Lactation Consults
Healthy Babies, Happy Moms Inc. offers lactation consultations in our East Greenwich, RI office, in our patients’ homes and virtually as telemedicine appointments. Our company is licensed by the Rhode Island Health Department as a Licensed Home Nursing Care Provider and nationally accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Healthcare. All of our Board-Certified Lactation Consultants are also Registered Nurses (RN/IBCLCs). We do our best to see all families within 24 hours of receiving a breastfeeding mother’s call or a pediatrician’s referral. Consults are scheduled one half-hour before a baby is anticipated to eat, so that there is ample time to gain an accurate feeding history. We realize it doesn't always work out that way, which doesn't bother us, but it is nicer for our mothers when we can make that happen!
If you’d like to schedule an appointment with one of our Board-Certified Lactation Consultants, please select your insurance plan below and fill out the form to help speed up our pre-appointment screening process for new patients. Then make sure to request a prescription from your doctor’s office if using your insurance for your lactation consult. For more information, please check out the sections at the bottom of the page that address some frequently asked questions.
“We can’t thank Kathy and the staff of Healthy Babies, Happy Moms enough for their help during the days that followed the birth of our first child. We left the hospital feeling anxious, wondering if our daughter would latch correctly and if my milk would come in. I was terribly discouraged and we made the call to Kathy on Saturday afternoon once we had settled in back at home. To my surprise, she offered to come to our house on Sunday – the next day! From the moment we met Kathy, we felt like we were in good hands. She was supportive and encouraging. With her help, we learned so many things about breastfeeding, most importantly to be patient! It all came together and we are so happy that we didn’t give up when it seemed impossible.”
— Marissa & Ryan Hirschfeld
What to Expect During Your Lactation Consultation
Consults usually last about two to three hours. Our lactation consultants weigh the baby before and after the feeding to get an accurate indication of the infant’s intake. The consultant stays with the mother throughout the entire feeding and makes any recommendations necessary to improve the breastfeeding relationship. They do not leave until the baby is satisfied and all the family’s questions are answered. The pediatrician and/or the referring physician is faxed a report to indicate that we saw one of their patients and to provide our recommendations. We respectfully ask that only the mother, baby and significant other are present for the consult. Please do not schedule your consult at a time when visitors or other healthcare providers are present.
On-Going Breastfeeding Support
Our fee includes unlimited phone follow-up with your lactation consultant. If you need a second in-home nursing consultation, depending on your location, the second visit is less expensive. We can always see you at our office at a lower rate.
Office Policies
You will receive our financial policy and other important documents via email from Formstack, which will allow you to sign them electronically. Once we received these signed documents, your appointment will be confirmed via a text message from AthenaHealth.
We require 24 hours' notice via a phone call when canceling a consult appointment. We have an answering service to take your message during the hours we are closed. Please listen to the message entirely to be connected to the answering service. Please do not send an email. Families who do not give us 24 hours' notice will be billed a fee of $50.
We realize that our fee may be a hardship for some families, and we would never want to discourage a family from seeking help. We have a charity care policy. If you are willing to fill out the required forms and qualify, you can be seen for free. We also offer payment plans and a military discount. Just let us know your situation and we will do everything we can to work with you and get you taken care of! To schedule an appointment, please use our the form below or call our office at 401-884-8273.
Insurance Covered Lactation Consultations
In order to have us bill your insurance plan for our lactation consult, we need to have a prescription from your obstetrician or your baby’s pediatrician. Please contact the doctor, let them know why you need to see us, and ask them to fax a prescription to us at 401-884-5541.
Although some insurance companies do not cover in-home consultations, please contact your insurer directly to see what lactation benefits they provide. Sometimes, you can be reimbursed for lactation costs after you have paid HBHM Inc. If you have a Flexible Spending Account for Health Care, they typically reimburse you for our consults and for breast pump rentals and purchases. We are happy to provide you with documentation you may need for reimbursement from your insurer or FSA. You can always use your FSA credit card for any of our products or services.
Here is some additional reimbursement information regarding insurance plans:
Tufts reimburses their subscribers 100% for our lactation consults. You can download the necessary form here. In each situation, you pay HBHM Inc. and then we provide you with the documentation you need for reimbursement.
Some United plans reimburse their subscribers if they are seen within the first week after birth. Please call your customer service number to confirm your coverage. In each situation, you self pay HBHM Inc. and then we provide you with the documentation you need for reimbursement.
*Please note that the unlimited phone follow-up for the lactation consult is only for the child for whom you received the consult, and not subsequent children. Thank you for your understanding!