Find a Certified Lactation Consultant in Richmond, VA

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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.

Found 4 Pros in Richmond, VA, USA | Lactation support
EXPERIENCE
0 50
Families served
0 3500
Birth fee
$0 $7500
HOURLY RATE
$0 $500
$ flexible
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MARGARET TODD

Highland Springs, VA

0 reviews • 1000 families supported • 8 years experience

0 reviews • 1000 families supported • 8 years experience

I am the mother of three adult children. I had a hard time when I started breastfeeding. In fact, I almost quit! Thankfully, I had an experienced mom give me the support and encouragement I needed to overcome the challenges. I like offering that same help to other moms. I have been working in lactation for over 8 years, not counting the years I informally helped friends with breastfeeding challenges. I worked at WIC as a breastfeeding peer counselor before I earned my IBCLC. I love helping moms meet their breastfeeding goals! I offer in-home visits in Richmond, VA and the surrounding counties and virtual visits nationwide. I accept most insurance and because I believe money should not be a barrier to quality lactation care I offer services on a sliding scale if you are uninsured or on Medicaid.

Care philosophy

I believe all parents want and know what's best for their family. So, your goals are my goals. I also believe in treating others like I want to be treated, with care, respect, dignity and to the best of my ability. I also believe that it isn't necessary to manipulate your breasts during a lactation consult. Verbal cues and modeling with a doll work better! I hated having a grabby IBCLC!

Areas served

  • Richmond, Va
  • Hanover County
  • Henrico County
  • New Kent County
  • Chesterfield County
  • Petersburg
  • Caroline County
  • Charles City County
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Latisha Suitte

Richmond, VA

4 reviews • 20 families supported • 3 years experience

4 reviews • 20 families supported • 3 years experience

Educating others about breastfeeding is my passion. From the expected and the not-so-expected to the how-tos before and after the baby arrives. As a Certified Lactation Counselor and Postpartum Doula, I am here to reach your breastfeeding goals! Let me help you and your family achieve confidence and support during your journey.

Care philosophy

Our mission is to build confidence in your ability to nurse. With the right support, all of your breastfeeding goals can be reached. We have experience working with single and tandem feedings. Goals: To combat stigma and myths surrounding breastfeeding, especially for women of color. To advocate for breastfeeding best practices and procedures for individual families and occupational

Areas served

  • Henrico, Va
  • Mechanicville, Va
  • Goochland, Va
  • Chesterfield, Va
  • Ashland, Va

Reviews

  • Whitney
    July 6, 2023 at 2:48 pm | Client review

    Latisha came alongside me and my family immediately following the birth of our third child and during a very busy and exhausting season of life! She helped us not only stay sane but thrive in the areas of feeding our infant son and maximizing rest/sleep when we could through overnight doula and lactation support. My main goal was to exclusively breastfeed our third child after a very difficult experience and failed attempt at exclusively nursing my now toddler aged twins. With Latisha’s support, guidance and expertise, I was able to achieve that goal and create an incredibly strong bond with my third child that I will be forever grateful for! She was there every step of the way the first 8 weeks postpartum, helping us navigate challenges and maximize sleep/rest in between feedings. Highly, highly recommend Tisha to any family seeking lactation and/or doula support! She is absolutely wonderful and incredibly gifted!

$ flexible
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Hannah Williams

Richmond, VA

2 reviews • 5 families supported • 3 years experience

2 reviews • 5 families supported • 3 years experience

I started supporting families in 2019 and have provided countless massages, meals and newborn care to help mothers recover, sleep and breastfeed their newborns. I give lactation education prenatally as well as hands on help in the first days to avoid nipple pain and ensure a deep latching and efficient transfer of milk. My cooking looks like weekly meal preparation in the form of 3 - 4 dinners a week, home made bone broth, large batches of tea infusions, lactation muffins and grab and go breakfast and snack options. I offer Ayurvedic massage with warming oils on a portable massage table in the home or modified versions in the bed. I offer belly binding, baby wearing education, sleep education, postpartum nutrition education and mental health screenings. I do laundry, wash dishes and provide newborn care so families can sleep or work from home.

Care philosophy

I believe all mothers deserve a lying in time. I am passionate about lactation and am working towards a CLC. Sleep is crucial to recovery and coping with stress. I help families figure out what sleep practices work best for them. I am a postpartum chef with a large catalogue of recipes centered around postpartum nutrition that aids in faster recovery and optimal supply.

Areas served

  • Richmond
  • Midlothian
  • Short Pump
  • Chesterfield
  • Mechanicsville

Reviews

  • Shayla
    October 13, 2022 at 10:42 am | Client review

    Hannah helped me immensely before and after the birth of my second child. She was the push I needed to actually perform self-care, especially with a toddler running around. She helped me prepare baths and steams, brought me teas and broth, was partner in stretching and yoga, and went on slow healing walks with me. Hannah helped me through a round of mastitis and introduced me to new kinds of postpartum care, even as a second time mom.

    I’m addition to being knowledgeable, punctual, and proactive, Hannah is warm, practical, understanding, and good-humored. I thoroughly enjoyed having her in my home and looked forward to her visits each week. I recommend her without hesitation.

$ flexible
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Sasha Stratos

Richmond, VA

3 reviews • 25 families supported • 3 years experience

3 reviews • 25 families supported • 3 years experience

I am a full-spectrum birth doula, birth photographer, and certified lactation counselor in Richmond, VA. You can find more info about me and my services at jaybirddoula.com

Care philosophy

I believe that everyone who wants a doula deserves to have access to one; I believe in offering empathetic and compassionate, non-judge mental support for people of any background and any birth preferences; and I believe that birth is a sacred experience, and you deserve a doula who honors and facilitates that.

Areas served

  • Richmond, VA
  • Midlothian, VA
  • Chesterfield, VA
  • Mechanicsville, VA
  • Ashland, VA
  • Goochland, VA
  • Central Virginia
  • Charlottesville, VA
  • Lynchburg, VA
  • Fredericksburg, VA
  • Powhatan, VA

Reviews

  • Allie
    October 11, 2022 at 10:38 am | Client review

    From the moment I connected with Alex very early in my pregnancy I knew she was the right fit to help me through what can be a very difficult life transition. Alex is easy going, open, overwhelmingly kind, and immediately put me at ease (and made me laugh- which is an often overlooked must have haha). Alex was an incredible educator and advocate to help me through the whole process of pregnancy, labor and delivery, and post partum. As someone who’s labor lasted 38 hours I can honestly say Alex was there for the whole thing- she checked in constantly in the early moments and when it was go time she was right there giving me verbal, emotional, and physical support. My sister also felt super supported and appreciated all of Alex’s validations and guidance (especially through labor!). Alex also did an amazing job of taking pictures during my labor and delivery and I am endlessly grateful for the beautiful memories she captured. I’ve already recommended Alex to several friends and loved ones and can’t wait to keep sending her name to everyone I know who is pregnant! Thank you so much Alex!!!

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 Richmond, VA 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 Richmond, VA 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 Richmond, VA 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 Richmond, VA, 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 Richmond, VA 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 Richmond, VA is $185 per hour based on a survey of 120 lactation specialists in the Richmond, VA 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 Richmond, VA. 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 Richmond, VA 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 Richmond, VA 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 Richmond, VA 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 Richmond, VA 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 Richmond, VA 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 Richmond, VA. 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 Richmond, VA 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.

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