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Supporting all families to meet their feeding goals
Breastfeeding support when you need it
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Where else can I find Families in Bloom?When not working with families you can find me at local health fairs, stopping into our local libraries to share information and resources, and collaborating with other perinatal healthcare professionals to bring you classes and opportunities to learn and bond with your baby. You won't find me trying to crack the social media algorithms (I'd rather be honing my skills or furthering my education) but I may occasionally post there so you know I'm still around!
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Why do FAQs matter?FAQs are a great way to help site visitors find quick answers to common questions about your business and create a better navigation experience.
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What is an FAQ section?An FAQ section can be used to quickly answer common questions about your business like "Where do you ship to?", "What are your opening hours?", or "How can I book a service?".
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Where can I add my FAQs?FAQs can be added to any page on your site or to your Wix mobile app, giving access to members on the go.
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How do I add a new question & answer?To add a new FAQ follow these steps: 1. Manage FAQs from your site dashboard or in the Editor 2. Add a new question & answer 3. Assign your FAQ to a category 4. Save and publish. You can always come back and edit your FAQs.
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How do I edit or remove the 'Frequently Asked Questions' title?You can edit the title from the FAQ 'Settings' tab in the Editor. To remove the title from your mobile app go to the 'Site & App' tab in your Owner's app and customize.
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Can I insert an image, video, or GIF in my FAQ?Yes. To add media follow these steps: 1. Manage FAQs from your site dashboard or in the Editor 2. Create a new FAQ or edit an existing one 3. From the answer text box click on the video, image or GIF icon 4. Add media from your library and save.
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Why do I seem to get different breastfeeding advice from everyone?This can be one of the most frustrating things about learning to breastfeed. It is said that there is both an art and science to breastfeeding, and many factors go into an interaction between mom, baby and your healthcare providers. Each mom and baby is different- anatomically, medically and developmentally. Babies change rapidly over the first days and months, and what may have been appropriate a few days ago may not be any longer. Providers have different experiences or training (and biases unfortunately!). Just as in other fields of healthcare it is important to find a provider that listens to you and has the skills and training for the issues at hand. A NICU Nurse IBCLC may have a different approach and expertise than a La Leche Leader IBCLC or a Registered Dietician IBCLC. I prioritize undertaking advanced coursework each year in different areas of lactation in order to stay up to date on evidence-based, holistic, and time tested recommendations.
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What does Families in Bloom offer?Families in Bloom provides in-home, office, and virtual appointments for help with feeding and lactation, from prenatal through weaning. I offer a variety of appointments including prenatal, first time visits, pumping, back to work, bottle/breast refusal, nursing strikes, twin visits, follow ups for ongoing concerns, and weaning visits. Home or office visits are preferred if we are going to do an initial assessment, that includes a weighted feed, oral ties assessment, bottle/breast refusal, or flange fittings. Consults such as prenatal visits, back to work, pumping plans, and weaning can be done virtually or in person.
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Where are you located and how far will you travel to see me?I am located in Franklin, Massachusetts and will travel up to 25 miles/35 minutes to see you and your baby in the nearby towns here and Massachusetts and Rhode Island Since lactation care is time sensitive and oftentimes can not wait a week or two, I may recommend that you see someone more local to you if you are outside of my service area, or if your needs require an earlier visit than I can accommodate. It is important that you have access to timely ongoing lactation support and follow up. If you need assistance immediately and prefer my services we can do a virtual visit, or there may be a travel fee associated with our visit.
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What is an IBCLCIBCLC stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. An IBCLC undergoes extensive education including 14 college level health science courses, a minimum of 95+ hours of lactation specific training, supervised clinical training totaling hundreds of hours, then must pass a rigorous international Board Exam. IBCLCs are qualified to handle the full spectrum of breastfeeding issues and provide comprehensive care from prenatal to weaning. Depending where your IBCLC got their training they may have in depth knowledge in different areas such as post-partum, NICU, outpatient support, and older babies. IBCLC training differs from providers such as CLCs, CLEs, CBSs, etc... who generally take 50-100 hours of lactation training then must pass that particular course's exam and does not require clinical hours. Additionally, there are perinatal providers such as your baby's pediatrician, your OB-GYN, nurse, midwife, or doula whose scopes of practice includes offering general breastfeeding information. Their training in breastfeeding-specific issues for mother and baby may differ based on how much additional education they have pursued, since their specialty tends to encompass more than breastfeeding alone. Each of these professionals has an important role in the healthcare team and it is vital to work together so that families get the best care possible.
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What forms of payment do you accept?I accept all major credit cards, HSA, cash or check. If you prefer to pay by cash or check please let me know prior to our visit so your credit card is not charged.
