Lactation Consult Services
Feeding a child is more than providing nutrients and immunity boosting properties. It’s about a new relationship, a new purpose in your life, and an undeniably amazing bond. Unfortunately, getting the relationship off the ground isn’t always as effortless. I offer a variety of consult options depending on your needs. From simple questions to in-home clinical visits, read below to figure out the best option for you.
Questions? Not sure which option is right for you? Feel free to email us for help.
Home and Office-Based Consults
Most appointments take place in my office in Malden 3 days a week (578 Main St., B1).
Home-visits will be available on a limited basis (once or twice a week) to patients on the North Shore, in Somerville/Medford and patients within a 20 minute radius of Malden who do not own a car or have mobility issues due to a difficult birth/infant’s medical condition. Please note that, due to limited availability, you will more than likely have to wait longer for a home visit than you would for an office visit. If you are interested in a home visit, please email us first so we can tell you our availability: info@thebalc.com
Please read our COVID-19 safety protocol here.
Initial Office Consults: $325, with a $50 deposit due at booking.
Follow up appointments (within 6 months): $275
Initial Home Consults: $375, with a $50 deposit due at booking.
Follow up appointments: $325
About visits:
Visits include:
- Complete medical history and intake
- Physical assessment of you and oral, structural and airway assessment of baby
- Discussion and troubleshooting concerns, forming an immediate care plan (24-48 hours) and answering any questions.
- Notes are sent after our consult with videos, handouts, and a long term care plan as well as contacts for any referrals. You have us for 2 weeks after your appointment via the patient portal (additional weeks can be purchased for $25/week)
If you would like to book an appointment, please click here to fill out an intake and someone will get back to your within 1 business day.
Email, virtual and prenatal consults
Prenatal Consult- Virtual ($275)
1.5 hours
The ultimate in prenatal prepatation! Unlike a group class, this session is tailored to your needs, questions and specific situation. Especially helpful for those who are having multiples, have a history of infertility or abnormal cycles, breast surgery or augmentation, or a negative history with nursing previous children. Learn everything from the basics of latch and timing a feed, how to tell if baby is getting enough and if your particular medical history could have an impact on your lactation journey.
Our virtual prenatal consults include
- Slides to our prenatal class, videos, and handouts all emailed to you before our appointment.
- Full medical history, and set you up with a care plan for your first few weeks after baby is born.
If you would like to book a virtual prenatal consult, please click here to fill out an intake.
About Email and Virtual Consults
We currently only see people for baby-specific issues in person. If there are issues with weight gain, painful latch, or any issues specific to baby, please book an in person consult. Otherwise read on for email and virtual consult options!
Email consults ($150)
Email consults are for general breastfeeding advice and for issues which do not require physical assessment or in depth clinical assessment. Examples include questions about starting solids (can I start at 4 months? Do I nurse first and then do solids? How often?), pumping schedules and troubleshooting, and questions about normal newborn behavior (nursing frequency, how much baby should take is bottlefeeding while separated, stooling and voiding questions).
This option is for you if you have a pain free latch, and a generally content baby who is gaining weight appropriately (between 5-7 ounces a week up until 4 months and between 3.5-5 ounces per week from 4-6 months) with no major concerns over you or baby’s health and do not need to be physically seen.
If I feel that your question warrants a physical assessment, we will let you know and we can work from there. Includes one week of follow up.
Virtual Consults- Postpartum ($275)
For breastfeeding advice of a more clinical nature. Examples include weaning, oversupply management, working through persistent clogged ducts, low supply when exclusively pumping, flange fitting, and much more.
This option is for you if feel more comfortable chit chatting live versus email, if you have clinical issues listed above and if your baby is gaining weight appropriately.
If you would like to book an email or postpartum virtual visit, please click here to fill out an intake
Let’s chat over (virtual) coffee
$25
Trying to wade through the advice given to you on parenting groups? Consulting Dr. Google at 2AM? Big Breaths! This option is for general one-off breastfeeding questions. Examples include: Nutrition questions (Can I eat this while nursing?), medication search and explanation (Can I take this med while nursing?!), questions about what to bring to the hospital, pump selection, and gear. Coffee chats are not for specific clinical issues which require parent and baby’s medical history (see email consults above). However, if you want to post it in your facebook group, but you’re hoping to get an evidence based answer from an allied health professional, this option is for you!
Prenatal Classes (coming back in Spring of 2023):
$75 Most insurance companies will reimburse. Itemized receipt will be given at the end of class.
Class will include 1 week of follow up email with an IBCLC to answer any question from class.
Want to get a heads up what to expect before baby comes? We go over everything from benefits of breastfeeding, gear and accessories, how birth impacts breastfeeding, the first days, common concerns and myths. Best taken in the third trimester (30 weeks+).