Lactation Consulting Services

Dr. Wexler understands that every new mom wants to do what’s best for her child.

As both a pediatrician and an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), she is committed to helping all mothers reach their feeding goals.  And as one of very few pediatricians in the area to also be an IBCLC, she is prepared to serve the medical needs of both the mom and the baby.

For many mothers, breastfeeding can be easy and happens with minimal difficulty. But many other new moms will find breastfeeding more challenging, particularly during the first two weeks. The services offered at Briarvista Pediatrics can help you work through those challenges and any others you may have along your breastfeeding journey.

Why Breastfeed?

Briarvista Pediatrics provides lactation services to our patients because we know breastfeeding promotes the baby’s immune system. In-depth studies show many long-term advantages for breastfed babies and their mothers, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies breastfeed for at least six months. In addition, in 2011, support for breastfeeding became one of the US Surgeon General’s Call to Action.

The decision to breastfeed, however, is a personal decision every mother must make for herself and her infant. The first rule of being a parent is to feed the baby, and we are here to support mothers who exclusively breastfeed, formula feed, or choose any of the combinations on this continuum. We will guide you through the weaning process and follow your baby’s progress with the expert care that years of training and experience provide.

Lactation Services

Our lactation services include:

• A pre-baby meeting is available on request. It covers general practice information as well as discusses the medical, developmental, and lactation support at Briarvista Pediatrics
• Breastfeeding consultation and close follow-up for first-time mothers and for mothers who may have encountered problems previously with breastfeeding and are seeking a better experience with their new baby
• Coordinated newborn care and lactation care during the same office visit
• Very close follow-up for infant weight loss or inadequate weight gain
• Individualized instruction to help mothers fine-tune breastfeeding techniques, including different latch and holding positions
• Reviewing methods to improve & maintain milk supply
• Medical care for engorgement, soreness and pain with breastfeeding
• Assistance with supplements, as necessary, including Supplemental Nursing Systems (SNS) & formula choices
• Weigh/Feed/Weigh sessions in the office, to help determine how much milk baby is transferring with each nursing session and devise a feeding plan to meet the baby’s needs
• Breastfeeding support beyond the newborn period, covering topics such as returning to work, pumping and storage of expressed breast milk, supplementing the breastfed infant, starting solids, and weaning
• In office frenotomy procedure for tongue-ties that are affecting milk supply, transfer, or causing pain to mom

Referrals

How are clients referred for lactation consultation? Clients may come to us through different avenues.

• We see mothers and babies here at Briarvista Pediatrics as part of our standard practice, which includes lactation counseling as needed.
• We also see mothers on referral from other physicians’ offices. With a referral from your doctor, lactation counseling is more likely to be covered by insurance; however, we recommend that you check the terms of your individual policy.
• We also see mothers and babies via self-referral. We are happy to provide lactation consultation services as needed for families who do not plan to continue being seen at our office for their primary care.

Insurance Coverage

Will your insurance cover lactation consulting?

Most lactation consultants offer their services on a cash-only basis. Here at Briarvista Pediatrics, however, we are happy to be able to provide these services often for very low or no cost to you. When seen in our office for a lactation consultation, both mom and baby are patients. Therefore, there will be two separate visits booked on our schedule, two separate notes documented in our charting system, and two different submissions to your insurance plan.

Insurance companies usually do cover the services of a lactation consultant as part of routine well-baby visits. In addition, new health care legislation allows for expanded coverage of lactation concerns.

However, the visit(s) may have separate copays and/or be subject to separate deductibles or coinsurance rates. Please see our Health Insurance 101 page for more information on these charges, as “covered” does not always mean “free.” Please note that most newborns have not met their deductible yet, although the mother usually has after delivery.

Most of our visits will be billed as “office visits” and not “consults,” unless a referral is received from another provider first.  Please check our list of contracted insurance plans.

If a frenulotomy is performed (tongue-tie revision), our policy is to collect $300 upfront for the procedure as well as keep a credit card on file. If your insurance covers the procedure, you will be issued a refund.

If either mom or baby is out-of-network or uninsured, we are still happy to see you. Please see our financial policies, and a list of our contracted insurance plans.

If you have questions about coverage, it’s wise to contact your health insurance provider.

What to Expect