Initial Consult

What to expect

• Paperwork: Once your consult is booked I’ll email you access to my in-take forms, please fill the forms out before our consult that will save us time on paperwork so we have more time to spend with you and your baby!

• Oral assessment: I’ll do an oral assessment of the inside of your baby’s mouth. Checking your baby’s sucking strength and range of motion of the tongue giving me information about how baby is latching and sucking at the breast.

• Weight check: I’ll do pre and post feeding weights giving us a snapshot of how much breastmilk your baby is taking in at that feeding.

• Positioning and Latching: Watch how your baby is positioning and latching onto the breast, observe a breastfeeding session, and give suggestions and adjustments as we go along.

• Structural assessment: If I believe there maybe structural issues with your little one (such as torticollis, pain in the neck, baby favoring one side over the other, jaw clenching issues, etc.) I’ll do a quick and gentle structural assessment. We’ll put your baby on a blanket on my massage table and I’ll observe your baby in Tummy Time, during this time I’ll also teach you the Tummy Time Method! helping baby enjoy tummy time while also working on any tension we may find. Many babies are born with tension due to certain positioning in the womb, difficult labor and delivery, and even oral restriction (lip/tongue tie), this tension can cause latching and positioning issues.

• All this will help me get the whole picture of what’s happening with your situation.

• I’ll provide you with information, techniques and suggestions to help. I may show you breastfeeding videos, give you links to articles/resources, and a Care Plan you can reference later, so you don’t have to remember everything we talk about!

• Together we’ll create a plan that works best for you and your family!

• Plan on being together for about 1.5 to 2 hours. Follow-up’s are usually 1 to 1.5 hours

Things to consider

• We don’t want your little one to be super hungry, but definitely ready to eat for our consult. Please plan to feed baby about 1-1.5hrs before our consult then baby will be pretty ready to eat. We’ll go off of your baby’s timing, so no rushing through anything.

• I’ll watch a nursing session. I have many different types of pillows in my office, so we can find one that’s comfortable for you. Feel free to bring your own pillow if you like.

• I also like to see how baby is bottle feeding: If your baby has been taking a bottle, please have a bottle ready with either express breastmilk or formula. I do have a bottle warmer in the office if that’s helpful to you.

• Regarding your pump: If you have questions, need instructions, or would like me to look at your pump flange size, please bring your pump(s) and ALL pump parts.

• After our consult please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding the breastfeeding plan we come up with. There is no charge for quick questions pertaining to your initial consult for 2 weeks to keep your progress moving forward! I will also suggest a follow-up if I feel your situation would benefit.

Payment and Insurance Info

I partner with THE LACTATION NETWORK

If you have a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois PPO, Cigna PPO, or United HealthCare PPO insurance:

• Go ahead and fill out The Lactation Network form HERE.

• They’ll check to see if your insurance plan will cover our consult!

• We’ll both receive an email from Lactation Network letting us know if you are covered or not. If covered they will cover 6 visits.

• Go ahead and book your consult if you haven’t done so already or contact me with any questions.

• Note: ALL insurance claims and payment will go through The Lactation Network, not Makana Breastfeeding / Melissa Schiff, IBCLC.

I’m in-network with Aetna

• Aetna typically covers up to 6 lactation visits. It is your responsibility to check with Aetna to verify your plan is covered for lactation services.

• If you have an AETNA plan go ahead and book the appointment for “AETNA Clients”.

Note: Even though Aetna may tell you that you are covered 100 percent, some AETNA plans will charge a co-pay which will be charged with the card you put on file during booking.

If you do not have the above insurances, the consult will be considered self-pay.

Self Pay and Superbill:

• Payment is due at the end of our in-person consultation or at the time of booking for a virtual consult.

• I take cash, check, credit card, or most HSA/FSA cards.

• I would be considered an out-of-network provider. I’ll provide you with a professional receipt called a Superbill (a receipt with medical insurance coding) after our consult. I highly recommend submitting to your insurance. There is no guarantee that your insurance company will pay, but it’s worth a try. Please note: it is your responsibility to submit the Superbill receipt to your insurance.

CANCELATION POLICY

I understand that there is a 24hr cancellation policy. I will cancel or reschedule my appointment before 24hrs of my booked appointment or I will be charged a $50 cancellation fee. A credit card is required to be on file at booking.