Guides

Written by us, not restated from somewhere else. Every page says what it read and when. Where we do not know something, it says that too.

• When to see a lactation consultant

  Earlier than most people do. What is worth getting help for, and what belongs with your pediatrician instead.

• IBCLC, CLC, CBS: what the letters mean

  One takes up to 1,000 clinical hours and a board exam. Another takes a long weekend. The gap is wider than most people expect.

• How to check an IBCLC credential yourself

  IBLCE publishes a free registry. It takes about a minute — and there are three things about it that will surprise you.

• Does insurance cover lactation support?

  Usually yes, with no copay. The catch is the in-network rule, and it is where the surprise bills come from.

• Postpartum mental health — where to get help

  Free, confidential, 24/7 lines, and what each one is actually for. We signpost; we do not diagnose.

What we do not write about

We do not publish clinical guidance — how much a baby should eat, what a weight curve means, whether a symptom is worrying. Those questions have real answers and the person who can give you yours is the one who can examine your baby. What we cover instead is the part nobody else explains: what the credentials mean, how to check one, what you are entitled to, and when it is worth asking for help.