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What is an IBCLC?
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) has acquired extensive clinical training (hands-on experience with breastfeeding families) and completed rigorous academic coursework prior to certification, has passed a board exam, and must recertify every five years. The term “lactation consultant” is not legally protected and can be used by anyone to describe themself. By hiring an IBCLC you are assured your provider meets the gold-standard of care for lactation professionals. To verify that your lactation consultant is an IBCLC you can search this directory. What can you do to help me? As board certified lactation consultants we provide expert level services to help a parent reach their breastfeeding/feeding goals. The consultant will serve as a resource for parents by providing accurate, evidence-based information and practical support. The lactation consultant uses their knowledge and experience to assess your situation to come up with a plan that best meets your individual needs and goals. Common issues include but are not limited to:
What should I expect during a lactation consultation? A visit with Bliss Lactation lasts about 1.5-2 hours and begins with taking a full history (general health, pregnancy, birth, any previous breastfeeding history), listening to your feeding experience from birth to present, discussion of your current situation and breastfeeding goals. During our time together the IBCLC will observe breastfeeding/chestfeeding/bottle feeding, make adjustments to positioning as needed to help facilitate optimal feeding, offer a breast exam if indicated, weigh your baby using a state of the art infant medical scale (both a naked weight and pre and post feed/transfer weight), offer an oral exam for your baby to assess oral motor function, provide assistance with any tools you're using or may need to use, and address all of your questions and concerns. |
How is your fee determined?
Fees for services include ongoing support such as phone and email follow-up, research as needed, selecting additional resources for you, a visit summary sent to additional members of your healthcare team, either billing your insurance directly or providing a completed claim form to submit to insurance, all in addition to the hours we spend together. On average, we spend about 5-10 hours working for each family per visit. Will my insurance cover your services? Both Chelsea and Lara are currently contracted as in-network providers with AETNA insurance and Regence/BCBS of Oregon. Please check your carrier's provider website to verify our in-network status and check your eligibility and benefits prior to our visit to verify lactation services are covered. For all other insurance plans we provide a claim form for you to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Payment in full (cash, check, or credit card/HSA card) is typically due at the time of service. We fully acknowledge that lactation services can often be an unexpected yet much needed expense and we will work with you to provide a flexible payment plan if needed-please don’t hesitate to ask about this. Insurance reimbursement amounts cannot be guaranteed as insurance company policies vary widely. We encourage you to contact your insurance provider directly to find out what the coverage limitations are for your specific plan. More information on insurance coverage for lactation services here. Please contact us directly for a full list of fees for services and payment plan options. 
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