What to Expect During a Virtual Lactation Consultation

A virtual lactation consultation is a one on one video visit with an IBCLC where you share your story and goals, your consultant observes a feeding or discusses options to obtain your goals, and together you create a clear, step by step plan for your feeding goals. All of this happens from your couch or favorite chair, without packing a diaper bag, loading a car seat, or trying to time everything between naps.

If you’ve never worked with a lactation consultant online before, it’s completely normal to wonder, “What actually happens on a virtual visit? Can someone really help without being here in person?” Let’s walk through exactly what to expect before, during, and after a virtual IBCLC consultation with LatchLine.

Smile! Virtual breastfeeding support is at your fingertips

Before Your Virtual Visit

Booking your appointment

You’ll start by choosing a time that works for you and/or your baby. Many families like to schedule a visit around a typical feeding time so we can watch a full feed together. If your baby doesn’t cooperate perfectly (because, babies), that’s okay! There’s still plenty we can do.

At LatchLine, you’ll:

• Complete a short intake form about health history, goals, pregnancy, birth, and feeding history

• Share your main concerns (induced lactation, relactation, feeding after surgery, pain, latch, supply, pumping, weight gain, etc.)

• Upload any relevant details, such as parent’s assigned gender at birth, medical/surgical history, current timeline, baby’s recent weights or baby’s medical notes if you have them

This background information helps us make the most of our time together.

Getting your space and tech ready

You don’t need a perfect house or fancy equipment for a virtual consult. All you need is:

• A smartphone, tablet, or laptop with a camera

• A stable internet connection

• A reasonably well-lit spot where we can see you and/or baby

It can be helpful (but not required) to have nearby:

• A firm pillow

• Your pump and parts, if you have pump questions

• Any bottles, shields, or tools you’re using or planning to use

If a partner or support person is available, they can be helpful extra hands, but it’s also fine if it’s just you and baby.

During Your Virtual Consultation

Every visit is personalized, but most virtual IBCLC consultations follow a similar flow.

1. We start with your story and goals

We’ll begin by talking through:

• Your pregnancy, birth, adoptive, or surrogacy experience

• How feeding has been going so far/what you’ve researched or done at this point

• What’s going well and what feels hard

• Your goals (induced lactation, relactation, exclusive breastfeeding, combo feeding, pumping for work, etc.)

There are no “shoulds” here. The goal is not a perfect breastfeeding story, it’s a feeding plan that works for you.

2. We observe a feeding together or discuss medical history and options

When baby is ready, we’ll walk through a feeding step-by-step while I observe:

• How baby latches and positions at the breast

• Jaw movement, rhythm, and swallow patterns

• Your comfort level: body posture, nipple sensation, pain points

• Baby’s cues, stamina at the breast, and behavior during and after the feed

I’ll guide you in real time:

• Suggesting small adjustments to positioning or latch

• Demonstrating techniques with a doll, then having you try them

• Helping you find positions that are more comfortable for your body

You’ll never be expected to “perform” or get it right on the first try. This is a hands on learning session, not a test.

*If we are discussing induced lactation or relactation, we will dive into your relevant medical history, plans, goals, timeline, concerns, and your “why”.

3. We troubleshoot your specific concerns

Depending on your situation, we may focus on things like:

• Building your support team

• What to expect with induced lactation or relactation in your specific situation

• Painful latch or nipple trauma: Identifying the cause and helping you achieve a deeper, more comfortable latch

• Milk supply worries: Reviewing feeding patterns, diaper output, and growth trends; discussing strategies to protect or increase supply

• Baby’s weight gain: Talking through recent weights, how baby feeds, and whether additional evaluation is needed

• Pumping and bottle-feeding: Checking flange fit, pump settings, pumping schedule, and paced bottle-feeding techniques

• Returning to work: Creating a pump plan, freezer stash strategy, and communication plan with your employer

If something comes up that truly requires in person assessment (like a weighted feed or hands on oral exam), I’ll tell you that clearly and help you plan next steps.

