Thank you for scheduling with us! These days, it is unusual to have a health care provider come to your home. Understandably, some parents feel anxious about what to expect. The following points should help you prepare and feel more confident about our consultation.
How to prepare:
Please read here to learn more about our Health Policies.
As soon as your consultation day/time is approved, you will be emailed a consent/HIPAA form, an intake form, and a health screening form. These forms will be submitted through a secure, online system and should take 10-15 minutes. If these forms are not completed at least 24 hours before the time of your consultation, it may be canceled. If you have BCBS, Cigna, or Anthem PPO, pre-approval must be obtained online through the form at Lactation Network . You will receive an email (often within a few hours) letting you know if you are eligible for coverage.
Timing:
We do our best to arrive on time. However, sometimes consultations end a bit later than we expect. Weather, road conditions, etc. may also affect our arrival time. In the rare situation that we will be arriving more than 15 minutes late, we will contact you. Initial consultations last around 2 hours. Follow-up consultations are between 60-90 minutes. Please plan accordingly.
Steps to take:
We have been new parents ourselves and know very well how challenging it can be. Do not worry about showering, putting on nice clothing, or cleaning your house! We are not at all concerned about appearances or the condition of your home. Below are 6 points you need to keep in mind instead.
1.) MAKE SURE YOU AND YOUR BABY ARE FED: It can help to eat before we arrive or have snacks/drinks available to nourish yourself during your consultation. Please don’t feel you have to make your baby wait to eat! Babies who are hungry tend to be stressed and do not latch or feed well. If your baby is hungry soon before we meet, offer them a “snack” to tide them over.
2.) HAVE A SUPPORT PERSON PRESENT: If possible, we encourage you to have a support person present during your consultation. Although you will receive a written care plan, it always helps to have a second set of eyes and ears. Support is an essential part of breastfeeding success!
3.) PREPARE SUPPLIES: If you have questions regarding pumping, have your pump set-up and the parts washed.
4.) PLEASE RESTRAIN YOUR PETS: We love animals, but if you have a dog, we ask that you put it in another room or outside. A new baby can bring up a lot of stress and unexpected behaviors in animals. Unfortunately, even as dog lovers, we have had some close calls with dogs who are feeling territorial, although they have no history of aggression.
5.) CHECK YOUR INSURANCE COVERAGE: If you have questions about insurance coverage, contact your insurance company before we meet. This blog post has thorough information. For clients with in-network insurance plans, we request you have your card ready so we can photograph it. For clients with out-of-network coverage, we accept check, cash, credit card, and HSA/FSA cards. Payment will be collected at the end of the consultation if you have not already paid online or set up a payment plan with us. You will then receive a superbill to submit for reimbursement to your insurance. If your consultation has been approved through WIC, they will be billed directly.
6.) RELAX!: Even if you don’t have time to do anything to prepare, we commend you for reaching out for support! Our goal is to leave you with a care plan that helps you feel confident in working toward your breastfeeding goals, enjoying parenting, and forming a healthy relationship with your baby!
What to expect:
Normally, when we first arrive we look for a flat surface to set up and clean our scale, so it can dry before we weigh your baby. Unless your baby needs to eat immediately, we then begin to ask questions, taking a detailed health history for you and your infant(s). We use an online charting system and will be taking notes on our computer as we talk. If you live in an area that does not have Verizon service, please let us know before we meet.
Most consultations include an assessment of the parent’s breast anatomy. We do not touch without a specific reason and will always ask permission. We will assess your baby’s oral and structural anatomy. With permission, we may take photographs of your baby so we can view them together, and send them to your health care provider.
At least one feeding will be observed. The non-latching baby will be assisted to breastfeed, and/or pumping will be evaluated. Education and resources will be provided based on our findings, and referrals will be given as necessary.
There will be plenty of time for questions. The same day of the consultation, each family will receive a written, customized plan of care. Reports will also be sent to the parent and infant health care providers within 5 business days or sooner.
The majority of breastfeeding problems cannot be solved immediately and take practice, hard work, and the “tincture of time” to resolve. Often follow-up consultations are needed. You will have unlimited messaging support from us between visits. Please take advantage of this. If we don’t hear from you, we can only assume everything is going well. We care deeply about our work and our clients and want to do everything we can to help you feel supported and successful as a parent!
Please click below to schedule your home consultation today.