What Is A Nutritional Consult for Breastfeeding Mothers and Babies?

A nutritional consult is a personalized session designed to support the health and well-being of both breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Breastfeeding places unique nutritional demands on a mother’s body, and ensuring that both mother and baby are receiving the right nutrients can make a big difference in their overall health and development.

During the consult, we evaluate key areas such as diet, hydration, and any specific health concerns to provide guidance that aligns with your breastfeeding goals. Here's what you can expect from a nutritional consult:

For Mothers:

• Personalized Diet Assessment: We review your current diet to ensure you’re getting the vitamins, minerals, and calories needed to maintain energy levels, produce breast milk, and recover postpartum.
• Nutritional Recommendations: Based on your needs, we offer practical tips and meal ideas that support milk production and overall well-being.
• Addressing Specific Issues: We can help with concerns like low milk supply, food sensitivities, or healing after a C-section.

For Babies:

• Growth and Development: We monitor your baby’s growth patterns and provide guidance to ensure they are gaining weight and thriving.
• Identifying Nutritional Needs: If your baby shows signs of colic, gas, or other digestive concerns, we assess whether nutrition may play a role.
• Support for Special Cases: We offer targeted advice if your baby has specific needs, such as managing allergies or food sensitivities.

Our goal is to empower you with knowledge and support, making your breastfeeding journey smoother and more enjoyable. Every mother and baby’s situation is unique, and our consults provide compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to you.

Schedule a consult today to ensure you and your baby are on the path to optimal nutrition and health!

Why Is A Nutritional Consultation So Important?

A nutritional consult is crucial for breastfeeding mothers and their babies because nutrition plays a significant role in maintaining the health and well-being of both. Here’s why this type of support can be a game-changer:

1. Meeting Increased Nutritional Needs

Breastfeeding mothers require extra calories and nutrients to sustain milk production. Without proper nutrition, mothers may feel fatigued, have difficulty maintaining milk supply, or struggle with postpartum recovery. A consult ensures mothers are eating in a way that supports both themselves and their babies.

2. Supporting Milk Quality and Quantity

Breast milk is tailored to meet a baby’s needs, but a mother’s diet can influence certain components of milk, including fatty acids and vitamins. Proper nutrition can help ensure optimal milk quality and support healthy milk production, especially if there are concerns about low supply.

3. Promoting Healthy Growth and Development in Babies

Good nutrition for the mother translates to adequate nourishment for the baby, which is vital for healthy growth and brain development. A consult can identify and address any feeding or growth concerns, ensuring that the baby thrives during this critical period.

4. Addressing Special Health Concerns

Some mothers and babies may face challenges such as food allergies, intolerances, or digestive issues. A nutritional consult can help identify these triggers and offer practical solutions to manage symptoms like colic, reflux, or gas.

5. Encouraging Postpartum Recovery

The postpartum period is a time of healing and adjustment. Proper nutrition aids recovery by supporting tissue repair, boosting energy levels, and stabilizing mood. Mothers who receive guidance on diet often experience smoother recovery and increased resilience.

6. Personalized Care and Confidence

Every mother and baby’s situation is different. A nutritional consult provides tailored advice, helping mothers feel confident in their choices and empowered to make adjustments based on their unique needs.

By prioritizing nutrition, both mother and baby can thrive, setting the foundation for long-term health and well-being. Investing in a consult is a proactive step toward a smoother, healthier breastfeeding experience.

Will this service be covered by my insurance?

Preventative coverage for nutritional counseling is a health insurance benefit designed to help individuals access nutrition services without out-of-pocket costs. Under this coverage, insurance plans may fully cover visits with a registered dietitian or nutrition professional to prevent or manage health conditions through proper nutrition.

This type of coverage is part of preventative care, which focuses on keeping you healthy and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. It is often provided at no cost under many insurance plans, especially those that follow guidelines set by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

How Does Preventative Coverage Allow Free Access to a Dietitian?

Preventative coverage typically works as follows:

1. Full Coverage for Approved Services

Many health plans cover 100% of nutritional counseling when it’s classified as preventative care. This means there are no copays, deductibles, or coinsurance required for eligible services, making these visits free for the patient.

