company and that's up to you to determine. The price is inline with my level of expertise, education (which is significant to earn the board certification for lactation consulting) as well as all the time I spend on your care. I offer a bespoke service. Initial consultations are 90 minutes and follow ups are 60 minutes. What other health professional provides that level of time and attention? Our value is high and if you live in this metro area then you know that's the price of a super nice dinner or a massage at a fancy spa, but with a home visit you get compassionate, expert help to feed your baby and peace of mind - both are priceless, imho.
Why don't you take all insurance?
I am in-network with Aetna so usually that means up to 6 visits are covered by Aetna as free - great for you and baby! Most other insurances do not contract with any IBCLCs. Even though lactation care is covered as a preventive health service for women under the ACA - the insurance companies have yet to catch up. I focus on caring for lactating people and their babies and not chasing insurance companies for payment. On the bright side, I do provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company to get reimbursement. I advise you to call your insurance before the visit to see what your benefits are - and my visit should be covered as preventative healthcare under ACA by law. The National Women's Law Center has developed a toolkit called New Benefits for Breastfeeding Moms: Facts and Tools to Understand Your Coverage under the Health Care Law. Breastfeeding support is considered preventative and by law is a covered, but every plan differs and you are responsible to know your own benefits. Some "grandfathered" plans do not cover lactation services as preventative! If they do not have a lactation care provider in network, you can ask them to make a gap exception. This allows health insurance companies to compensate for gaps in their network by entitling you to use an out-of-network provider as in-network participant.
Can you help me increase my milk supply?
Yes, I can *help* you, but no one can do it for you. While I do dream about having a magic wand that can fix all problems without any effort, it's just not happening. Increasing milk supply is usually down to increasing the frequency of milk removal. So it's not about harvesting the milk and getting all focused on that (at first at least). It's about frequent emptying of the breast with the baby or the pump or a combo of both. There are things called galactogogues that can help, but just like you buying new running shoes, you actually have to use them and go running to increase your running abilities. Galactogogues are like running shoes - they look nice, they feel nice, and they help you look awesome, but you still have to run to reap the benefits. So take some oats, or fenugreek (as long as you don't have a thyroid issue) and get to removing milk (ie running in this metaphor) and you will make more breastmilk in about 3-5 days. Don't worry about how much you are harvesting, worry about how frequently your are pumping. Realize that at first it's thankless work, but you are putting in the time to get the benefit - it just takes longer than anything these days. Amazon, you've spoiled us! More frequent stimulation = more milk in about 3-5 days. As with everything, there are exceptions and that's where expertise comes in to play and I can help you design a plan to increase production or help you evaluate what you are doing that's beneficial. Hit me up for a visit.
I tried to book with you via the appointments page, but you are not available when I want you to come ie right now and today!
I might be able to fit you in. That's when you should text me directly at 646 465 0163 and I'll see what we can do to make it work. If it's more than 24 hours ahead then please for the sake of yours and my sanity use the appointment page.
This baby latches on, but it hurts so bad! OUCH. Help!
I am going to tell you to book a visit, but in the meantime check out this ace video from the good people at the fantastic non-profit Global Health Media Project and if you end up not needing my help, consider donating to them.