Please review the below information:

We’re so glad to be supporting you and your baby. This guide will help you feel prepared, comfortable, and confident, no matter which type of consultation you’ve booked.

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Focus of Care

Initial consultations are 60 minutes and designed to focus deeply on your most important feeding goals.

We are not able to fully address both nursing and pumping during the same first visit. To make the most of our time together, we encourage you to think ahead about what feels like your top priority, whether that’s feeding at the breast, pumping, bottle feeding, or another specific concern.

If you’re unsure where to start, that’s completely okay. We’re happy to help you clarify your priorities when you arrive so your visit feels supportive, efficient, and tailored to your needs. Your goals, comfort, and feeding values always guide our care.

If flange fitting or pumping support is a priority, please have your regular double electric pump available (rather than a wearable pump). We need to observe an actual pumping session to accurately size flanges and troubleshoot comfort or milk output concerns.

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Please find your visit type below — each section includes important location-specific details to help you prepare:

• Office Consultations

• Hospital Consultations

• In-Home Consultations

• Telehealth / Virtual Consultations

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Office Consultations

Who Can Attend:

• One support person may attend (no siblings or additional children).

• For functional oral assessments, bottle-feeding support, or solids consultations, both parents/caregivers may attend.

Before You Arrive:

• Complete intake and consent forms at least 24 hours before your visit.

• Make sure your household is healthy. If anyone is sick, please call to reschedule.

• Bring written questions if you’d like.

• If we’ll be observing a feeding, it helps if baby isn’t fully fed right before the visit. Try to avoid a full feeding within about an hour (+), a small amount to take the edge off hunger is totally okay.

• If bottle-feeding, bring a bottle with milk. A bottle warmer is available.

Arrival Instructions:

• Arrive at your scheduled time (there is no waiting room).

• When you arrive, please send us a quick text and wait comfortably in your car. We’ll message you when we’re ready for you to come in.

• Please enter through the service door to the right of the garage unless weather conditions require a different entrance.

Inside the Office:

1. Remove your shoes and leave them on the rug outside.

2. Just inside the entry, you’ll find an infant car seat cradle where we request you leave your car seat during your visit.

You’ll have access to a private bathroom, changing area, nursing pillows, bottle warmer, and a heated/massage power recliner.

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Hospital Consultations

If you have a planned delivery and baby hasn’t arrived yet, please complete your intake, health history, and consent forms at least 24 hours before delivery. There’s no pressure to finish everything at once—your progress saves automatically, and anything that can’t be answered until after birth, we’ll fill in together during your visit.

If you've just delivered, when you’re able, please sign your consent forms and share your baby’s birth weight along with any important details about your delivery or postpartum recovery.
That’s truly all we need ahead of time. The rest we’ll learn by talking with you and observing during the consultation.

We know these early hours are a beautiful, emotional whirlwind, if you’re not able to complete paperwork right away, please don’t stress. We’re here to ease your load, not add to it.

Feeding before your consultation: if possible, try not to feed your baby within one hour of our arrival so they’re willing to feed during the visit.
But if your little one is hungry sooner, please feed them. We will always meet you right where you are.

Support people and siblings

Visitors are welcome during your consult. Many families find it helpful to have another adult available for older siblings so we can focus fully on you and baby. Some parents feel more comfortable speaking openly when the room is quieter—you get to choose what feels best. Your comfort matters—physically and emotionally

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In-Home Consultations

• When we come to your home, we want the visit to feel calm, comfortable, and aligned with your real life, not a staged version of it.

• You’ll receive a text when we’re on the way. Please let us know the best entry point (front door, side door, etc.) if different from your main entrance.

Who Can Be Present?

Older siblings are absolutely welcome, we love seeing your whole family. If possible, having another adult available to supervise or entertain little ones can make the visit smoother, especially during latch or oral function assessments.

Support people (partners, grandparents, etc.) are encouraged to join. It’s incredibly helpful for them to hear the care plan in real time so everyone is on the same page moving forward.

Preparing Your Space

You don’t need to set anything up in advance. We’ll work wherever you’re most comfortable — couch, bed, nursery, or wherever feeding usually happens.

If you want, you can have a simple activity or toy ready to help keep siblings occupied while we talk and work with your baby.

What You Don’t Need to Worry About

❌ Cleaning your house. We expect dishes, laundry, and toys — this is real life with a baby, and we’re not here to evaluate your home.

