What to Expect at a Lactation Visit

We come to your home or workplace. Home visits allow you to be more comfortable in your own environment and take away the stress of having to pack your newborn and all the associated supplies and travel to another location for assistance.

Your first lactation visit may be about 90 minutes to 2 hours, as needed.

Suggestions for preparing for the visit:

• Jot down questions to ask
• If possible, keep track of wet and soiled diapers and feeding times for the 24 hours before the visit
• Gather and clean any breastfeeding tools or supplies that you may have previously acquired (breast pump and parts, nipple shields, bottles or supplemental feeding supplies)

Consultations are always modified to your own individual needs, so no two visits will be exactly the same.  However, you can usually expect the following:

1. Discussing the following health history information for you and your baby/babies:
   1. Your pregnancy and birth experience
   2. Medical histories for you and the baby/babies
   3. Breastfeeding history and experience
   4. Any pertinent family health and medical histories
2. Sharing your breastfeeding plans, goals and expectations
3. Sharing any current problems and what you have tried or advice you have received
4. Physical assessment of the baby/babies, including weight check
5. Breast and nipple assessment for any areas of concern
6. Observation of a feeding (please do not feed the baby before the home visit)
7. Latch and feeding positioning assistance, as needed or desired
8. Review use and care of breastfeeding tools and supplies, if needed.
9. Time for any questions and answers

We will work with you to develop a breastfeeding management plan that is best suited to your own needs and leave you with a written copy.  Another copy of the plan will be sent to the baby’s and/or your health care providers.

Follow up will be by phone call or additional in-home visit, whichever way is best for you.

We can provide contact information for specialist referrals, as needed and upon consultation with your health care providers.

If needed, we can provide for your purchase some breastfeeding assisting tools/supplies.  These will incur additional cost to the visit fee.