Find a Certified Lactation Consultant in Reading, PA
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Why Use Meela to Hire Your Lactation Consultant?
Meela is the trusted place for parents to find top-rated lactation consultants, connecting over 1,700 parents with vetted professionals each month. Reach out to lactation consultants directly, or answer a few questions and let us bring you the best available options near you. All for free, no strings attached.
Certified, Expert-Vetted Lactation Consultants Near You
Our lactation experts include IBCLCs, IBCLEs, CLCs and more. They are the best of the best and hold the highest standards of evidence-based, inclusive, and compassionate care. Each verified professional on Meela is vetted by a licensed medical professional and comes with multiple client recommendations, active certifications, and has extensive training and experience in perinatal care.
2 reviews • 4 families supported • 7 years experience
5 reviews • 32 families supported • 2 years experience
I am a certified birth and postpartum doula through National Black Doula Association (NBDA). I am here to provide emotional, physical, and informational support. I am also here to coach the birthing person to see the value and strength in the way they intended to bring their baby into this world. I see it as my utmost privilege to serve the birthing community. I provide pregnancy and labor support as a birth doula, new mom and baby care as a postpartum doula, lactation support and childbirth education classes.
Care philosophy
Bringing life into this world is a sacred experience. Every new parent and family yearns to experience that sacredness. As a birth-worker, my goal is to provide you that environment so you can have the journey you desire. I will provide you with all the necessary support and make your goal, my goal.
Areas served
- Lancaster
- Hershey
- Harrisburg
- Reading
- York
Reviews
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Sabrina
March 4, 2023 at 11:28 am | Client reviewMadhu was such an asset to my birth support team! From the first time I met her, she thoroughly listened to mine and my partners wants and needs and supported me the entire time. Having her as my doula really helped me have the birth I dreamed of. At every meeting, my partner and I learned something new and how to prepare for the arrival of our baby. So when the time came, we felt well equipped and prepared to stick to my birth plan. She provided us with comfort measures, information to make our own decisions, and most importantly peace of mind. I definitely recommend having Made as your doula!
1 reviews • 4 families supported • 2 years experience
I am by your side through adoption, surrogacy and birth. Prepare your body, mind and spirit, under my guidance.
Care philosophy
Doula care is holistic in nature, grounded in an understanding of the social, emotional, cultural, spiritual, psychological and physical experiences of women and based upon the best available evidence.
Areas served
- Philadelphia, Wilmington
Reviews
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Erin
July 6, 2021 at 6:12 pm | Client reviewWorking with Courtney as our birth doula was an amazing experience! I highly recommend her services. She was well educated, informed on all birthing questions I had and was a big comfort. My husband and I both felt really connected with her, and she valued our birth plan. She was my advocate and a huge help in the delivery room.
3 reviews • 30 families supported • 5 years experience
A postpartum doula can provide emotional support, help with breastfeeding, assist with household tasks, and offer guidance on newborn care. Having a doula can help ease the transition into motherhood and provide valuable support during this season of change. After giving birth, it's essential to ensure that everything is running smoothly. Every family has unique needs, so we work together to find the best approach to address and fulfill those needs. ALL packages include a 90-minute postpartum planning session. Before your baby is born your postpartum doula will meet you to plan our time together. We will talk about your vision for your postpartum care, review some options with you, and ensure you have the supplies you need on hand. And if you show us around your adorable nursery and force us to look at tiny precious baby clothes, so be it! As a postpartum doula, I provide non-medical physical and emotional support and household assistance after the birth of your baby. I will help you with self-care recovery measures, give information on mother and baby care, birthing parent wound care, help you learn to care for and feed your new baby, a listening ear, discussion of the birth experience and the emotional transition into parenting, accompanying on outings such as; doctor appointments, weight checks, trips to the park, stores, etc, help packing the diaper bag and to get out of the house, as well as household necessities such as light house keeping, laundry, meal prep, sibling and pet support and care. caring for pets. As add-on services I will provide, grocery shopping, breastfeeding consultation, postpartum yoga/meditation, and baby-wearing education (including carrier rentals). My goal as your postpartum doula is to ease the transition with your new baby and all this entails. Postpartum support is available from birth to 6 months and can be customized to include the unique support and nurturing you need. I offer in-home care, text and phone support, and resources for everything from pumping to local yoga studios, parenting concerns, etc. As your doula, I will meet your family where you are at and adjust their care to meet your needs.
Care philosophy
I strive to ease the transition that comes with adding a baby to a family. I hope to improve postnatal satisfaction and reduce the risk of postnatal mood disorders. My goal is to nurture the family by providing evidence-based care for families with newborns, supporting the families’ individual feeding goals, offering infant care techniques, and providing care for new parents.