❌ Changing your routine. Feed and live as you normally do unless we’ve given specific instructions beforehand.

❌ Clearing the house. Partners, family members, roommates — everyone is welcome to stay. Anyone who helps you feel comfortable and supported is a part of your care team.

Before We Arrive

• Complete your intake and consent forms 24 hours beforehand

• Have your pump, bottles, and feeding tools available if relevant

• Try to avoid a full feeding within one hour of the visit (baby only needs to be willing, not hungry)

• Please have pets secured in another room.

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Telehealth (Virtual) Visits

Virtual visits can be used for nearly everything we would address during an in-person consultation. This includes feeding support, pumping and flange fitting, bottle-feeding challenges, prenatal education, return-to-work planning, and oral function concerns.

The main differences are that I am unable to complete a weighted feed or physically assess your baby’s mouth with my hands. However, I will guide you through a parent-assisted oral assessment in real time so you can effectively become my hands during the visit, if needed.

While I cannot physically adjust positioning or provide hands-on support, my goal is always to help you feel confident doing these skills independently, so this approach often translates seamlessly to your day to day feeding.

Set-Up Tips:

• Choose a well-lit space facing a window or light source.

• Prop your phone/tablet so your hands remain free.

• Have your pump, bottles, and feeding tools close by if relevant to your goals.

• Test your internet connection a few minutes early.

Support Person (If Possible):
Having another adult nearby can be incredibly helpful — especially if we’re assessing latch, positioning, or doing a parent-led oral assessment. Another set of hands makes the visit smoother and allows you to stay focused on your baby.

If your baby is asleep when we begin, that’s completely fine.
We’ll start by talking through your concerns, your history, and your goals. We’ll shift into hands-on work whenever your baby wakes.

After Your Visit:
You’ll receive a detailed written care plan.

If you’re preparing for your baby’s arrival, this visit is designed to help you feel informed, confident, and supported from the very beginning.

For some families, scheduling two prenatal consultations can be especially beneficial.

An early visit (around 10–12 weeks) allows time to review your history and discuss proactive strategies that may support breast and ductal development during pregnancy, particularly if you have underlying health conditions or a history of low milk supply.

A second visit closer to term helps fine-tune your plan and prepare for the immediate postpartum period.

Most families schedule their prenatal consultation around 36 weeks, unless additional support is indicated earlier.

Most insurance companies will cover as many prenatal consultations, as medically necessary. If you are unsure if yours does, don’t hesitate to ask.

Situations Where an Earlier Visit (30–32 Weeks) May Be Helpful

• High-risk pregnancy

• History of preterm birth

• Anticipated NICU stay or early separation

• Planned induction or scheduled cesarean birth

• Need or plan for early pumping

When to Consider an Early First Visit (10–12 Weeks)

An early prenatal visit, followed by a second visit closer to term, may be especially beneficial if you have:

• Previous feeding difficulties (particularly low milk supply)

• Breast or nipple anatomy considerations (e.g., IGT, prior surgery)

• Endocrine or metabolic conditions (PCOS, thyroid disorders, insulin resistance)

This approach allows for more comprehensive support and thoughtful planning throughout pregnancy.

Who Should Come

Partners are strongly encouraged to attend. We’ll walk through:

• What early feeding actually looks like

• Realistic timelines for milk supply

• How they can support you after birth

What We’ll Cover Together

Your prenatal consultation is individualized and includes:

• A review of your intake, medical history, and feeding preferences

• Discussion of your goals and any concerns related to breastfeeding, pumping, supplementation, or prior experiences

With your permission, a breast assessment may be completed to evaluate:
• Glandular tissue
• Nipple shape and considerations
• Factors that may influence latch or milk supply

You will receive a written prenatal care plan summarizing everything discussed, including clear guidance for the first days postpartum.

Prenatal Flange Fitting

If you're at least 36 weeks pregnant, we can complete a baseline flange size measurement. This is especially helpful if:

• You plan to pump early

• You’ve previously experienced low supply or nipple pain

• You anticipate NICU care or early separation

• You expect pumping to be part of your feeding journey

If you’re expecting a typical feeding experience and do not plan to pump early or exclusively, we may recommend waiting until after birth for the most accurate fit.

How Prenatal Sizing Works

Flange fitting is a process, not a one-time measurement. Nipple size can change as milk transitions and supply regulates, so we assess at three key points:

• Around 36 weeks pregnant

• 10–14 days postpartum

• Around 6 weeks postpartum

This staged approach helps protect comfort, support milk supply, and reduce nipple trauma.