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What are your fees?See my services and fees page here
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Are you in-network with insurance?Yes! I am in-network with Aetna and will submit your claim directly to them. I require a credit card on file to hold your appointment, but it will only be charged in the event that a portion of your appointment goes to cost sharing, or for a last minute cancellation. I use The Lactation Network to bill to: -Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO -Anthem PPO -VA CCN- Optum East PNOA & MultiPlan If you would like to check if The Lactation Network will bill directly to your insurance with no out of pocket cost, you can submit an inquiry at the following link to be approved https://go.lactationnetwork.com/FamiliesinBloomLLC I use Wildflower Health to bill to Cigna. If you have Cigna insurance and would like to get approved for lactation visits with no out of pocket cost to you, you can check your eligibility at the following link https://portal.wildflowerhealth.net/affiliate-care/81b3d37 I am in the process of becoming an in network provider with United and will update when it is official. United only provides lactation care in person, not virtually. For other insurances such as Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, etc.. I am considered out of network. I take payment at the time of service and will provide you with a superbill (a receipt with medical coding) that you will send to your insurance company to request reimbursement. The Affordable Care Act states that lactation care should be supported throughout the duration of breastfeeding. Many plans reimburse for your visit such as BCBS of MA, Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, and others. Some are trickier to get reimbursement from and I am happy to help you try to figure this out. Regardless of your insurance carrier I encourage you to reach out to them prior to our visit to verify that they will reimburse you and get any special instructions that they may require.
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What will we do during our appointmentDepending on what kind of visit you booked we will do several things. After I arrive, I will wash my hands and get my wifi set up. After you let me know where we will be setting up (living room, nursery, bedroom, etc..) I'll set up my scale on a hard surface so that we can weigh your baby as soon as he or she starts showing feeding cues. We will get a few weights during the visit including a diaper-free weight, as well as two more with your baby diapered before and after breastfeeding. If your baby is sleeping we will go through you and your baby's medical history, as well as your goals and concerns. If your baby is awake and ready to eat we will get weights and work on feeding right away and work on the history as we go. If time allows we can go through using your breast pump, size you for appropriate pump flanges, or discuss your long term goals such as preparing for back to work, introducing a bottle, or other non urgent concerns. Before I leave I will make sure: -we come up with a reasonable step by step plan that helps you achieve your feeding goals -that you understand how to submit to your insurance for reimbursement if you are paying out of pocket -that we have a follow up either in person or virtually to assess if the plan is working and to answer any questions that arise in the meantime -that you are able to contact me through my secure messaging portal
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How should I prepare for a consult?When preparing for your visit you really don't have to do much! We can do the consult in any room that you are comfortable feeding your baby. Anticipate about 60-90 minutes to work together and go through as many of your concerns as we can. You can keep a list of questions and feel free to fire away! If we are doing a weighted feed, try not to do a full feeding in the hour before I arrive. To achieve this, aim to nurse or supplement your baby about 1.5-2 hours before our scheduled appointment. If your baby happens to get really hungry around the time I am due to arrive, offer a small snack to hold them over. While we wait for them to show feeding cues again we can go through your medical history and questions. Babies are unpredictable and don't love schedules, rest assured we can work with whatever is going on. Your partner is a vital part of helping you meet your feeding goals. I fully encourage them to join the appointment. If you have older children or family at your home they are welcome to be present and included in any questions or planning. Or if you prefer fewer distractions we can have it just be us. If you have pets, you are likely the best judge if they will be friendly or distracting. I adore pets, and am fully comfortable with them around. Of course if you'd rather have fewer distractions to utilize our time together feel free to keep them separate. Please do not feel like you have to tidy up or be in hosting mode when I arrive. I know how it is to have newborns and fully expect that bonding with your newest baby is the most important thing happening for a while!
Lauren McVeigh
RN IBCLC
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant & Registered Nurse
Contact
About Me
I found my way into the world of lactation after having my first daughter in Monterey, California. Despite the challenges I faced I was incredibly lucky to have so many resources at my fingertips that I didn't even know I needed at the time. Fast forward through nursing school, a cross country move, and two more children and I began working in a local hospital, missing the support systems that I knew firsthand make such a difference in the early days of motherhood.
I earned my Certified Lactation Counselor certificate in 2014, followed by my Board Certification in Lactation Consulting in 2018. After spending several years working throughout the hospital at the bedside and with families needing lactation care in support groups, in-patient & outpatient consults, and in the class setting, I now provide home consults through my private practice Families in Bloom.
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I have a BA from Salve Regina University (2005) and a nursing degree from the Maurine Church Coburn School of Nursing (2011). I am currently the Vice President at the Massachusetts Lactation Consultant Association (MLCA) where I support IBCLCs and families by dismantling barriers to lactation care on the Access Committee. I also participate in local health fairs and community events to share awareness and resources for families. When I'm not working I enjoy random days off with my first responder husband and three children, as well as running, gardening, and creative side quests.
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I believe that supporting families changes everything- and while it happens to bring me great joy to see a family thriving- it is also a fundamental building block to a strong community and healthy future. I encourage you to reach out if you are seeking breastfeeding support, and I look forward to working with you and your family should the need arise. ~Lauren
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