Breastfeeding doesn’t always go as planned. Before their baby arrives, many parents imagine breastfeeding for a number of years, nourishing their child from infancy to toddlerhood with the physical, emotional, and psychological benefits of breastfeeding.
But sixty percent of parents don’t breastfeed as long as they intended to. And that too often happens when parents lack the support and knowledge they need to meet their breastfeeding goals.
Many of the roadblocks parents face when feeding their children are possible to overcome with help — and that’s exactly why we’re here. The Lactation Network exists to connect parents with the vital and vetted breastfeeding care they need. At TLN, we pride ourselves on partnering with the highest-credentialed lactation consultants through a robust infrastructure that is proven to help families reach their breastfeeding goals — leading to happier, more confident parents and healthier, thriving babies.
Those breastfeeding experts are called International Board Certified Lactation Consultants. And getting clinical care from an IBCLC can help you navigate (and even prevent) breastfeeding challenges, leading to a long, rich breastfeeding journey for you and your baby!
What are IBCLCs, and how can they help?
A strong support system is key to meeting your feeding goals. And no one is better prepared to offer you expert, clinical lactation care than an IBCLC.
That’s because IBCLCs are the highest-credentialed lactation consultants in the world. In addition to a years-long certification process that requires 90 hours of lactation-specific education, 14 college-level health science courses, and up to 1,000 hours of hands-on clinical training , IBCLCs are also required to participate in bias and diversity training for bodies and families of all kinds. And IBCLCs have to earn a recertification every five years to maintain their accreditation, meaning they’re required to constantly learn and elevate their practices.
But what does that mean for you?
An IBCLC can help make breastfeeding a much, much easier process for you and your family. You can schedule a lactation consultation whenever you need it — as challenges arise, or when you just need a little extra support.
Common breastfeeding challenges
While breastfeeding experiences are unique to each baby and parent — changing week to week, and even day to day — there are some common concerns that often arise for lactating mothers and parents and their babies. These can include:
- Latching issues
- Sore nipples
- Low milk supply
- Clogged milk ducts
- And more
Emotional and psychological pressures often accompany feeding choices in the newborn phase, too. And no parent should have to navigate this vulnerable time alone. Enter IBCLCs: The only certified lactation expert who can offer clinical care to both parents and babies, from prenatal to wean and everything between.
IBCLCs are specially trained to support parents with all of these challenges and more. You can address those challenges with the guidance and compassionate care many find in a relationship with an IBCLC. They can help you with:
- Prenatal preparation for breastfeeding
- Ideal feeding positions to prevent latching trouble
- Best practices to avoid and treat sore nipples
- Maintaining milk supply, even as your baby ages
- Unclogging and healing blocked milk ducts
- Creating a return-to-work plan, and eventual weaning
- And so much more
No matter what your breastfeeding experience looks like, IBCLCs are for everyone who has a baby to feed.
When and how to book a lactation consultation through insurance
At The Lactation Network, we’re proud to connect parents with the largest network of IBCLCs in the country. This is insurance-covered care at its finest, with over 80% of our patients receiving care from an IBCLC in person.
You can schedule a consultation with an IBCLC whenever it feels right for you. If you’re currently pregnant, a prenatal breastfeeding consultation won’t just set you up for early success — it will also help you build a relationship with your IBCLC who can support you every step of the way.
When the time comes to schedule your appointment, here’s how you can book an insurance-covered consultation with an IBCLC:
- Complete this form to check your coverage and request a consultation
- Parents deserve ongoing, expert lactation care. That’s why TLN generally covers multiple lactation consultations for as long as you choose to breastfeed. As your baby grows and new challenges or questions arise, you can reach out to your IBCLC for support.
- Stay tuned while we confirm your insurance coverage
- We will review your information and confirm your coverage with your health insurance. In the unfortunate event that you’re not covered by TLN, you can reach out to an IBCLC directly. They may be able to see your family on a cash basis, provide a superbill to submit to your insurance for reimbursement, or connect you to other lactation support resources in your community.
- Enjoy your first lactation consultation
- Once your coverage is confirmed, you will be paired with an IBCLC in our network (if you aren’t connected to one already). You can then connect with them directly to schedule your first lactation consultation, often in the comfort of your own home. During this initial appointment, your IBCLC will take a detailed account of your health history, discuss and set breastfeeding goals, and answer any questions or concerns you may have. If you can, try to meet with your IBCLC for a prenatal lactation consultation before you start breastfeeding. But no matter where you are in your journey, an IBCLC will help set you up for success!
- Schedule follow-up appointments
- Parents deserve ongoing, expert lactation care. That’s why TLN generally covers multiple lactation consultations for as long as you choose to breastfeed. As your baby grows and new challenges or questions arise, you can reach out to your IBCLC for support.
In partnership with MilkMate, we at The Lactation Network wish you all the best with breastfeeding! Because you and your little one deserve nothing less.