Can the Hospital LC Size Me?

You can always ask, but realistically:

• Sizing often occurs during engorgement or swelling

• Many hospital LCs do not specialize in flange fitting

• Incorrect sizing is a common cause of nipple pain and inefficient pumping

Accurate sizing early on can significantly improve your pumping experience.

This visit is for babies who struggle or refuse the bottle—whether occasionally or completely.

What to Bring

• Two bottle options you’ve tried (and any nipples you’d like evaluated)

• At least 2 oz of milk (fresh or chilled)

• Any additional feeding tools you’ve used

Before Your Visit

Try not to feed your baby within 45 minutes of the appointment so they’re willing—but not desperate—to explore the bottle.

If attempts have been stressful or emotional, please know:
You are not doing anything wrong. This visit is fully judgment-free and baby-centered.

What This Visit Actually Looks Like

This consult is primarily an evaluation. We will:

• Observe your baby’s bottle skills, cues, and comfort

• Identify why bottle refusal is happening

• Create a clear, realistic step-by-step plan to follow

A single visit may spark progress — but most families see the best results with ongoing support and adjustments.

This visit focuses on your baby’s oral function, feeding mechanics, comfort, and coordination.

What We’ll Do Together

During this visit, we will:

• Assess tongue, lip, and jaw function

• Observe feeding at the breast and/or bottle

• Identify compensatory patterns, tension, or signs of discomfort

• Develop a functional feeding plan tailored to your baby’s individual needs

Thank you for scheduling your solids consultation with A Mother’s Village. We’re looking forward to working with you as you navigate introducing solids and supporting your baby’s feeding development.

To help us make the most of your visit, please review the following:

What to Expect

This visit is individualized to your baby and may include:

• Readiness assessment for starting solids

• Review of current feeding patterns (breast, bottle, or both)

• Oral function and motor skill evaluation

• Guidance on safe food introduction (purees, baby-led weaning, or a combination)

• Allergen introduction and safety discussion

• Mealtime structure, pacing, and responsive feeding

• Addressing concerns such as gagging, refusal, reflux, or slow weight gain

What to Bring

Please have the following available for your visit:

• Your baby, ready to feed (ideally not overly hungry or overly tired)

• A few foods you’ve already tried or are planning to introduce

• Spoon(s) or feeding utensils you are currently using

• Bib, wipes, and anything you typically use during mealtimes

• Bottle and/or breastfeeding supplies, if applicable. If this is our first visit, we will plan to observe your baby during a small feeding.

You’ll have access to a high chair, “splat mat” for the floor, and a bottle warmer.

Before Your Visit

• Avoid offering a full feeding within 1-2 hrs before the appointment so your baby is interested in participating

• Complete any intake forms sent prior to your visit

• Make note of any specific concerns or goals you’d like to address

A Few Reassurances

Starting solids can feel exciting, confusing, and sometimes overwhelming. There is no one “right” way to do this, our goal is to create a plan that feels safe, supportive, and realistic for your family.

Weaning should feel supported, not stressful.

Before Your Visit

Think about:

• Your ideal timeline

• Whether you prefer a gradual or accelerated approach

• Whether you’re weaning from:
  • Breast/chestfeeding
  • Pumping
  • Bottles
  • Night feeds

If you have a history of hormonal shifts, anxiety, PMADs, or mood changes, please share that with us.
We carefully tailor your weaning plan to support both your physical and emotional wellbeing.

If You’ve Booked a Visit for Plugged Ducts, Mastitis, or Breast Inflammation

These visits are time-sensitive and symptom-focused. Before your appointment:

Before Your Visit:

• Continue feeding or pumping as tolerated—do not push past pain.

• Apply gentle warmth before feeding and ice after, unless otherwise advised.

• Ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be used if medically appropriate.

• If you are experiencing fever, chills, red streaking, or sudden breast changes, please notify us immediately—some cases require same-day medical intervention alongside lactation care.

Have Ready:

• Your pump pieces and flanges

• Any supplements you’re currently using

• A list of your symptoms and when they started

During the Visit:
We’ll assess inflammation, milk movement, latch and positioning (if nursing), pump efficiency, and any patterns contributing to recurring plugged ducts or mastitis.

You’ll leave with a clear, step-by-step treatment plan plus two-week secure messaging support.