“Breastfeeding is a natural thing, but it doesn’t come instinctively,” said veteran IBCLC Patty Lane on an episode of the Breastfeeding Unplugged podcast. “In the past, skills and techniques were passed from one generation to the next—girls grew up watching their moms and their aunts breastfeeding. It’s a little bit different now. We’ve lost some of that. But there are people out there that want to help you with your breastfeeding journey.”

It’s so true, and it’s so important to keep in mind. No matter how much you may want to breastfeed and how much you read about it beforehand, it’s not always obvious how to go about feeding a tiny human at first, and the informal social supports that once existed for this essential practice can seem sorely lacking these days.

She says, “It’s about having a breastfeeding cheerleader. Think about who that can be, maybe it’s your mom, your sister, maybe it’s Nest Collaborative.”

A cheerleader. An advocate. The IBCLCs at Nest Collaborative are this and so much more.

There are other lactation consultant services out there, but Nest Collaborative works hard to offer you comprehensive support throughout your breastfeeding journey. We provide evidence-based care that welcomes families in all of their diversity, lots of resources and education in accessible formats, a sense of camaraderie, and constant improvements in what we do.

Keep reading to find out more about how Nest Collaborative stands out among your other online lactation consultant options.

International Board Certified Lactation Consultants, or IBCLCs, are the most highly trained and experienced breastfeeding support specialists you can find. Achieving IBCLC status requires more than 90 hours of lactation education coursework, 1,000+ hours of supervised clinical experience, and a demonstrated commitment to the IBCLC Code of Professional Conduct.

Other lactation support services like Boober and Pacify employ a mix of certified breastfeeding counselors (CBCs), certified lactation counselors (CLCs), and IBCLCs. But why does that matter? It comes down to our level of experience with lactation services. 

A CBC and CLC is an entry- or mid-level certification that doesn’t require the same training and experience as an IBCLC certification. While these providers may be able to provide helpful breastfeeding support and guidance for more general or routine situations, IBCLCs are skilled allied health professionals who are considered the experts in the clinical management of breastfeeding, and are trained to support families through any breastfeeding situation or challenge.

Every single Nest Collaborative lactation consultant has an IBCLC certification. No matter which one of our dozens of providers you meet with, you can be confident you are receiving the highest quality care from a true breastfeeding expert.

COVID proved that telehealth is here to stay, and there’s a lot of good in that. Telehealth increases the number of patients providers can see and helps people who don’t live near major medical centers receive more specialized care.

Some telehealth providers, like the Maven Clinic or Cleo, provide programs for everything from fertility support and genetic counseling to pediatrics and physical therapy. These providers are a valuable resource to families, but lactation services are just one of the many healthcare areas they serve. Even telehealth providers that focus on maternal and women’s health don’t provide the same depth of experience in lactation that Nest Collaborative does. 

And while Nest Collaborative firmly believes in the value of integrated and collaborative healthcare, breastfeeding is complex, and all families deserve the fullest support possible on their breastfeeding journey. 

Accessibility and convenience are important. Women’s healthcare is essential. But there is no replacing dedicated lactation care. 

At Nest Collaborative, lactation consulting and education are all we do. We offer the same telehealth accessibility as other providers, but that energy is focused on helping families resolve their breastfeeding issues and achieve their breastfeeding goals. 

IBCLCs are already experienced breastfeeding resources, but keeping our entire focus on lactation support allows Nest Collaborative to create an experienced professional team that is capable of managing even the most challenging breastfeeding issues. 

This is a marked contrast to the many individual private practice online lactation consultants who provide breastfeeding support. These services are run by excellent, knowledgeable professionals, but running a one-person shop can limit the scope of services provided to a single individual IBCLC’s areas of interest. 

Nest Collaborative, on the other hand, has IBCLCs with special interests in the full spectrum of breastfeeding topics like feeding multiples, medically fragile infants, PCOS, re-lactation, and various other complex situations. When you work with Nest Collaborative, you benefit from our combined expertise. Have a question about initiating breastfeeding for your baby in the NICU? We are here to help. Concerned about your milk supply six months later? We’re still here.  

This continuity in care benefits you in many ways. Instead of navigating a network of private practice lactation consultants, like The Lactation Network, you can rest assured that Nest Collaborative will consistently be available for you. Nest’s collaborative model ensures that if you need urgent help and your usual lactation consultant isn’t available, you’ll still be able to see someone. 

Nest Collaborative is also passionate about assisting and encouraging all parents regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, or marital status. Our team is experienced in supporting diverse families with dignity and respect, with all consultants committed to honoring stated preferred pronouns and gender-affirming language during consults.

Medical terminology can sometimes be difficult to understand in your native language, let alone your second. As part of our dedication to helping as many families as possible, Nest Collaborative has consultants fluent in nine languages in addition to English, including Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Urdu, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Russian, Ukrainian, and Burmese. We are always looking to expand the linguistic and cultural depth of our team of experts.

One of the best perks of using Nest Collaborative is the personal touch that only comes from working with a genuinely patient-focused company. Our IBCLCs foster a real connection with the families they help, and they also help families find each other. 

Everyone who works with a Nest Collaborative IBCLC has access to Latch Lounge, our virtual, small-group sessions where our experts and other parents like you talk about everything from supply to sleep schedules to sex. This offers the benefits of virtual parenting groups like Over the Moon Parenting with the essential breastfeeding support of a lactation consultant. 

During these sessions, you can ask questions specific to your situation and get answers from people who’ve been where you are as well as professionals who can offer advice from a clinical and anecdotal perspective.

The best part? Most insurance plans fully cover Latch Lounge sessions, which means you get support and guidance with no out-of-pocket costs.

When it comes to online lactation support, Nest Collaborative is truly the best cheerleader you could have. You can even talk to Patty, who says: “I love working with moms. It’s a special privilege to have the opportunity to help moms in this special time in their lives.”

Most commercial insurance plans fully cover our services. As soon as your insurance or Medicaid information has been submitted, patients can access lactation consultant services with no out-of-pocket cost. We charge a discounted rate of $139 per visit for families who elect to self-pay or do not have insurance.  

For patients experiencing financial hardship, contact our team ahead of your visit to learn about scholarships. 

But our competitive rates aren’t the only reason VeryWell Family named Nest Collaborative the 2022 Best Overall Online Lactation Consultant.

Nest Collaborative beat out major lactation players to be the best overall value because of our clear commitment to our patients’ long-term success. As your advocate and partner, we’re here to help you whether you need us for one visit or ten. We’ll partner with your primary care team to ensure you and your baby have everything you need to meet your breastfeeding goals.

No matter your needs, pick the team that does its own thing. Contact Nest Collaborative today and find out how we dare to be different.