2. Coverage for Specific Conditions or Goals

Nutritional counseling may be covered if:

• You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• You have conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, or high blood pressure.
• You are at risk for developing a diet-related illness or want to maintain optimal health through preventative care.

These services help address and prevent issues before they become more serious or costly.

3. In-Network Provider Requirements

To access free nutritional counseling, you may need to visit a dietitian or provider within your insurance network. Out-of-network services may not be fully covered.

In Addition To Your 1:1 Consult...You Will Get Access To Our Library of Online Courses Just For Completing a Nutrition Visit!

Here is a sample of just 1 of the 5 classes you will receive:

All About Breastfeeding Course Outline

Once we complete our 30-minute telehealth consult, You Get Full And Immediate Access To:

Lesson One 

What You Need To Know About Breastfeeding Before You Deliver

• In Lesson One you will learn how to prepare for breastfeeding and what items will be essential to your success. 
• You will learn how colostrum works and how breastmilk is produced. 
• We will cover when to expect your milk to come in and how it can be delayed due to various factors, but you will also learn how 'low-supply' can be prevented in **most** cases.  Ensuring a healthy supply of milk is essential to your continued success and breastfeeding journey. 
• We will talk about leaking colostrum during pregnancy and what it may mean for your lactation journey as well as how to collect that liquid gold before delivery and why some mamas may want to start storing it up (learn how to know if you might be one of them). 
• We will also cover how to make a plan for your partner to help with your breastfeeding journey to help it go smoothly.
• Sleep is essential during your recovery and for milk production.  In this lesson, I will talk about safe sleep options for breastfeeding mamas that can help you get a headstart on getting more sleep right away. 
• We will cover what to do if you have flat or inverted nipples, and how you don't need to be worried or plan to use a nipple shield right away just because your nipples may be flat or inverted.
• Finally, we will talk about how to set up your breast pump and size your flanges appropriately to avoid nipple damage and ensure adequate supply.

Lesson Two

The First Two Days

• In Lesson two you will learn how the first 2 hours are important in setting up your supply as well as turning on those milk receptors, but if you are not able to be with babe right away there is something you can do to help your milk come in.
• We will cover hunger cues and feeding on demand and why it is important to help establish your milk supply.
• You will learn all about the best positions to nurse baby and why your latch is super important as well as how to recognize if it is not good and how to fix it.
• You will learn how to wake a sleepy baby because it is the number one reason I am called into a new mama's room to help with breastfeeding - they don't know how to wake that sleepy baby!
• You will learn how to burp your breastfed baby.
• You will learn how to know your baby has had enough to eat and if your supply is ample or if your baby needs supplementation.
• You will learn all about nipple shields and how they can be helpful for some, yet harmful for others.
• You will learn the many reasons pediatricians and others might recommend supplementation and the different ways you can supplement if it is needed.
• You will learn about breastmilk jaundice and how to breastfeed through it.
• You will have an understanding of why you will hear conflicting information from hospital staff members and what to do with the information.
• You will learn why night #2 is the worst night you will have while in the hospital and how to prepare for it so that you will struggle less than many mamas who have gone before you that didn't know ahead of time to make a plan.
• You will learn how to care for cracked or bleeding nipples and how to prevent further damage.

Lesson Three

The First Two Weeks

• In Lesson three you will learn that getting home can feel good, but overwhelming at the same time and how to manage.
• You will learn all about the Haakaa and why I find it a necessary tool.
• You will learn how to know the difference between engorgement, plugged ducts, nipple blebs, and mastitis and how to heal yourself quickly.
• You will learn how to store milk safely.
• You will learn how to wean from a nipple shield if you were sent home with one from the hospital.
• You will learn how to introduce a bottle to a breastfed baby and when the optimal time is to do so.
• You will learn how to increase your supply if you are not making enough milk.
• You will know how to identify if your baby is gassy from your milk or something else.
• You will learn the difference between thrush and 'milk tongue'

Lesson Four

Beyond The First Month

• In Lesson four you will learn how to safely drink alcohol and breastfeed your baby.
• And what to do if you decide to Exclusively Pump
• The following lessons will be added to the course shortly:
  • Cluster Feeding For Older Babies and Spurts
  • Traveling With Pumped Milk
  • Boosting Milk Supply When Pumping
  • Introducing Solids -Baby Led Weaning