FAQs

Lactation consultants come from various backgrounds. IBCLCs (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant) undergo the most rigorous training and certification process, requiring 90 hours of lactation education, 1000 hours of lactation clinical practice, and passing the board exam. Lactation consultants provide invaluable assistance and education regarding breastfeeding and lactation but cannot diagnose or treat medical conditions. Lactation medicine physicians, such as Dr. Perez, are licensed physicians that practice medicine in addition to serving as a lactation consultant (IBCLC), and therefore can provide comprehensive care for the baby and parent.

To discuss availability, pricing and to schedule an appointment, you may schedule a Meet and Greet or contact us via telephone or our contact form.

Yes!, A fed baby is the minimum, an informed parent is best. Our aim is to help parents provide their babies with human milk, even if it is one drop.  

Dr. Perez will travel up to 30 minutes from the Wellington, FL area for in-home visits with no additional fee. Extended area visits in the Palm Beach County region (up to a 60 minute drive) are available at an additional travel fee. Travel outside of this range will be determined on an individual basis after contacting Dr. Perez. More info here: Service Area

As pre-birth consults are completely virtual, they are available nationwide.

Yes! Breastfeeding/lactating for multiples is a challenge we welcome. There is an additional fee for multiples.

As a pediatrician, Dr. Perez has experience in supporting lactation in various medical scenarios, including babies with unique health care needs such prematurity, oral deformations, genetic and cardiac conditions, among others. She will work closely with the baby’s healthcare team to optimize and facilitate breastfeeding/lactation.

Dr. Perez has the expertise to evaluate and diagnose tongue ties. If necessary, we will refer you to a specialist to have the procedure done.

While Dr. Perez maintains her board certification in general pediatrics and is a fully licensed medical doctor by the Florida Board of Medicine , she is not accepting patients as a primary care pediatrician at this time. She will communicate closely with your child’s pediatrician/medical provider regarding the care she provides as a Lactation Medicine specialist.

All consultations will have a portion of reviewing/gathering lactation and medical history, lactation specific physical exams, breastfeeding assessment and discussion at the end.

Complete all paperwork including consents and intake forms. It helps us guide the visit more efficiently and allows more time for questions.

Have your baby’s weight history available including the most recent weight.

Have a diary of feedings in the past 24 hours, including amounts of supplementation by bottle feeding with expressed breastmilk or formula.

For your home visit, we recommend finding a comfortable space where you do most of the feedings or where there is a comfortable place to sit such as a rocking chair. Ideally, you would have all the breastfeeding supplies and aids (breastfeeding pillow) you already use nearby.  Dr. Perez will set up her equipment in this space. A table to place the infant scale is ideal.

Feel comfortable and relax! Wear breastfeeding friendly attire to allow for better visualization of the breastfeeding session and for breast evaluation during the exam. No need to clean or tidy up. We fully expect and accept the “mess.”

Ideally, feed the baby 1.5 to 2 hours prior to the consultation, however, we understand babies don’t always follow a schedule. Don’t worry! If the baby is hungry, it’s ok to feed the baby – we’ll make it work.

Have your breast pump ready for use if assistance with pumping or a flange fitting is desired.

Involve your partner or support member (a family member or friend). They can learn tips on how to support you as a lactating parent and be a great help to entertain older siblings if needed.

Keep pets in a separate area during the consultation. Although we love furry friends, they may become protective over the baby or lactating parent which will distract from the consultation.

For telemedicine/virtual consultations: It’s helpful to have bright, natural lighting. Sitting by a window or large opening will help us with the exam portion. A good internet connection is ideal.

Make a list of questions. Look over your list at the end of the consultation to make sure all your questions have been answered. After the visit, you will have unlimited messaging through the portal for 5 days, in case you forget to ask something.

Dr. Perez understands and encourages protecting babies in the first 2 months of life from infectious diseases. Dr. Perez is fully vaccinated and practices thorough hand hygiene. Best practices regarding equipment sanitation will be observed. She is also happy to wear a mask during the consultation and remove shoes in the home. Please reach out if there are any other precautions you would like taken.  

Absolutely! We encourage a partner or support member to join consultations. They provide additional support and can learn techniques that can assist with breastfeeding success after the consultation is done. 

For 5 days after the consultations, Dr. Perez is available for follow-up questions and concerns via messaging through the patient portal in Charm Health. If more discussion is required, Dr. Perez may call you directly to discuss. If lactation issues still ensue, a follow up visit, virtual or in-home, may be scheduled. Response times will be within 24 hours and during regular business hours Monday – Friday.

Physician services provided, including at home procedures, are included in the fee. Dr. Perez will provide lab work/imaging requisitions and prescriptions, if needed. Obtaining and payment for lab work, prescription medications and imaging will be the patient’s responsibility (insurance or cash pay). As Dr. Perez is NOT the Primary Care Provider for the parent or baby, if your insurance requires a referral to see a specialist, it will need to be obtained from the PCP. Information regarding specialists can be provided by Dr. Perez.

We are considered out-of-network therefore we do not bill directly to insurance companies. However, we partner with The Lactation Network (TLN) and Wildflower. These companies will bill your insurance on your behalf for the lactation consultant portion of our visit. Most major insurance companies (Cigna, BCBS, Anthem, United Healthcare, Humana PPO, plus others) are accepted and most insurances will cover multiple visits. All you need to do is get approved with TLN or Wildflower prior to scheduling a visit with us. Click here to check coverage – it’s easy and fast! TLN and Wildflower will ONLY cover the lactation consultant portion of the fee. Even if insurance is accepted, there will still be a physician fee portion that is due by the patient/client to cover the advanced level of medical care and travel costs.  For clients wanting reimbursement for out-of-network services from their insurances, we can provide you with a superbill, a specialized receipt, that you can submit to your insurance company. Submitting a superbill does not guarantee that the services will be covered by the insurance company. All our lactation services are considered preventative care and federal law requires that health insurance companies cover breastfeeding services. We recommend calling your insurance company to discuss your specific coverage.

You can pay via credit card (VISA, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) with a service fee, ACH transactions via your bank, check, Zelle, HSA/FSA, and/or cash. Check with your HR department regarding using HSA/FSA for the fees.

Completion of payment for the visit fee is collected at the time of service. Payment for the pre-birth consult is due prior to the consult.

Our cancellation/refund policy is designed to ensure respect for both our clients’ time and our professionals’ schedules. All appointments require a 24-hour notice for rescheduling or cancellation.