Providing In-Home Lactation Consulting Services in Whatcom County since 2003

I am a maternal/child home health care nurse with more than 30 years experience helping new moms and babies — and the wonderful dads and others that support them — get off to a healthy start. In 1998 I became an internationally certified lactation consultant and have worked with new families in both the hospital and clinic settings — and visited hundreds in their homes —  providing personal, practical support to help them get off on the right foot. 

I love my work.  I truly believe breasts are best and the investment you make in breastfeeding is one of the most important gifts you can provide your baby.  I provide gentle, supportive, breastfeeding help in a family-centered environment as I work with you, your baby, your supporting cast and healthcare providers.

 
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An In-Home Visit Includes

Each visit includes a detailed history of mom and baby, an assessment of maternal/infant anatomy, and an observation of a feeding for evaluation of technique and effectiveness of feeding.  All clients are provided with a written and/or verbal care path to improve breastfeeding concerns. Each consult generally lasts about 90 minutes (some will go longer, some can be shorter depending on your needs). 

While one visit (with a follow-up contact) is often all that is required, additional in-home follow-up visits are sometimes necessary to successfully resolve some breastfeeding problems and are billed separately, Currently I only serve clients in Whatcom County. 

I will happily provide a report to your healthcare provider, as required or requested.

My Specialties Include

  • Sucking difficulties that interfere with breastfeeding

  • Prevention and management of engorgement and sore nipples

  • Positioning and latching problems

  • Establishing and increasing milk supply

  • Tongue-tie assessment

  • Monitoring and encouraging infant weight gain

  • Pumping

  • Working with twins (multiples)

  • Premature babies

  • Prenatal breastfeeding assessment and counseling

  • Creating a feeding plan for returning to work

  • Weaning

  • Support for Mom’s emotional/physical needs (I've been there!)

  • Transgender support

  • Support for adoptive moms

  • Providing general maternal/child medical information, as required

Fees

I charge $200 for an initial consultation, which includes all travel charges to your home in Whatcom County and a follow-up telephone call. Follow-up visits are $175. (Twin visits are $300/$275.)  I accept cash, check or credit card.

Payment is due at the time of our consultation unless you have obtained pre-approval through The Lactation Network (see discussion under “Insurance,” below.)

Insurance

Like most home-based lactation consultants I do not direct-bill insurance companies (I would have to charge much more for my visits to cover the time for processing third-party insurance claims.) Instead, I provide you with a detailed "super-bill," which is in the format insurance companies require, that is ready to be submitted directly to them for reimbursement.  The Affordable Care Act requires all but a few older medical insurance plans to fully cover — without a copay or co-insurance — lactation support services for as long as you choose to breastfeed. More information is available here. 

That said, help obtaining insurance coverage may be available. I’m excited to announce that I’ve partnered with The Lactation Network (TLN), an insurance billing company that can take care of all the “money stuff” if, for example, you are insured by: (1) Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO; (2) Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO; (3) Cigna PPO and (4) some United PPO plans. The list of participating insurance plans changes regularly, so do check with TLN.

Once they’ve confirmed coverage, The Lactation Network guarantees every mom an initial in-home lactation consultation and needed followup visits with me with no out of pocket cost. They handle the paperwork and bill your insurance directly. If pre-approved for coverage by TLN you pay me nothing at the time of our visit.

To pre-approve your coverage, please complete a brief intake form at The Lactation Network at https://go.lactationnetwork.com/BRBLactation

The Lactation Network will take care of the rest — usually within a few hours — and notifies both of us if you are covered prior to our visit.

Availability for Home Visit Lactation Consultation

 

Self-referrals are accepted. 

I’m generally available Saturday through Monday, with limited availability the rest of the week.

To request a home consult, please call me at (360) 474-7092 or click the button, below, to contact me via email.