Professional Lactation Consultant Home Visits Bloomington, Indiana
IBCLC Home Visits in Bloomington
to Help Families with Breastfeeding & Pumping
Breastfeeding can be hard. You deserve support!
About Circle of Love Lactation Support LLC
Lera Woodring, IBCLC International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Hello! My name is Lera, and I would love to have the opportunity to work with you as you feed your baby. Breastfeeding can be hard, and receiving skilled and compassionate support can really help. Research shows that 92% of new moms report breastfeeding challenges in the first week. You are not alone!
In 2009 I arrived home from the hospital with a baby who lost over 10% of her birth weight. The baby rarely latched, and it was painful when she did. Pumping hurt. I was struggling. I felt lost, confused, and frustrated. An IBCLC came to my home multiple times and gave me the information and guidance I needed to have a plan and meet my goals. The breastfeeding support I received made all the difference. I have been working hard to pay it forward ever since.
As a lactation consultant, I offer home visits in Bloomington, Indiana and the surrounding areas. I take the time to review your story, provide a care plan, and teach you so you feel empowered and informed. I have been passionate about supporting mothers, parents, and new families since 2009.
You deserve support. No pressure. No judgment. My private practice is built on care, education, and excellence. Whether you want to breastfeed or pump. Whether you want to exclusively feed your milk or provide a combination of milk and formula. Whether you want to breastfeed for days, weeks, months, or years. I am here to help you meet your goals.
Education, Experience and Awards
- Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, Vanderbilt University
- Indiana Perinatal Network Breastfeeding Award of Excellence, Parent Advocate of the Year 2010
- Referenced in Jan/Feb 2010 issue of Mothering Magazine for championing breastfeeding families
- Developed and piloted a training program to educate childcare providers and daycare centers on how to support breastfeeding families 2010-2012
- La Leche League Leader 2014 - present
- Taught breastfeeding workshop to Indiana birth and postpartum doulas through Flora Massage and Wellness Services 2018
- Maternal Advocates Resource Alliance (MARA) Postpartum Support training 2023
Lactation Courses & Conferences
- Lactation Management 3 Day Course, Linda J. Smith IBCLC 2010
- Certified Lactation Specialist (CLS) 5 day course 2011
- More Milk, More Help, More Rapport course, Diana West IBCLC 2010
- Breastfeeding Success: Translating Trends into Practice course 2010
- Connection Between Breastfeeding & Birth Practices Conference 2012
- Child Development & Breastfeeding Duration course 2015
- Supporting Nursing Mothers in the Workplace course 2016
- No Mother Left Behind: Understanding Culture and Creating the Right Conversation to Reduce Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding Rates, Kimberly Seals Allers 2016
- 60 Years of La Leche League Breastfeeding Conference 2016
- Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Training Program 2022
- Examining Frenotomy/Frenectomy Aftercare, Alison Hazelbaker IBCLC 2023
- Frenectomy Webinar, local pediatrician Richard Malone MD 2023
Lera Woodring, IBCLC has a Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, from Vanderbilt University
Lera Woodring, IBCLC is a member of the International Lactation Consultant Association
Lera Woodring, IBCLC is a member of the United States Lactation Consultant Association
Circle of Love Lactation Support LLC Home Visits
What is a Lactation Home Visit Like?
I offer prenatal home visits, which are like a private two hour breastfeeding class, and I also offer home visits after your baby is born. The first home visit after the baby is born usually lasts at least two hours. We will discuss your health history, your current feeding routine, your goals, and any concerns you have. I will bring my lactation pediatric / neonatal scale with me, which has a measurement accuracy of 0.1 oz/2 grams so we can do a weight check and a weighted feed. I observe you latch, breastfeed, and/or pump. I can help with latching, positioning, and pump part fitting. The goal is for the baby to be well fed and for you to feel comfortable (pain free!). Depending on your situation, I can perform a functional oral assessment for the baby. Together we will create a plan that feels good to you, and I will share that plan with your baby's pediatrician. My goal is to help you reach your feeding goals, whatever they may be.
Lactation Home Visits Cover Many Topics
- How to get breastfeeding off to a strong start. Some (not all) challenges can be minimized and it is helpful to feel prepared and informed.
- Newborn - Help with latching a newborn and feeding comfortably and frequently.
- Health history - Review maternal factors that can impact lactation.
- Weight gain & weight checks - how to know if baby is getting enough. I have a pediatric / neonatal scale with 0.1 oz (2g gram) resolution, the highest available.
- Weighted feed - it can be helpful to have a sense of how much milk your baby is transferring at the breast.
- Milk Supply - Learn the amazing art and science of milk production and how to make the most of what you have.
- Nipple pain, engorgement, plugged ducts, growth spurts, hunger cues, infant sleep and awake cycles.
- Feeding rhythms and plans to make nursing and/or pumping feel manageable, enjoyable, and sustainable.
- Pumping - Assess flange fit. Review tips to help mazimize comfort and milk collection while pumping.
- Introducing a bottle and pumping plans for when you are away from your baby at work or school.
- Functional assessment of the tongue and if baby can effectively transfer milk.
- Introducing solid food, infant behavior, weaning.
Follow Up Visits
Most feeding situations benefit from multiple visits. Follow up visits include a weight check, a weighted feed and last about one to two hours. I can observe a feeding and help with latch and positioning. We review how things are going and discuss your questions and concerns. I find that with many situations, an initial visit has a lot of problem solving, and follow up visits are important to help tweak the plan as things improve and progress. Most families benefit from follow up visits!
Many topics often come up during follow up visits including:
- Weight gain and infant growth
- Weighted feed and how baby is transferring milk
- Breast storage capacity and how mother baby dyads have their own unique feeding rhythm
- Building or maintaining milk supply and production
- Feeding cues, growth spurts, spitting up, infant behavior
- Getting a deeper latch, trying new positions to nurse
- Pumping plans for going back to work or school
- Introducing a bottle, paced bottle feeding, solid food
- Tips for nursing on the go and life with baby
- How to reach you breastfeeding/pumping goals
Health Insurance
I use The Lactation Network (TLN) for health insurance. You can use the mother's insurance and/or the baby's insurance. Be sure to submit BOTH mom and baby's health insurance plans if they are on different plans. For example, sometimes the baby is on the dad's plan.
***Click on the link below to see if your insurance covers consultations with me. If your insurance covers lactation visits, you usually get up to six visits with each birth (or more depending on your insurance plan). The first visit can be a prenatal breastfeeding home visit (similar a private breastfeeding class) or a home visit after the baby is born.