Expert lactation support and care
At your home in Western North Carolina area, or my office in Black Mountain.
“Lisa is simply wonderfully. She’s a patient and attentive lactation coach and will give you individualized time and attention. Her home visits made what would have been a stressful start to breastfeeding, successful and enjoyable for both me and my baby. She set us up for success before our newborn arrived by doing a prenatal lactation visit, which helped us start with resources and some confidence then followed up quickly once we were out of the hospital. She takes a holistic approach to supporting mom and baby checking in on our wellbeing and support structures in addition to the mechanics and nuances of our particular breastfeeding situation. I would definitely recommend her to friends and family members learning to breastfeed.”
- Peggy
Lisa Stewart BSN, RN, IBCLC
My desire to be a lactation consultant began after becoming a mom and breastfeeding 3 babies. Help with breastfeeding was not readily available and I relied on what I read in books. Having a lactation consultant would have made a world of difference, especially if they would’ve made house calls in those early days!
My children were each born in a different birth setting although we were attended by nurse-midwives in each place. The first in a birth center, the second in a hospital, and the third was born at home. The care I received from nurse midwives, led me to become a nurse.
Though I went into nursing to work with women and babies in the birthing world, I ended up in a neonatal intensive care unit, where I loved caring for the babies and empowering parents to care for their pre-term and term babies. The best days for me while working there were supporting moms in breastfeeding their babies even while in the NICU. My dream to become a lactation consultant became a reality in 2018, when I became certified as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). I gained experience with lactation consulting in a labor and delivery and postpartum unit, providing education and support in those early days. As well, I worked at pediatric office and saw infants and toddlers all throughout their breastfeeding journey. Prenatal consults at an OB/GYN office and leading a community mom and baby group were also beneficial in my growth.
Empowering moms and families to breastfeed their babies and meet their goals, with compassionate guidance and up-to date education is my mission. Your goal may be to be directly breastfeed or pump and supplement or a combination both. You may choose or need to supplement with formula or donor milk. No matter what your goal is I want to bring lactation expertise with compassionate care to you and your baby. So you don’t have to get out with your newborn, I provide home visits. Once you are ready to get out with your baby I would love to see you in my homey office! I have all you need to be comfortable and try feeding baby in a new place. I have been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 2018 and re-certified in 2023. I have had over 50 hours of education in assessing for tongue and lip ties (tethered oral tissues, TOTs) and oral habilitation for infants with these issues.
Insurance
I am partnered with The Lactation Network (TLN) and with Wildflower, both companies file claims for me. Click one of the links below to verify your insurance coverage with TLN. If approved, your lactation consults will be covered 100%. If your insurance provider is not in-network, you may use your FSA or HSA card, Venmo, cash, check or credit card. I can issue you a super-bill that you may submit to your insurance. Reach out to Lisa if it is a financial strain for payment. She would love for all to have access to her services.
Aetna and United Health Care policy holders, contact me at (828) 549-8837
TLN may cover the following insurance providers:
First Health, Meritain, Multiplan, PNOA, First Choice Health, Imagine Health, Sutter Health, Velocity PPO, and VA CCN Optum East
Wildflower may cover:
Cigna
Services & Pricing
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Breastfeeding begins before your baby is born as your body begins the process of making milk. The breast changes you experience during pregnancy like breast tenderness, breast growth, darkening of the areola and drops of colostrum are all signs your body is preparing to feed your baby. So, why not prepare your mind and spirit with accurate information about what to expect and a listening ear for your hopes and fears. A prenatal consultation will be custom made for you and your partner or support person. From the privacy of your home you can express your questions and concerns that you may not feel comfortable expressing in a group breastfeeding class. Whether in person or virtual, expect to spend 1-1.5 hours for this consult.
Possible topics covered during your Prenatal Consult:
• Benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby
• How your body makes milk and how breastfeeding works
•. What to expect in the first few days postpartum: latching, positioning, and preventing sore nipples
• Plans you can put in place prior to the birth to help you prepare for breastfeeding
• Benefits of skin-to-skin time
• When to start pumping for going back to work
• Your partner’s or support person’s role in supporting breastfeeding
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An initial visit within a few days after baby is born, is the ideal way to celebrate your success with breastfeeding so far and to get help with any problems you may be having. If you are seeing me for the first time and your baby is not a newborn, I’ll want to hear about your breastfeeding journey so far. I will spend time listening to how your birth went because that can have an impact on breastfeeding. I will observe a feeding session and offer help with latch and positioning if needed. I have a hands off approach and can verbally guide you in positioning and latching recommendations. However, if my hands are needed, I will ask your permission before touching. If you began supplementing with expressed milk or formula for any reason and want to transition to more direct breastfeeding, I would help you begin the process, while monitoring baby’s intake and weight. Helping you meet your short-term and longterm breastfeeding goals will be our objective. The initial visit is usually 1-2 hours. You can expect me to:
• Plan the visit around your baby’s feeding time
• Weigh your baby before and after breastfeeding with my precise infant scale to measure how much milk your baby transferred from your breasts
• Examine baby's mouth and oral structures for signs of restrictions and assess baby’s sucking function.
• Assess any breast or nipple soreness, pain or damage and offer recommendations
• Observe your baby breastfeed and give guidance for comfortable positioning and latch
• Teach you how to tell when your baby is effectively and nutritively breastfeeding
• Give guidance on managing common problems like engorgement and plugged ducts.
• Advise how to increase your milk supply if you have a low milk supply
• Advise how to manage an oversupply
• Create with you a care plan for meeting your immediate needs and goals, as well as long term goals
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Based on the needs of each breastfeeding family, a Follow-up consultation may be scheduled as part of the care plan for ongoing lactation support. Or a follow up can occur anytime in your breastfeeding journey. During a follow up we may include observing another breastfeeding session and weighing baby before and after, making sure you are comfortable and baby is growing. If you are transitioning from supplementing with a bottle to more breastfeeding, I would follow the process with you and help guide you on decreasing supplementation and increasing breastfeeding. A follow up consult is usually 30 minutes-1 hour.
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Travel Fee: Greater than 15 miles from Black Mountain, NC $50
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Prenatal Lactation Consult: Home Visit $200, Virtual/Office $150
Initial Lactation Consult: Home Visit $300, Virtual/Office $250
Follow-up Lactation Consult: Home Visit $250, Virtual/Office $200
“ Lisa is the calm and knowledgeable presence every new mama needs when navigating breastfeeding! I contacted Lisa following my son's frenectomy. After completing the initial session, I left feeling confident. We were given a large number of activities/exercises to do, which she showed me how to do. In addition, Lisa summarizes everything discussed. Within a matter of weeks, as we diligently completed the exercises and met with Lisa, both my son and I gained enough confidence and practice to fly solo. Now, many weeks later, we are still breastfeeding and I will forever be thankful for Lisa's expertise! “
- Andrea