All of our consultants are International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), meaning that they have been board-certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. This is commonly recognized as the highest certification in our field and requires thousands of hours of education, training and experience.

Our IBCLCs are all required to take continuing education courses to maintain their certification and stay at the forefront of research and developments within our field. Many of our IBCLCs are also Registered Nurses and actively work in a hospital setting.

Telehealth, or a Virtual Appointment, involves a healthcare worker providing health-related services via telecommunication technologies, typically through videoconferencing. Your telehealth appointment will be conducted through a live videoconference where your IBCLC will address all of your needs. We use videoconferencing technology that is fully compliant with HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), ensuring that your appointment will be completely private and secure.

Clinical studies have shown that telehealth is just as effective, if not more effective, than traditional in-person care. We help thousands of families each year over telehealth. Among many other benefits, meeting virtually enables you to meet with one of our IBCLCs almost immediately and start addressing whatever challenge you are facing, rather than having to wait days or weeks.

North Shore Lactation services are fully covered by most major health insurance plan available in the United States.

View our insurance page to learn about your plan coverage.

While the Affordable Care Act does mandate that lactation support is covered as preventative care, some insurers and plans do not cover lactation visits. In this case, we charge $250 for your first appointment and $200 for each follow-up appointment. Upon request, we will provide you with an itemized superbill receipt which you can submit to your insurance company to request reimbursement. Each insurance plan has its own rules and procedures regarding reimbursement, so unfortunately we cannot guarantee that you will be reimbursed.

Yes, we accept payment through most HSA and FSA benefit cards to pay for your appointment, or any portion thereof, that is not covered by insurance. Lactation services are deemed an eligible health expense.

A prenatal appointment is conducted before the birth of the baby. We strongly recommend a prenatal consultation for everyone, even if it’s not your first pregnancy. During your prenatal consultation, we discuss the last weeks of pregnancy and the most important things to set you up for success during the first hours and days postpartum (following birth).

We recommend scheduling your prenatal consultation for when you are 34-36 weeks gestation. Schedule that appointment well in advance for a time that is convenient for you and any members of your support team that you would like to join.

Prenatal appointments are typically covered by medical insurance plans to the same extent as postnatal appointments. As most insurance plans cover six or more appointments without any co-pay or deductible, we highly recommend scheduling a prenatal appointment to get you and your baby off to the best start possible.

First, make sure you complete the initial intake form included in your appointment email confirmation. Next, prepare a list of questions, concerns and issues you would like to address with your IBCLC. Then, if you plan to feed during the consultation, plan to feed your baby 2 hours prior to the appointment time and then hold off feeding (if possible) for the last 90 minutes until your appointment. Last, wear something comfortable (even pajamas!) which will allow easy access for feeding.

Upon booking, you will receive a link to complete an intake form. Among other information, you will be asked to provide a health history for both yourself and your baby. Your IBCLC will review this completed form prior to your appointment and take into account any relevant information in developing a care plan unique to you and your baby.

Yes, we strongly encourage your support team to join you for the appointment. Whether it is a spouse, partner, parent, friend or otherwise, your support team is crucial to your success and we welcome their participation during the appointment and throughout your feeding journey.

Yes, we will provide you with a written care plan following each appointment, typically within 24-hours. This plan will be customized to you and your situation.

We strongly value collaborative care across all health care providers. In addition to providing you with a written care plan following your appointment, we will send the plan to your OB, Midwife, Pediatrician and other care providers as you indicate on your intake form. We always welcome the opportunity to speak directly with your other care providers to ensure the best treatment for you and your child.

The World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics and UNICEF all recommend that children be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life – meaning no other foods or liquids are provided. They further recommend that breastfeeding is continued thereafter as long as you and your baby desire, though certain solid foods and liquids may be introduced beginning around 6 months of age. Having said that, each family has its own unique situation and circumstances. We recommend that you set goals that work best for your situation. We are here to help you meet and exceed your goals!

Yes, of course. We work with formula feeding parents all the time. Formula is an important feeding tool for many families and there is no guilt or judgment!

We work with families every day that bottle feed their babies. Whether it is breast milk, donor milk or formula that you are bottle feeding, we are happy to work with you and can provide you with tons of support.

Yes, absolutely. This is one of the most common challenges that we address. We have many strategies and tools to help you overcome this.