Do You Need Breastfeeding Help? Private Breastfeeding Consults in Home or in Office

Is the price for an IBCLC worth it?  Best for Babes resoundingly says, “Yes!“

According to Best for Babes, “Last year, the New York Times published an article (by Amber McCann, IBCLC) about lactation consultant Freda Rosenfeld. A reader responded that the fee charged by lactation consultants is outrageous…depending on where you live, it can cost between $120 and $200+ per session.  It is wise for parents and parents-to-be to understand and evaluate what IBCLCs do and ask “Are IBCLCs worth it?” We come back with a resounding “Yes”

Marsha Walker, a renown IBCLC, says,  “Why hire an IBCLC?
While at first glance the services of an IBCLC lactation consultant may seem pricey and out of the range of many families in a tight economy, we should also realize that the return on this investment can be priceless. Most of our health services are reimbursed by insurance companies or employers who are self-insured. An up-front $200 investment for a family can save them $1500-$2000 in formula costs, hundreds of dollars because they do not need to miss time off from work to care for a sick infant, hundreds of dollars because they do not need to pay co-pays for physician visits, and the savings that accrue from the avoidance of big ticket items like childhood obesity, diabetes, and other acute and chronic diseases. That $200 investment in a child’s health lasts a lifetime.
An insurance carrier can also save millions of dollars by reimbursing families or IBCLCs for lactation care and services. Some have figured this out and reimburse for these services. Others seem content to go right on paying for preventable diseases.
One thing that consumers can do to help fix this problem is to contact their insurance carrier and employer and ask that the services of IBCLC lactation consultants be reimbursed. If lactation services are denied by an insurance carrier, appeal this decision. If that does not work, file a complaint with your state insurance commissioner’s office. These services are often not covered because of a perceived lack of demand. We need to get feisty and ask for what we need. Since when do women sit back and not advocate for their families and themselves? If you want and need these services then demand them!
The US Lactation Consultant Association is working hard every day to improve reimbursement for IBCLC lactation consultant services. But we can’t do it alone. The voices of everyone visiting this website can go a long way to alert insurers and employers that breastfeeding families have an unmet need that is cost effective for everyone.”  Thanks Marsha!

Why would I need to see a Lactation Consultant?

Beautiful!Breastfeeding can be challenging in the beginning! Producing breastmilk is natural, breastfeeding is a learned behavior. You might have baby who won’t latch, be worried about milk supply, have a baby who cries all the time, have sore nipples or breasts, or just want to make sure everything is okay. By having a board-certified lactation consultant on your side, breastfeeding is more likely to be successful.

What does a private lactation consultation consists of?

A private consult using The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor consists of:

  • Compassionate care
  • Full medical history
  • Physical exam of mother’s breasts and baby
  • Pre and post test weights to determine milk transfer during feed
  • Thorough evaluation of feeding
  • Written care plan
  • Follow-up phone support and, if needed, follow-up visits at a lower fee

An initial consultation will take about one and a half hours to get a complete understanding of your breastfeeding needs.

Does every breastfeeding mother need to see a lactation consultant?

No. If mother is comfortable and the baby is getting plenty of milk, then they are all ready successful!

What is an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (I.B.C.L.C.) and why is certification important?

The IBCLC Certification is the only professional standard of competency in the lactation field. It is the official, international credential for those in the breastfeeding and lactation field. A combination of basic training, continuing education, practice with mothers and babies, and successful completion of the examination assures that the designation, IBCLC, identifies a member of the health care team who posses the specialized skills and knowledge. There are now approximately 16,500 IBCLCs worldwide. — adapted from IBCLC Press release, Falls Church, October 15, 2004.

A private consult seems expensive, do I really need to do this?

I know, it does seem expensive! However, baby formula costs at least $150.00 per month for at least 12 months if breastfeeding doesn’t work out. This is a cost of at least $1800.oo for a year!  So, in fact, by investing in a board certified lactation consultant, you are really saving money over the long term! Lactation consultants at The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor are highly trained, board certified health care professionals. Anyone can call themselves a lactation consultant, so be sure that whoever you might hire to help you has reached these high standards.

Breastfeeding is not all about technical skills! Sometimes what a mother needs is someone to listen to her and support her during tough times. Here are some things mothers have said about Barbara Robertson, MA, IBCLC.  Go to “Praise for Barbara Robertson” to see what people are saying!

Please call The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor for availability and pricing.

(734) 975-6534