Lactation Consultant: Tips on Locating, Hiring and Getting the Most from your Breastfeeding Consultation

One of the questions we are often asked is how do I find a lactation consultant near me?  And does insurance cover the consultation?

Those are two great questions and we have answers for you as well as tips on how to hire your IBCLC and what questions you should ask in the process.

1.  Use an up-to-date lactation consultant locator.  The ones on the international board of lactation consultant examiners is often outdated as many lactation consultants aren't in private practice and don't do home visits.  Lactation Connection hosts a free locator on their website and it is up to date for 2024 with lactation consulants who have personally provided their current contact information and service areas.

2.  Speaking of information, that should be your first question when you speak to a lactation consultant. Below are some examples of what to ask.

    What are your credentials?  There is a vast difference between an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) who is board certified and required to have 90 hours of lactation education and 1000 hours of clinical experience with mothers and babies and a CLE (certified lactation educator) which is a breastfeeding specialist with a 20 hour training course. And most often the cost of your visit will vary by credentials and experience of the consultant or educator.

    How long have you been practicing? This question can be followed by a specific concern you may have if it is a unique issue such as a baby with downs syndrome, etc.  I would not ask if your consultant can help you with latch or other common issues because if she could not, she would not be in the profession.

    Do you take insurance?  Be specific with your insurance company when asking this question.  And if the answer is no, follow up with how much the home or office visit is per hour and if there is a minimum hourly requirement for their services.

3.  Other things you will want to confirm are listed below:

    Home or office visit? Some lactation consultants come to your home, while other prefer an office visit.  Office visits are usually less expensive but home visits can be more beneficial especially if the issue is one of latch as you want to get positioned correctly on your own furniture.  The height of the arm rests of your chair or footstool can be a factor in being comfortable while breastfeeding which reduces stress and can fascility a calm environment while acheiving a proper latch.

    What about a virtual visit? If you are in an area that does not have a lactation consultant near you, this can be somewhat helpful but you will want to make sure that your consultant has visual tools that can help you during your video call such as breast and baby anotomically correct models.  It is also helpful to let her know in advance if you have a specific breast pump or specific nursing pillow.

    Language barriers? Many consultants who offer virtual visits will state that they ofter them nationwide or even worldwide.  The worldwide statement is a red flag because they need to be multi-lingual to be able to offer worldwide service.  If your first language is Spanish for example, you may want to hire an IBCLC who is truly bilingual in Spanish to get the most out of your visit. 

4.  What should you expect during a consult? You should expect a very professional visit.  A board certified lactation consultant is there to help you get the most out of your breastfeeding journey.  She will wear gloves and ask permission before touching you or your baby.  If you can, the tips below will help you get the most out of your visit:

    Ask questions! No question you might have is unimportant.

    Include a person you trust at the visit.  Your partner, mother or friend can be instrumental in helping you take notes or offering a helping hand with things they also learned at the visit.

    Get instruction on nursing and pumping. A quality breast pump can be a very effective tool with drawing out inverted nipples, increasing milk supply and reliveing engorgement when used properly.

Here's to hoping for the best start to a long and healthy breastfeeding journey,

Tanya