Areas served
- Queen Village
- Center City
- Society Hill
- Pennsport
- Rittenhouse Square/Fitler Square
Reviews
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Jenn
August 4, 2023 at 12:29 am | Client reviewShiya was incredibly helpful to me and my family. During the transition to parenthood she offered guidance and also supported a difficult start to breastfeeding which then led to success.
0 reviews • 11 families supported • 2 years experience
0 reviews • 1 families supported • 1 years experience
3 reviews • 22 families supported • 8 years experience
I have been in the labor and birth field for more than 12 years. Birth Babes will enhance the birth experience while decreasing maternal/fetal mortality rates in our service area through educational, doula, and referral services. New life is always precious - we see to it that your bundle of joy arrives with safety top of mind.
Care philosophy
My passion is empowering and educating parents to achieve their birth goals. I provide the tools and resources needed to make informed decisions and take action. Our natural approach allows for a mother, father, and baby to get the most out of the birth process. We facilitate a calm, relaxing, and memorable birth. New life is always precious - we see to it that your bundle of joy arrives sa
Areas served
- York, PA
- Lancaster, PA
- Harrisburg, PA
- Hanover, PA
Reviews
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Alison
March 15, 2021 at 8:07 am | Client reviewSarah is an amazing doula. She was so present, calm, comforting, and just all around a joy to be with. She made my labor and delivery feel incredibly safe and as enjoyable as possible. In the toughest moments she never wavered. She helped me find more comfortable positions and went wherever I felt I needed to be. She laughed with me, encouraged me and supported me through everything. She was PERFECT and Pregnant herself and not once did that take away or distract from my experience! If you are pregnant, I highly recommend Sarah!
6 reviews • 149 families supported • 6 years experience
Doula Belle
Care philosophy
Doula Belle started birth work a few years ago and has since serviced over 100 different families in Philadelphia and surrounding PA and NJ areas. This is Your Body, Your Baby, Your Birth, Doula Belle wants to help you be educated and prepared on all things surrounding them.
Areas served
- Philadelphia
- North Jersey
- SouthEastern PA
- Chester
Reviews
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Ivy
July 5, 2023 at 3:41 am | Peer reviewBelle is very detailed and compassionate when it comes to client care. Her expertise in alternative methods of pain reduction through hypnobirthing are remarkable. She comes highly recommended and is a huge asset to the birth world!
Lactation Consultant: FAQs
A certified lactation consultant is a professional that helps parents address and solve their breastfeeding problems. Many new parents believe that breastfeeding is easy, only to find more obstacles than anticipated. 92% of parents say they are having problems with breastfeeding their new baby within only 3 days.
Nursing doesn’t always come naturally.
Breastfeeding can be overwhelming and all-consuming. A lactation consultant in Reading, PA can identify issues such as low milk supply, latching problems, or nipple engorgement. They also offer advice and techniques to help parents understand existing issues, improve how they read their baby’s cues, and feel empowered about breastfeeding despite existing social norms.
Every parent’s journey is unique, and there might be specific challenges or obstacles in your particular situation. The ultimate goal of a lactation consultant is to support parents who choose to breastfeed their children. A lactation consultant in Reading, PA can often save parents time and energy, and also give them some peace of mind.
Many mothers also face issues where they cannot breastfeed in the workplace or lack the family support or time to ensure that their child is breastfed correctly. A lactation consultant in Reading, PA can also provide a significant amount of moral support, diagnose breastfeeding issues, and solve latching, positioning, and scheduling issues.
To find a lactation specialist in Reading, PA, most parents recommend creating a job post on Meela and having uniquely qualified lactation experts near you (in your budget) reach out to you through the Meela app.
You can interview and chat with as many lactation specialists as you wish and hire a lactation consultant with confidence. It is completely free to create a job post on Meela and find a lactation consultant. There are no commitments to hire any of the qualified and expert vetted experts Meela brings you.
Here’s how it works in 3 easy steps:
- Post a job for free: Answer some questions and receive responses from top-rated lactation specialists near you. It takes less than 30 seconds to post your job.
- Get your list of lactation consultants: In a few hours, you will have a collection of lactation consultants near you who are qualified to meet your needs. You can compare pricing, experience, and read reviews. You can chat with each lactation specialist to learn more about them.
- Hire a lactation consultant with confidence: Schedule virtual or in-person interviews with your top choices. Hire your top lactation specialist and start getting the care you deserve.
To find a lactation consultant, you can also browse the available professionals near you in Reading, PA and read reviews, compare pricing, experience and fit. Send the lactation consultants you are interested in a message, introducing yourself and setting up an interview. We recommend reaching out to and interviewing at least three lactation consultants before hiring a lactation specialist near you. After interviewing, hire the most qualified lactation specialist near you and start getting the care you deserve.
