Westchester Lactation Consultants
What should you expect from a home consultation from an IBCLC?
I know that most of your hours are now spent breastfeeding and taking care of your child. You probably have a special place where you breastfeed, have all your pillows, and are comfortable. It makes sense for me to come to you where you are the most at ease than to have you pack up and come to an office where there aren't the comforts of home.
What to expect during the visit:
- Please write down any questions you may have for me whether about equipment, babies or breastfeeding. Print and fill out any forms I sent you prior to my visit.
- Expect me to be in the same room with you while you breastfeed. No need to feel uncomfortable about your body. I work with all kinds of different shapes and sizes.
- I will wash my hands upon entering your home prior to touching you or your baby.We will sit and talk first where I will take your history, a baby history, and listen to any of your concerns. Then I will ask to observe a feeding.
- If your baby is hungry when I walk in, we will skip right to the feeding. I like to observe as much as possible and will always ask if it is okay to touch you, your breasts, or your baby. Please do NOT hold your baby off if he/she is hungry before I arrive. I hungry, screaming baby will not latch well or be able to learn.
- If you have questions regarding a pump, pump equipment or any bottle use, please have it readily available so we are able to talk about it together.
- Before and after the feeding, I will look at your nipples. This allows me to assess if you are experiencing any nipple damage and gives me an idea of nipple placement within your baby's mouth.
- I may lay your baby on a flat surface to complete a whole body evaluation of movement and structure.
- Depending on what I am able to assess, I may need to evaluate your baby's mouth, your breasts or both. If there is a question of weight gain, I will most likely weigh your baby before and after a feeding to assess the transfer of milk from breast to baby.
- Before I leave, I will provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement (though I can't promise that they will reimburse you) and a written care-plan.
Other Information:
Older siblings are welcomed and enjoyed during the consultation, but you may want to have a special activity planned for them to allow us to chat freely without distraction. Other support persons are encouraged to attend the visit. The more people that have the necessary information to help, the better support system you will have.
Don't hesitate to tell me what you are feeling, both physically and emotionally. Often we are so ingrained not to admit what doesn't feel right or isn't going to work for us. I need all the information you can provide me so we can come up with a plan that will really work for you and your baby. Everything we discuss is 100% confidential.
PLEASE do NOT clean your house. I do not care what your house looks like. In fact, I would recommend you let housework go and spend more time skin-to-skin with your baby.