Virtual Visits - Lactation Consultant
During this time of social distancing, most healthcare practitioners have switched exclusively to video and phone calls with patients unless it’s vital to see you in person. You may be wondering if it’s possible and/or worth the investment to get lactation support virtually. In our opinion, it is definitely helpful and worth it to connect. It might even be more convenient!
We spoke to SF based LC Sarah Quigley to cover what a virtual visit and follow up looks like, how to make the most of appointments, and how you can improvise for the things that are more challenging to do over video. We’ll also cover payment and insurance. You can also visit our more general FAQs on LC’s here.
What a LC can do during a virtual visit:
Offer reassurance, empathy, and emotional support (always important, now more than ever)
Take a complete history
Visually assess breasts and nipples
Visually assess baby’s mouth and latch
Help with positioning through verbal and visual cues
Help with pumping through verbal and visual cues
Help with bottle-feeding
Advise on breast and nipple care
Answer questions about feeding and general newborn behavior
Talk with partner/support person about how they can help
Provide a written care plan to keep baby well-fed and maximize milk supply
What LC follow up might look like:
Will most likely send an email summary about the session, including useful videos and information
Will share clinical notes with your family’s health care providers (pediatrician, midwife, and/or obstetrician)
Will most likely provide two weeks of unlimited follow-up communication by email and text
How to make the most of a virtual lactation consult:
Hold off feeding your baby for 60-90+ minutes beforehand.
Set up yourself and your baby in a place with adequate lighting.
If you do not have a camera in your computer, if possible, have your partner or another support person available to hold your phone and point the camera.
If you need help with pumping, have your pump set up nearby.
Don’t worry about cleaning your house or looking presentable.
What is more challenging for LCs to do in a virtual visit (and how you can improvise):
Weight checks
Most LCs bring scales to home visits. Weight checks for baby and measurements of milk intake at the breast are helpful for assessing your baby’s well-being and feeding skills. In a virtual session, the LC obviously can’t weigh your baby, but you will likely be asked lots of questions to guide an assessment. There are several options for scales you can buy online:
Basic baby scale ($55)
The Hatch changing pad and baby scale ($150) - We’ve used it and love it. LCs can guide you through checking your baby’s weight and milk intake during your session.
To make a virtual visit more productive, if you don’t have a scale at home, keep track of:
Your baby’s last recorded weight, including the date
The number of times your baby feeds each day by breast and bottle
The general length of feedings
Diaper changes, including color and consistency of stools
If you have concerns about weight and milk intake and don’t have a scale at home, regular visits and weight checks with your baby’s pediatrician are recommended.
Manual work
Depending on your specific situation, it could be helpful to have a more hands-on approach - say, you have a clogged duct and need help releasing it. LC’s can give you a ton of tips, tricks, and suggest herbal remedies - you can also check out our article on releasing clogged ducts here.
Payment and insurance
Some LCs may offer virtual services at a discount since there is no time spent for driving, paying for gas or parking - so feel free to ask! Also, given these unique times, some may offer sliding scale services.
Telehealth services are being covered by most insurance carriers. If the LC is not in-network, they will provide you with a SuperBill to submit to insurance for reimbursement - under the ACA, lactation services should be covered by insurance - tips on getting it covered here.
