Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
**Jennrs (or anyone else that knows about lactation consultants)**
My OB this morning told me I should start thinking about setting up an LC appointment for after I get home from the hospital because of how hard it is to BF twins. When I got home, I called my insurance company to see if it was covered. They woman I spoke to said it should be covered as a specialist. I told her that I couldn't find LCs under the specialist drop-down menu and she said that maybe they were called something else. Do you know if it's typical for LCs to be covered by insurance? I'm thinking that maybe she just was mistaken and they're not covered (like doulas). Is there something else that they might be called? Thanks 
Also... I don't think I can rely on LLL because the one in my area meets once a month and the woman that runs it has on there that she is not taking calls from people with questions so it doesn't seem like she would be too helpful.
m/c 7/17/10
Dx: MFI- 3% morph
IUIs: Gonal-F + Ovidrel + b2b IUI= BFNs
IVF with ICSI= BFP! EDD 11/25/11
3/18- Beta #1 452! 3/20- Beta #2 1,026!! 3/27- First u/s- TWINS!
Our twin boys arrived at 36w5d due to IUGR and a growth discordance
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
Re: **Jennrs (or anyone else that knows about lactation consultants)**
After I had Taryn, I met with the LC in the hospital a few times (she would check in on us); before I was discharged, I had the option of setting up an in-home appt with a nurse to come within the first week of birth. I did this, and the nurse checked me, Taryn, and made sure nursing was going well and checked my hold/Taryn's latch. I was not charged anything extra for this...but it could just be a service offered through my hospital?
Sorry...that probably didn't help you very much!
Oh, and I have no idea what else they'd be called besides a lactation consultant.
Check with your pediatrician's office, too. Ours has a nurse that serves as an LC, and she was EXTREMELY helpful to me when we had issues when Nora was refusing to nurse at 3-4 days old.
On that note, the LCs associated with the hospital I delivered at were all nurses--so I would assume that if you set up an appointment with one of them, it would be covered by insurance, as would any other visit with a medical professional, you know?
Blog
My Blog Picture A Day Blog
In the DSM area and lots of other cities there are LCs who have private businesses. For instance we have Basking Babies in Des Moines. Angela will make house calls and provide phone consultations for families. The private LCs are not usually covered by insurance (but it's worth looking into) and they are usually very good at what they do and many times specialize in special circumstances (twins, relactation, latch issues, weaning from nipple shield, etc...) In my opinion, they are totally worth every penny.
Also, if I were you, I would look into postpartum doulas in your area. Many of the postpartum doulas are LCs or have a lot of training in breastfeeding and a few may be well-versed in breastfeeding twins. If you don't mind me asking, what part of New Jersey are you from? I can do some snooping in your area. :-)
Of course, take advantage of all of the free LC services offered to you (in hospital, support groups, hospital classes, LLL, etc...) Also, did you happen to see the breastfeeding twins article I posted for Tiff last night? Check that article out and the resources she has listed. I'm sure there is a TON of information out there and I'm sure you've aleady looked at quite a bit of it. Good luck and let me know if there is any other way I can help ou. :-)
Neena Mae. 1/7/10
"A baby nursing at a mother's breast is an undeniable affirmation of our rootedness in nature." - David Suzuki
I agree with the other ladies about the hospital LC's. Ours were a-mah-zing. Could you just call the hospital where you are delivering and ask to speak with them? I think that would be my first step.
I'm glad to hear that you're planning to BF! By the time my kiddos come along you'll be an ole pro and I can ask you questions.
GL finding someone!!
Our crazy, wonderful life
I'm in Monmouth County. It's really important for me to fine free or very inexpensive services because I'm not working and twins are freakin expensive! The ones that I have found in the area either don't post their rate or are around $150+ for office visits and $250+ for home. I didn't see the article you posted but I will definitely check it out
m/c 7/17/10
Dx: MFI- 3% morph
IUIs: Gonal-F + Ovidrel + b2b IUI= BFNs
IVF with ICSI= BFP! EDD 11/25/11
3/18- Beta #1 452! 3/20- Beta #2 1,026!! 3/27- First u/s- TWINS!
Our twin boys arrived at 36w5d due to IUGR and a growth discordance
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
That's a great idea!
Neena Mae. 1/7/10
"A baby nursing at a mother's breast is an undeniable affirmation of our rootedness in nature." - David Suzuki
Totally understandable! I know you said you don't think the LLL will be much help but have you contacted her to see if she knows of any LCs who will make house calls or take private appointments? Honestly, I'm sure you'll get lots of free help through the hospital but it would be nice to have that extra help ready to go if needed.
Neena Mae. 1/7/10
"A baby nursing at a mother's breast is an undeniable affirmation of our rootedness in nature." - David Suzuki
Thanks! We haven't picked one yet but we have meetings set up to meet the doctors at two practices next week and the week after. I will definitely put that on my list of questions for them.
m/c 7/17/10
Dx: MFI- 3% morph
IUIs: Gonal-F + Ovidrel + b2b IUI= BFNs
IVF with ICSI= BFP! EDD 11/25/11
3/18- Beta #1 452! 3/20- Beta #2 1,026!! 3/27- First u/s- TWINS!
Our twin boys arrived at 36w5d due to IUGR and a growth discordance
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
I don't know if they are covered, when I met with a LC, she gave me the form but did say some insurance companies didn't cover it. As awful as it is, I completely forgot to mail in the claim form so I don't know if it was covered.
But, at the hospital I delivered at, the LC came around every day, at least once, to check on things. She wanted to see how the latch was and would answer any questions I had. She was amazing! When we came home we had issues, so I contacted them again and met with the other LC there and she was great too. She was available by phone to answer any questions and after we went in for a meeting, she wanted updates on how Abbie was doing with her weight gain. Hopefully your hospital will have a LC that can be available (no extra charge) while you're in the hospital.