The cost of a lactation consultant can vary based on a variety of factors, including their experience, their services, and their skills or specializations. Overall, the average cost of a lactation consultant in Reading, PA is $185 per hour based on a survey of 120 lactation specialists in the Reading, PA area.
Under the Affordable Care Act, many insurance companies should be covering the cost of lactation services. However, there are a number of factors that determine whether insurance will cover the cost of a certified lactation consultant in Reading, PA. You should contact your insurance company for more information.
Here are some factors to consider regarding insurance and your lactation consultant cost:
- Your insurance provider
- Your individual health plan
- The type of lactation specialist
- The specific service provided
Meela’s network of lactations specialists in Reading, PA offer both in-home lactation support sessions or virtual lactation support sessions. Both types of sessions typically last between 1 and 3 hours. In your sessions, your lactation specialist will spend time understanding the issues you are facing and work with you and your baby to diagnose the issues have and also provide specific guidance and hands-on practice and exercises.
Lactation consultants help parents understand the best way to comfortably breastfeed their baby and help them navigate breastfeeding social norms. They can also help reduce stress and anxiety about breastfeeding, or help with specific challenges (such as breastfeeding twins, for example). Other parents might just want emotional support that doesn’t currently exist within their family, workplace, or network or friends.
Certified lactation consultants can also help with specialized issues that may arise with premature children or sick children. A parent may not have thought about breastfeeding help until they notice that their baby isn’t gaining weight properly, and finally realize that they might need some support and knowledge before continuing to breastfeed. On the other hand, some parents might prepare with a lactation consultant months before the baby is born.
Whether you are planning ahead or are thinking about a lactation now that you are having breastfeeding issues or concerns, a lactation consultant can be incredibly helpful and useful for parents.
Lactation counselors in Reading, PA can often help parents with breastfeeding and offer breastfeeding advice, training, and troubleshooting. Many of these counselors have taken the CLC exam, or the Certified Lactation Counselor exam. A certified lactation counselor has typically undergone 45 hours of training.
On the other hand, a certified lactation consultant in Reading, PA has undergone a specific amount of clinical training hours, which is not a requirement to become a lactation counselor. These lactation consultants are certified by the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants, as well. A lactation consultant typically has a bachelor’s degree in a health field and has undergone 90 hours of training and has somewhere between 300 and 1,000 hours of experience with parents.
Lactation consultants in Reading, PA are often working with other healthcare teams in collaboration with postpartum nurses to ensure that parents understand how to breastfeed their babies. Both lactation consultants and lactation counselors can provide support, develop feeding plans, and offer actionable advice with respect to breastfeeding.
The best approach is for parents to hire a lactation specialist early in their pregnancy so that they can help you prepare both mentally and physically. Parents don’t need to wait until your baby is born to begin thinking about breastfeeding support and education.
Some parents might be anxious about breastfeeding in public or feel like they want access to a breastfeeding expert to help both inform and support them. A lactation consultant in Reading, PA can also help young professional parents schedule their breastfeeding efficiently so that they can return to work quicker, while others might specialize in helping with breastfeeding anxiety issues.
It is never too late to hire a certified lactation consultant in Reading, PA. These breastfeeding consultants can also offer emotional breastfeeding support that can be valuable to those who lack family or workplace support. A lactation consultant can also be critical in identifying warning signs that might indicate more serious growth or developmental issues.
There are many documented benefits to breastfeeding, and parents often believe that it will be an easy and natural experience. Unfortunately, many parents run into issues such as low milk supply, nipple engorgement, or latching problems that can affect their baby’s health. These lactation specialists can be useful for troubleshooting, advice, or emotional support.
Certified lactation consultants can strengthen the bond between parents and their babies through breastfeeding advice, tips, and support. This might include showing parents how to help their baby latch properly, establishing feeding schedules, or dealing with sore nipples or engorgement. A lactation consultant can help new parents better understand their baby’s needs in general, and monitor the baby’s growth and development.
Lactation specialists in Reading, PA also offer emotional support and help parents breastfeed more efficiently so that they can get back to work and allow them to better manage expectations. Many parents face issues where they cannot breastfeed in the workplace, or do not have the family support or time to ensure that their child is breastfed properly and with care. These expert consultants can also provide a significant amount of moral support, diagnose breastfeeding issues, while also solving issues such as latching, positioning, and scheduling.
Cedrita
February 23, 2024 at 10:17 am | Client reviewIf you’re looking for someone who loves the work you’ll find it with Shay. She is supportive, encouraging, compassionate, and really helps you make your birthing and after birth experience yours. She listens and provides sound guidance. She will also point you towards additional resources when necessary.