4. We create a personalized plan

By the end of the visit, you’ll have a concrete, written plan that might include:

• Specific latch and positioning techniques to focus on

• How often to feed or pump (and for how long)

• Strategies for managing pain, engorgement, or oversupply

• When to offer both breasts, when one side is enough, and how to recognize baby’s satiety cues

• When to follow up, and what progress should look like

The goal is that you leave the visit knowing exactly what to try next, not with a list of generic tips.

What a Virtual Visit Can and Can’t Do

What virtual lactation support can do very well

Virtual IBCLC consultations are highly effective for:

• Induced lactation

• Relactation

• Latch and positioning troubleshooting

• Nipple pain and damage

• Feeding frequency and routine questions

• Milk supply worries (low or high)

• Pumping help and flange fitting

• Bottle introduction and bottle refusal

• Combo feeding and weaning plans

Because I see you in your real home environment, I can tailor suggestions to your actual couch, pillows, chairs, and routines (not just what works in a clinic).

What sometimes needs in person follow-up

There are a few situations where we may decide in person evaluation is the next right step:

• Suspected tongue tie or oral restriction: A full hands on exam by an ENT or pediatric dentist who specializes in oral restrictions may be needed.

• Concern about milk transfer: While we can usually assess milk transfer based on feeding cues, infant behaviors, and infant weight gain, there are times when a provider may request a weighted feed using a sensitive scale that can measure intake precisely. (A precaution to note with weighted feeds: a baby’s intake varies from feed to feed. One weighted feed isn’t always sufficient in determining overall milk transfer.)

• Complex medical needs: Prematurity, cardiac or neurological conditions, or other higher risk factors sometimes benefit from in person coordination. I find virtual lactation support along with open communication with the pediatrician to be a good combination due to reducing the amount of in person exposure to the baby and less out of house appointments for the family.

Virtual care and in person care are not competitors, they’re partners. A virtual visit often gets you answers faster, and then we decide together if anything else is needed.

After Your Virtual Consultation

Your written plan and resources

After your visit, you’ll receive:

• A written summary of what we discussed

• Your personalized plan

• Links to any relevant resources we mentioned

This gives you something concrete to reference at 2 AM when everything feels fuzzy.

Follow-up and ongoing support

Feeding changes quickly in the early weeks and months. Many families choose:

• A follow-up virtual visit to fine tune latch, check in on weight gain, or adjust the plan

• Occasional “tune up” visits around growth spurts, returning to work, or starting solids

With LatchLine, you’re not “bothering” anyone by having more questions. Ongoing questions are normal!

How to Get the Most Out of Your Virtual Visit

A few simple tips can make your session smoother and more productive:

• Try to time the visit near a feeding, but don’t stress if your baby’s schedule changes (we’re used to that)

• Prop your phone or laptop so your hands are free and we can see both you and baby

• Make a short list of questions you really want answered, so we can prioritize those

• Wear something comfortable and easy to nurse in, like a nursing tank or loose top

• Have water and a snack nearby. You deserve support too!

Most importantly, come as you are. No clean house, perfect outfit, or “good baby” required.

Virtual Lactation Support with LatchLine

At LatchLine, your virtual consultation is led by Abigail Miles, a Registered Nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with years of experience helping families navigate feeding.

LatchLine currently accepts:

• Cigna (nationwide)

• Aetna (Indiana)

• UnitedHealthcare (Indiana)

• TRICARE Overseas for military families stationed in Europe

• HSA/FSA and self-pay options

That means many families pay little or nothing out of pocket for virtual IBCLC care.

If you’re wondering whether a virtual lactation consultation can really help, the answer is almost always yes. You bring your questions, your baby, and your real-life feeding challenges. I’ll bring clinical expertise, practical strategies, and zero judgment.

We’ll figure it out together: one video visit, one latch, and one small step at a time!

We are always upfront about pricing and offer packages for attainable out of pocket services. Our goal is to help you reach yours, so if you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out or book a meet and greet!