Most mamas find me when they’re already struggling.
They’re three weeks postpartum, exhausted, in pain, and wondering why nobody told them breastfeeding could feel like this.
And the first thing I think every single time is: I wish we’d met before your baby was born.
Not because there’s nothing I can do now. There is, and I love supporting mamas at every stage.
But because when I get to sit with a mama in her third trimester before the sleepless nights, before the cracked nipples, before the spiral of Google searches at 2am everything changes.
She walks into birth more confident. She knows what to watch for. She has a plan. And when things get hard (because they often do in the beginning), she isn’t starting from zero.
If you’re in Brownsburg, Avon, Plainfield, Zionsville, or the westside of Indianapolis, and you’re expecting a baby this post is for you.
What Is a Prenatal Lactation Consult?
A prenatal lactation consult is a one-on-one meeting with a lactation consultant before your baby is born typically in your third trimester, between weeks 32 and 38.
It is not a breastfeeding class.
It’s a personal conversation tailored to you: your body, your goals, your questions, your history, and your specific situation.
During our time together, we cover:
- Your breastfeeding goals — What does success look like for you? What are your concerns?
- Your birth plan — How your birth experience can affect early breastfeeding, and how to advocate for yourself in the hospital
- What the first hours and days look like — Skin-to-skin, the first latch, colostrum, what’s normal, what to watch for
- Your anatomy — Flat or inverted nipples, previous breast surgery, or anything that might affect your early experience
- Signs that feeding is going well — And early warning signs that something needs attention
- How to set up your home — So you’re ready and comfortable when you come home from the hospital
- Your support system — Who’s going to be there with you, and how they can help
- How to reach me — So you’re not searching for help from scratch when you’re sleep-deprived and overwhelmed
And we answer every question you have no such thing as too small or too silly.
Why Meeting Before Baby Changes Everything
Here’s what I’ve noticed after working with families across Brownsburg, Avon, and the Indianapolis westside:
The mamas who reach out prenatally have a very different early experience than the ones who don’t.
Not because breastfeeding is always easy for them. But because when challenges show up, they recognize them faster, respond sooner, and feel less alone.
They also come home from the hospital with something many new mamas are missing: a baseline. They know what a good latch looks like. They know what to count in diapers. They know when to call me versus when to wait.
That knowledge doesn’t eliminate hard moments. But it keeps hard moments from becoming crises.
You Make Better Decisions When You’re Not in Survival Mode
In the early postpartum days, every decision feels enormous and every hour feels like the middle of the night (because it is).
When you’ve already talked through your goals, your options, and your plan before the baby is in your arms and the hormones are surging and you haven’t slept you make better decisions.
Not because you’re more capable then. But because you’re not starting from scratch.
Small Things Are Much Easier to Address Before Baby Arrives
Some of the most common early breastfeeding challenges are things that can be discussed, prepared for, or even partially addressed prenatally.
Flat or inverted nipples. Concerns about supply based on breast size. Uncertainty about whether a previous reduction or augmentation will affect feeding. A family history of low supply.
None of these have to be surprises.
You’ll Know What Feeding Success Actually Looks Like
Most mamas don’t have a clear picture of what breastfeeding is supposed to feel like in the beginning which means they have no baseline when something feels off.
After our prenatal visit, you’ll know:
- What a correct latch feels like versus a painful one
- What normal newborn feeding frequency looks like (spoiler: it’s a lot)
- What your milk coming in feels like, and when to expect it
- How to know if your baby is getting enough before you can track weight gain at home
What Mamas Wish They’d Done Sooner
I asked the mamas I’ve worked with what they would tell their third-trimester selves.
Here’s what they said, in their own words:
“I wish I had known that painful breastfeeding isn’t just something to push through. I spent three weeks in pain before I called Bethany, and it turned out the latch was completely fixable.”
“I had no idea that soft breasts didn’t mean low supply. I almost stopped breastfeeding in week two because I thought I was drying up.”
“I wish someone had told me about tongue-tie before my son was born. We might have caught it earlier.”
“I thought I’d figure it out in the hospital. But the nurses were so busy, and I left having no idea if I was doing it right. A prenatal consult would have given me so much more confidence going in.”
These are not unusual stories. They’re the rule, not the exception.
And they’re exactly the reason I offer prenatal visits.
How to Set Up Your Home for Breastfeeding Success
One of the most practical parts of our prenatal visit is talking through your physical setup at home. Because where you feed your baby matters more than most people realize.
Here’s what I recommend thinking through before your baby arrives:
Your Feeding Station
You’ll spend a lot of time nursing. Having a dedicated, comfortable spot makes a real difference.
