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If you are struggling with lactation, know that you aren’t alone. In fact, if breastfeeding came easily to you, you’d be part of a very small, minority of people
Only 1-5% of women have a medical issue that prevents breastfeeding though
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If you are struggling with lactation, know that you aren’t alone. In fact, if breastfeeding came easily to you, you’d be part of a very small, minority of people
Only 1-5% of women have a medical issue that prevents breastfeeding though
These stats are not intended to make parents feel inadequate. They are to acknowledge that breastfeeding is often difficult and requires hard work, persistence, the development of consistent habits, and extra support!
We often hire a physical trainer to help us set exercise goals and keep us on-track. Why don’t we do the same for achieving our lactation goals?
Lactation Consultants can help you troubleshoot any existing issues or just provide supportive advice as you navigate this new journey. Some of the more common topics that are discussed include:
– Latching issues, cracked nipples, slow weight gain, overactive let-down reflex, low milk supply, clogged ducts, engorgement and mastitis, baby falling asleep at breast, inverted nipples, navigating prior breast surgeries (e.g. breast augmentation), pumping, weaning, and returning to work tips
But, the #1 reason families struggle with breastfeeding is the lack of a supportive environment
“[Researchers at UC Davis Medical Center] think the biggest reason that women struggled is that once they left the hospital they lacked access to lactation counselors in that critical first week”
-American Academy of Pediatrics Journal
Available for FREE on IOS and Android
These stats are not intended to make parents feel inadequate. They are to acknowledge that breastfeeding is often difficult and requires hard work, persistence, the development of consistent habits, and extra support!
We often hire a physical trainer to help us set exercise goals and keep us on-track. Why don’t we do the same for achieving our lactation goals?
Lactation Consultants can help you troubleshoot any existing issues or just provide supportive advice as you navigate this new journey. Some of the more common topics that are discussed include:
– Latching issues, cracked nipples, slow weight gain, overactive let-down reflex, low milk supply, clogged ducts, engorgement and mastitis, baby falling asleep at breast, inverted nipples, navigating prior breast surgeries (e.g. breast augmentation), pumping, weaning, and returning to work tips
But, the #1 reason families struggle with breastfeeding is the lack of a supportive environment
“[Researchers at UC Davis Medical Center] think the biggest reason that women struggled is that once they left the hospital they lacked access to lactation counselors in that critical first week”
-American Academy of Pediatrics Journal
If still not convinced of the importance of receiving lactation support, let’s discuss the:
– Countless medical benefits,
– Lucrative cost savings, and
– Fact that lactation support is 100% fully-covered by most commercial health insurance plans
Not only does breastfeeding provide sizable medical benefits to children, but to their mothers too.
There are too many medical benefits to discuss in this overview, but we have compiled two articles here that include:
– A summary list of nursing / breastfeeding medical benefits
– An in-depth list of clinical results from lactation research studies
Here are a few of our favorite highlights though:
– In children, breastfeeding achieves substantial reductions in Type 2 diabetes, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), obesity, ear infections, asthma, respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal infections
– Breastfed children have an increased IQ by 2.6-3.4 points, even after controlling for maternal intelligence
– Mothers who breastfeed have sizable reductions in ovarian cancer, breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Type 2 diabetes
– Did you know that parents typically spend between $1,200-$1,500 a year on infant formula and supplies?! What a waste! That could EASILY pay for any needed lactation support
– Or how about the fact that parents of formula-fed babies experience 2X more work absenteeism to care for their sick children than parents of breastfed infants?!
– Or that the world loses $341 billion per year in economic output (and suffers 820,000 child deaths) due to lack of breastfeeding?!
– In the United States alone, we could save over $13 billion to our healthcare system and prevent 900+ deaths if 90% of American families could comply with medical recommendations to breastfeed exclusively for the 1st 6 months of a baby’s life
Besides the medical importance of breastfeeding, it makes a lot of economic sense as well
– Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), lactation support is 100% fully-covered by MOST commercial health insurance plans
– That means NO co-pays, NO deductibles, and NO co-insurance of any kind are required
– Lactation support is available in both prenatal and postnatal settings. If you want to speak with a Lactation Consultant in advance of your baby’s birth (highly recommended!), then your insurance likely covers that consultation too
– This free lactation support is for the ENTIRETY of your breastfeeding journey. If you are still breastfeeding when your baby is 2 years old, then you are still entitled to free lactation support, at that time
– Most insurance companies only provide reimbursement when working with International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs). So, make sure that your Lactation Consultant has that type of certification before conducting a consultation
– Even if your IBCLC is not “in-network” with your health insurance plan, you likely can get reimbursed for an out-of-network consultation. Make sure you get a “Superbill” from your IBCLC after finishing your consultation so that you can submit it to your health insurer as part of a reimbursement claim
– If insurance coverage is important to you, we recommend chatting with your preferred Lactation Consultant, in advance of setting-up a consultation. They can help walk you through the process in greater detail
– We know that insurance coverage for lactation support can get complicated, so we created this guide to help you better understand it.
We mentioned a type of certification before in the insurance coverage section: International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
– The IBCLC qualification is considered the “gold standard” when it comes to lactation consultant training & education
While there are numerous types of lactation certifications, usually only one certification qualifies for health insurance coverage:
– The IBCLC
If obtaining insurance coverage is important to you, make sure that the Lactation Consultant lists an IBCLC certificate in their profile. If not, then qualifying for insurance reimbursement is unlikely
To better understand the various lactation certificates a Lactation Consultant might possess, we have compiled an informational overview to assist you
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All information on this website is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as professional healthcare or medical advice and is not to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.
© 2022 Joey Care Inc. – All rights reserved
Sign-up for educational tips, new relases and promotions
All information on this website is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as professional healthcare or medical advice and is not to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.
All information on this website is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as professional healthcare or medical advice and is not to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.
© 2021 Joey Care Inc. – All rights reserved