Lactation Support Consultations

Why should I pay for lactation + breastfeeding help, when there are free services?

I know it's nice when it's free. I took the free courses and support too. There will always be free services provided to you by public health or a hospital system. In my personal experience, they can only assist in the scope they are allowed. This means, if someone works for A they will most likely be limited to guide you based on the policies of A. For example, lactation consultants may only work Monday to Friday, and you had your little one on a Saturday, out by Sunday. You may have not receive any lactation specific support using service A. 

 

I think it's also worth mentioning if you are looking for pumping support in Canada, it is extremely limited (hence why the Exclusive Pumping Institute was founded!). Our maternity leave is designed to promote a latched experience with little worry of going back to work with pump use. As such many IBCLCs and lactation RNs do not have a lot of experience with pumps outside the Medela Symphony, Ameda Platinum & Elite. A good hint is when lactation professionals "eye ball" flange sizing. You should always be measured aside from just viewed within a flange. If your lactation professional is doing this, it is because they has not yet been trained in exclusive pumping. Pumped Love Lactation by EPI has 40 breast pumps to better suit your pumping needs, from occasional use to full time use.

 

I'm a researcher, a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) and currently acquiring clinical hours to sit the IBCLC exam. I like to keep content fresh, providing you with the latest facts and evidence based practice in breastfeeding / lactation and pumping. My "free" breastfeeding class was designed at least 10 years before I ever took it. My "free" lactation consultant in 2015 told me to just keep at it. Each lactation journey is unique, and you deserve a unique service, with someone who gets it! I provide you with the resources you need, to help you get the results in lactation you and your little one aspire to achieve.

 

Why is there a cost?

IBCLC/CLC services are not directly covered under provincial health care coverage. I know the price for lactation help and support can seem out of our price range. My guess is if you are considering lactation support, it is because providing your little one with human milk is important to you. I understand that. If your concern is formula, I ask you to think about the cost of support versus what the cost might mean for you with breast pumps and/or formula. I can easily admit I probably spent over $1500 in pumps, pumping accessories, supplements and medications alone with my own children. If I could have had the support I needed in those first few days postpartum, it may have made a world of difference, and saved me hundreds of dollars + my mental wellbeing. I have made my costs low in terms of providing services because I'm passionate about lactation, and want you to succeed in which ever lactation journey you choose. Some insurance companies will cover lactation services under their health care spending account, and as such you will receive a receipt with my CLC credential in hopes you may have your lactation support covered. 

 

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Why do I need to book my service / support on exclusivepumpinginstitute.com?

Pumped Love Lactation is a branch of the Exclusive Pumping Institute. The booking service is currently housed on Exclusive Pumping Institute's website. Pumped Love Lactation is intended to support all individuals who lactate and/or birth children. Exclusive Pumping Institute was founded to provide lactation professionals more education and training on exclusive pumping, where only exclusive pumping support to exclusive pumpers. As a CLC and now an IBLCE pathway 3 student, I am trained and educated to support all individuals who lactate. It was necessary that there was a distinction between both websites to cater to each interest of the website visitor. I, Dr. Ashton Fortin Higgins, am the only individual at this time providing services and support for both the Exclusive Pumping Institute (EPI) and Pumped Love Lactation by EPI.

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What are your COVID-19 in-person home visit protocols?

Temperature check will be performed prior to entering the home, and everyone except baby will need to be masked for the duration of the visit. Everyone will need to sanitize their hands at the beginning of the consultation. I also recommend that the lactating parent washes their hands to avoid sanitizer on their breasts/chest while getting baby latch. COVID-19 screening questions as instructed by the Government of Ontario will need to be answered prior to service. Should you have any symptoms 2 hours prior to service, the appointment can be transferred to a virtual appointment for the same time, and you will be refunded the PPE & Driving fee minus payment processing fees. Should you need to reschedule in-person due to COVID, proof of negative COVID testing is required before entering the home. Rescheduling requests non COVID related need to be made at least 24 hours in-advance. Cancelling within 48 hours of the appointment are fully-refundable. Cancelling within 24 hours of the appointment are non-refundable.

 

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How does your texting service support work?

When you've decided you want to invest in this service, you will be asked to pick any time slot on the day you'd like your texting service to start (disregard the 15 min appointment). Once you have purchased this service you will be sent an email within 3 hours providing you the details of which app to install and I will add your phone number. You will also be required to fill out an intake form so I can better understand your unique lactation journey thus far. We will be able to communicate through this PHIPA & HIPAA compliant texting service for 30 days. You will be allowed to send photos. Your questions will be answered at latest from 6PM to 12AM EST daily. All questions beyond 10PM EST will be answered next day. Should I be unavailable for a day, your service will be extended by 1 day. You will be notified. Limited number of spots will be available to ensure I am able to provide you with the lactation support you require. Please note, if you require a flange sizing during the 30 days, this will need to be purchased aside from the texting lactation support service.

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What is your canceling / rescheduling / refund policy?

Please note cancellations within 24 hours of appointment time are non transferable and non refundable. Cancellations within 24-48 hours are transferable (reschedule), but non refundable. Cancellations greater than 48 hours are fully refundable. By clicking the terms and conditions box at the end of the booking your agree to the cancellation policy as well as the terms and conditions available on the Terms page of the Exclusive Pumping Institute Website.   

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Will an IBCLC be present at our in-person and/or our virtual consults?

In 2021, there may be a virtual IBCLC present during our in-person or virtual consults, so that I may count the time towards my 500 hours of clinical experience to sit the IBCLC exam. The platform is a Google Meet HIPAA / PHIPA compliant encrypted video call. You may choose to opt out of this option or we can ensure that your breast/chest is not exposed during the call should you feel uncomfortable (in-person). In 2022, my IBCLC mentor will be available only when I contact them by email/text and will not be present virtually in our consults. For the remainder of 2021, if I am unaccompanied by my virtual IBCLC mentor, I will be providing lactation support as a CLC.

 

 

Do you need to touch me during my in-person visit or do I need to show my breasts/chest and/or nipples on virtual consults?

Gone are the days of another lactation professional sandwiching your breast/chest into your infant's mouth. This is not my style, and against my ethics as a Board Certified Sexologist (ACS). I'm trained in providing virtual lactation care and as such, I can coach you the whole time with assisting baby to latch etc. Should you prefer I help, we can document that you've consented to me touching just you and/or your infant. I will NEVER touch anyone without their expressed consent, period.

 

For virtual visits you are welcome to not show your breasts/chest and/or your nipples, however you will need to be very descriptive of what you see should we perform a breast assessment or observing baby latch. I completely understand that showing our bodies to someone we do not know leaves us in a vulnerable position. I've been trained and educated to observe naked bodies in a respectable manner throughout both my Masters and Doctoral programs. My goal is that you are comfortable with what works for you.