Set up at least one feeding station ideally where you’ll spend the most time with:
- A supportive chair or couch spot with good back support
- A nursing pillow (Boppy or My Brest Friend are popular choices — we can talk through which fits you)
- A small table or surface within reach for your water bottle, phone, snacks, and burp cloths
- Good lighting for nighttime feeds — a small lamp or nightlight so you can see without waking the whole house
- A phone charger nearby — you will be on your phone more than you expect during those long night feeds
Supplies to Have Ready Before Baby Comes
You don’t need everything. But a few things are worth having on hand:
- Nipple cream — natural is my favorite; your nipples will thank you
- Nursing pads — for leaking, especially in the early weeks
- A haakaa or simple silicone pump — for catching letdown on the opposite side during feeds
- Burp cloths — more than you think
- Contact for your lactation consultant already saved in your phone — that one is non-negotiable
Think Through the Middle of the Night
Where will you feed at 3am? Is there a comfortable chair in the nursery? Will you feed in bed? Do you have everything you need in reach?
Talk this through before you’re actually in it. You’ll be glad you did.
Who Benefits Most From a Prenatal Visit?
Every expecting mama can benefit. But prenatal support is especially valuable if:
- This is your first baby and you’ve never breastfed before
- You struggled with breastfeeding in a previous pregnancy and want a different experience this time
- You have flat or inverted nipples — there are things we can discuss and prepare for
- You’ve had breast surgery (reduction, augmentation, biopsy) that may affect supply or milk flow
- You have a family history of low supply or milk challenges
- You’re planning to return to work and want to establish a pumping plan from the start
- You’re having multiples
- You’re anxious about breastfeeding and want to feel more prepared and less alone going in
Serving Families Across the Indianapolis Westside
I offer in-home prenatal visits to families in:
- Brownsburg
- Avon
- Plainfield
- Danville
- Pittsboro
- Clayton
- Lizton
- Whitestown
- Zionsville
- West Indianapolis
Coming to you means you don’t have to travel at 36 weeks pregnant. We sit in your home, in your space, and talk through your plan.
What Happens After Baby Is Born?
When you book a prenatal visit with me, you’re not just getting one appointment.
You’re building a relationship with someone who already knows your goals, your concerns, and your history so that when you call me at day three because your milk is coming in and everything feels intense, I’m not starting from scratch.
I offer postpartum home visits, follow-up support, and I’m reachable by text between visits. Because the early weeks don’t fit neatly into office hours.
My services are FSA/HSA eligible, and I provide a superbill for possible insurance reimbursement.
Ready to Get Ahead of It?
If you’re in your third trimester and you’ve been thinking about breastfeeding even casually, even with a lot of questions this is the right time to reach out.
You don’t have to have everything figured out. You don’t have to know what questions to ask.
That’s what our call is for.
You deserve support before you’re in survival mode.
Rooting for you, Bethany
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to see a lactation consultant during pregnancy?
The third trimester, typically between weeks 32 and 38 is the sweet spot for a prenatal lactation visit. You’re close enough to your due date that feeding feels real and relevant, but you still have time to prepare, ask questions, and address anything that might affect your early experience. Earlier is fine too if you have specific concerns.
What does a prenatal lactation consult cover in Brownsburg or Indianapolis?
A prenatal visit covers your personal breastfeeding goals, what to expect in the first hours and days after birth, how to set up your home for feeding, early warning signs to watch for, and answers to every question you have. It’s a personalized conversation not a class tailored to your situation, your body, and your baby.
Is seeing a lactation consultant before baby arrives really worth it?
For most mamas, yes — especially first-time mamas or those who had a difficult breastfeeding experience with a previous baby. The research consistently shows that prenatal breastfeeding support improves breastfeeding duration and reduces early discontinuation. Beyond the data: mamas who come in prenatally tend to feel more confident, identify challenges earlier, and feel less alone in the early weeks.
Do I need to have breastfed before to benefit from a prenatal visit?
Not at all. In fact, first-time mamas often benefit the most from prenatal support because everything is new. There’s no baseline to compare to, no sense of what’s normal, and often a lot of anxiety about whether they’ll be able to do it. A prenatal visit helps set realistic expectations and builds real confidence before baby arrives.
Does insurance cover a prenatal lactation consult?
Many insurance plans cover lactation services, though coverage varies. I am an out-of-network provider, which means I provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement. All services are also FSA and HSA eligible. If you’re unsure about your coverage, I’m happy to help you think through it during our call.