Preparing for Your Visit

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.

Clinic Visits

Who Can Attend:

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

• For functional oral assessments or bottle-feeding support, 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—your visit will always be protected.

• Bring written questions if you’d like; you’ll also have access to secure messaging for two weeks after your visit.

• Try to avoid a full feeding within one hour of your appointment (just enough for baby to be willing to feed).

• 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).

• Check in via the link texted to you; wait in your car until we text you to come inside.

• Enter through the service door to the right of the garage.

Inside the Clinic:

• Remove your shoes and leave them on the rug.

• Strollers and car seats stay in the garage—an infant cradle is provided for easy carrying.

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

Hospital Visit

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

Home Visits

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 and again upon arrival. 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.

Telehealth (Virtual) Visits

Virtual visits are ideal for pumping support, flange fitting, bottle-feeding challenges, prenatal education, return-to-work planning, and non-urgent oral function concerns.

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.

If the focus is pumping, flange fit, weaning, or another non-feeding concern, your baby does not need to be present.

Focus of Care:
During our time together, we want to concentrate on what matters most to you. If you're hoping to address both nursing and pumping, please know we may not be able to fully cover both in depth during the first visit. Most families find it helpful to choose one primary focus so we can dive deeply and create a clear, actionable plan.

If flange fitting or pumping support is a priority, please have your regular double electric pump ready (not a wearable). We need to observe an actual pumping session to accurately size flanges and troubleshoot output or comfort issues.

You’re always welcome to share your goals ahead of time, or we can clarify your priorities at the beginning of the visit. Your voice, comfort, and feeding values always guide our care.

After Your Visit:
You’ll receive a detailed written care plan plus two-week secure messaging support so you feel confident implementing your next steps.

Prenatal Lactation Consultations

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

⏱️ When to Schedule
Most families book around 36 weeks, unless you have:

• A high-risk pregnancy

• A history of preterm birth

• Previous feeding difficulties

• Planned early pumping or separation

👥 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 about breastfeeding, pumping, supplementation, or previous experiences

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

You’ll receive a written prenatal care plan summarizing everything we discussed—and exactly what to do in the first days postpartum.

🧪 Prenatal Flange Fitting

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

• You plan to pump early

• You’ve previously had low supply or nipple pain

• You’re anticipating NICU care or early separation

• You know pumping will be part of your feeding journey

If you expect a typical feeding experience and are not planning to pump early, 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 size at three key times:

1. Around 36 weeks pregnant

2. 10–14 days postpartum

3. Around 6 weeks postpartum

This staged approach protects comfort, supports supply, and reduces nipple trauma.

🏥 Can the Hospital LC Size Me?

You can always ask—but realistically:

• Hospital sizing often happens during engorgement or swelling

• Many hospital LCs do not specialize in flange fitting

• Poor sizing is one of the top causes of nipple pain and inefficient pumping

A correct measurement early on can significantly change your pumping experience.

🍼 Bottle Refusal Consultations

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.

👅 Functional Oral Assessment & Bottle-Feeding Support

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

Before Your Appointment

• If you are concerned about ties, please avoid stretching or pre-release exercises the day of your visit so we can assess your baby’s true baseline.

• Bring your pump if you’re pumping.

• Bring bottles, nipples, and any feeding tools you regularly use.

• If pumping support or flange fitting is a priority, please bring your double electric pump (not a wearable).

What We’ll Do Together

We will:

• Assess tongue, lip, and jaw function

• Observe feeding at the breast or bottle

• Identify compensations, tension, or discomfort

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

🌙 Weaning Consultations

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.