What to expect

I tailor this consult to cover your specific questions, concerns and needs. We’ll talk about your breastfeeding goals, whether you will need to return to work, if you have any medical issues that may cause problems with breastfeeding. We’ll come up with strategies and a plan to help you get things off to a great start! Support, accurate information, and encouragement sets breastfeeding up for success. This consult is a prefect first step! Consult is about 1.5 to 2 hrs. Partner’s play a very important role in breastfeeding success and I highly encourage them to attend as well!

INFORMATION TO BE COVERED

• Your health history as well as how this pregnancy is going and customize a plan to get breastfeeding off to a good start based on your specific needs

• All the basics of how breasts and milk production work

• Why breastfeeding is so amazingly beneficial for your baby and you

• How to get Breastfeeding off to the best possible start

• Best techniques on how to position and latch your baby to the breast

• How to know what baby’s hunger cues look like and why it’s so important to recognize them

• How to ensure a good milk supply and maintain your milk supply

• How to know your baby is getting enough

• What to do once you get home from the hospital

• Common first few week issues that may come up and how to handle them

• Info about breastfeeding equipment (pillows, clothes, nipple shields, pumps, etc…) and if they are needed or not

• How to create breastfeeding support around you

• Paperwork: Once your consult is booked I’ll email you access to my in-take forms so I know what you would like to work on and to have the full picture of your situation. Please fill the forms out before our consult so that we have more time to spend together

• I’ll provide you with information, techniques and suggestions. Show you breastfeeding videos, give you links to articles/resources, and a Care Plan to help you remember what we discussed during our session to get you off to the best possible start!

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

After your baby is born, send me a text and we can schedule your follow-up consult to make sure everything is going well and to give you peace of mind!

• Common times to see you and your baby would be sometime between day 3-5, then 1 week later check-in. Depending on how things are going we can schedule another appointment or if all is well it’s great to follow-up again for returning to work and/ or bottle feeding questions, starting solids, if at anytime you are feeling things are changing and you have lots of questions, weaning is another great time for a consult.

Things to consider

• If you have any questions about pumping, or would like me to look at your pump flange size, please bring your pump(s) and ALL pump parts.

• After our consultation please feel free to message me through our secure portal (you’ll receive access once the intake forms are filled out) with any questions or concerns regarding the 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! Let me know when you would like to schedule your follow-up after baby is born!

Payment and Insurance Info

I partner with THE LACTATION NETWORK: your prenatal consult maybe covered for free and is included with the 6 lactation covered visits.

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 you know if you are covered or not.

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

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

In-network with Aetna!

• Aetna typically covers up to 6 lactation visits (including your prenatal consult). 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 “In-office Prenatal-AETNA” appointment.

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 office 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 virtual consultations.

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

• Outside of AETNA, I am not in-network with any health insurance companies. 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). 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.