Lactation Consulting in the privacy of your own home

Lactation Consulting is  helpful for the mother-baby pair who are having breastfeeding challenges. Seems like breastfeeding should be simple — insert part A into part B, and voila, food, right? Sometimes, the first days and weeks of breastfeeding can be difficult.

It also seems like challenges crop up in the middle of the night, on weekends, and on holidays. My business model is baby centered: contact me when you have the problem. Don’t wait for it to magically resolve, or for the office to open Monday morning. Email or text me at 4 a.m., or call me  8 a.m. -9 p.m. any day of the week.  I answer the phone Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and 4th of July. I can normally see you within 24 hours. In fact, on school days, if you contact me first thing in the morning I can almost promise you an appointment in your home the same day.

I have been a La Leche League Leader since 2002, helping mothers at meetings, on the phone and at home with everything from cracked and bleeding nipples, plugged ducts, engorgement, mastitis, low milk supply, oversupply, adoptive breastfeeding, nursing post-cesarean, and nursing twins, to tandem nursing siblings of different ages.  I was certified as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 2009.  I have learned a great deal about tongue tie, particularly posterior tongue tie.  I also work with mothers as they introduce solids, nurse children into toddlerhood and beyond, and approach the weaning process. I combine my experience and loving support with a sense of humor to make breastfeeding the joyful, normal part of your life that it should be.

I will come to your home or hospital room for the lactation visit. I feel that it is important for me to see you in your home environment, to see what resources you have available and work with you to help you overcome your challenges. I strongly encourage your partner to be present throughout the visit, if at all possible.

The visit covers your primary challenge, but I am happy to answer as many lactation and baby related questions as I am able to. Lactation visits are typically at least two hours and I charge $150, no matter how long I am with you. Travel charges may apply. I am happy to offer a sliding scale or payment plan for families in financial need.  Follow up phone calls, texts and emails are included in the initial fee, within reason. (If I start hearing from you 4 times a day, we’re going to have a conversation about it).  Follow-up visits are often useful, and I charge $75r.  If I see through our visit that you need follow up care with a breastfeeding doctor or physical therapist, I will refer you to an appropriate care provider.  I am delighted to accompany you on this visit at no extra charge.

I provide a thorough writeup of our conversation (I try to do this within 24 hours of our visit), which I also send to your health care provider and pediatrician. And, I send you an itemized bill to submit to your insurance company. More and more clients are being reimbursed.

I am very comfortable serving families of every demographic and sexual orientation.  I’m located in West Seattle and serve all of King County. If the drive is longer than 30 minutes I may charge a nominal travel fee.