Do Virtual Lactation/Breastfeeding Consultations Actually Work?
"Can you really help me if you're not in the room?"
I hear this question all the time, and I love it, because it means you care about getting real help and not just a pep talk. So let me give you the honest answer straight from my experience.
Yes. Virtual lactation support works, and for a lot of families it works beautifully.
I'm Tiffani Dickerson, RN, IBCLC, and the founder of The Breast Choice Lactation Services. Before I ever opened my practice, I spent 17 years as a NICU nurse. Since 2022, my team and I have supported more than 1,300 families across Dallas, Tarrant, and Ellis counties and beyond. Some of those families we hug in person. Many of them we support through a screen. And here is what I've learned: holistic care is holistic care, whether it happens in person or behind the monitor.
Let me walk you through what virtual support can actually do, a real story from a family we helped from hundreds of miles away, when virtual is not the right fit, and how to get the most out of your visit.
What a Virtual Lactation Consultant Can Actually Assess
Think about a cooking class over video. The chef can't taste your food, but they can watch your hands, see your setup, and tell you exactly what to adjust. Virtual lactation support works the same way. I may not be in your living room, but I can see a whole lot.
Latch and Positioning
I can watch your baby latch in real time. I'm looking at how wide that mouth opens, how baby's body lines up with yours, how you're holding your breast, and what happens during the feed. Then I can coach you through small changes while you're doing it, so you feel the difference right away.
Flange Sizing for Pumping Parents
A flange that doesn't fit can mean pain, lower output, and a lot of frustration. Before your visit, we send you tools and instructions to measure, and during the visit I can see how your nipple moves in the tunnel while you pump. Many parents leave a virtual visit with a better fit and a more comfortable pumping session.
Oral Images and Video: A Second Set of Eyes
Before we log on, we may ask you to capture photos or short videos of your baby's mouth and feeding. These give me a clear, close look at things that can be hard to see on a live call. It's like having a second set of eyes on the assessment, and it helps me understand what the challenge may be before we even say hello.
Support That Goes Beyond the Latch
Some of the most powerful work I do has nothing to do with seeing a latch at all. Sometimes you just need a relatable, knowledgeable voice to help you unpack that list of questions you've been saving in your notes app at 3 a.m.
Virtual visits are a great fit for:
Planning your return to work and building a pumping schedule that fits your real life
Starting solids and knowing how it affects your milk and your feeds
Weaning gently, on your timeline, in a way that feels good for you and your baby
Talking through supply worries, feeding patterns, and what's normal
Getting answers without having to pack up the baby, the bag, and yourself
A Word for NICU Families
This one is close to my heart. After 17 years in the NICU, I know that NICU families often don't receive the lactation support they need while they're living through one of the hardest seasons of their lives. You're pumping around the clock, driving back and forth to the hospital, and trying to hold it all together.
Virtual support meets you right where you are. We can talk through pumping, protecting your supply, preparing for feeding at the breast, and bringing your baby home, all without adding one more trip to your day.
A Real Story: Low Milk Supply, Supported From Miles Away
Let me tell you about a mom we supported in New York. She was navigating low milk supply and feeling stuck. She had questions nobody was answering, and she wanted to understand why her body wasn't making what she hoped it would.
We never met in person. Here's what we did together, all virtually:
We sent a lab request so she could get bloodwork done and finally understand what might be affecting her supply and why
We built a supply protocol with her in the driver's seat, including herbs and adjusted lactation support that fit her life and her goals
We watched her feed on screen, saw what was happening with the latch, and helped her get a more comfortable one
Two weeks later, we met again. Her supply had increased.
That's the part I want you to hear. She didn't get a watered-down version of care because she was hundreds of miles away. She got answers, a plan she owned, a better latch, and more milk.
How The Breast Hour Makes Virtual Support Easy
That New York family found us through The Breast Hour, our virtual lactation office hours. Think of it as your drop-in lactation office, just without the drive.
Here's how it works:
You sign up for a session online
Before we log on, we send you simple instructions so you know exactly what to expect
Those instructions include the tools you may need, like how to measure for flange sizing and how to capture oral photos or videos of your baby
When we meet, we already have a head start on understanding your challenge, so more of our time goes to solutions
Preparing ahead is what makes virtual visits so effective. By the time we see each other on screen, we're not starting from zero.
When Virtual Is Not the Right Fit
I believe in virtual care, and I also believe in being honest with you. There are times when I need to see you and your baby in person, or when you need care from another provider.
These situations call for hands-on, in-person support:
Complex tongue ties that need a closer, hands-on oral assessment
Failure to thrive, when baby isn't gaining weight as expected and needs close, in-person monitoring
A breast abscess
Prolonged mastitis that hasn't been treated
If any of these come up during a virtual visit, I'll tell you plainly and help you take the next step, whether that's an in-person visit with us or a connection to the right provider. A virtual visit is never a dead end. Sometimes it's the very thing that gets you to the right care faster.
And if you have a fever, a red and painful area on your breast that keeps getting worse, or a baby who isn't feeding or making enough wet diapers, please call your healthcare provider right away.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Virtual Visit
A little preparation goes a long way. These are the things I wish every family knew before they logged on:
Set up your device ahead of time. A phone, tablet, or laptop all work. Prop it up so your hands are free and I can see you and baby during the feed.
Optimize your lighting. Sit facing a window or a lamp, not with the light behind you. Good lighting helps me see the details that matter.
Follow the handout we send. It walks you through everything you need, from measuring for flanges to what to have nearby.
Send your photos and videos before the visit. If we request oral images or a short feeding video, sending them ahead gives me time to review and come ready with answers.
Have your questions ready. Jot them down as they come up during the week so nothing gets forgotten.
A Note About Comfort and Privacy
During a virtual visit, I may ask to see your breast and your baby's latch on camera. That's a normal part of a lactation assessment, just like it would be in my office. I know it can feel different through a screen, so take a moment beforehand to settle into a private space where you feel safe and relaxed. You're always in control of the camera, and we'll move at your pace.
Virtual Support Is Not "Less Than"
If you're still on the fence, wondering if virtual support is just a watered-down version of the real thing, let me speak to you directly.
Virtual care removes barriers. You don't have to find childcare for your other kids, load up the car seat, or sit in traffic while your baby is screaming in the back seat. Access is often quicker, too, so you can get help when you need it instead of waiting days for an opening.
And if leaving the house feels overwhelming right now, that's okay. You can get real, expert support from the comfort of your own home, in your favorite chair, with your own pillows and your snacks within reach.
Our team also has additional training in hands-off virtual consult support. During COVID, when in-person visits weren't an option for so many families, we learned how to make the most of every minute on screen. That experience made us better, and there is so much we can still cover together.
Ready to Get Support From Home?
Whether you're dealing with a painful latch, worried about your supply, heading back to work, or navigating the NICU, you don't have to figure it out alone, and you don't have to leave home to get help.
Join us for The Breast Hour or book a virtual consult with The Breast Choice Lactation Services. We'll send you everything you need to get ready, and we'll meet you right where you are. This may be covered by your insurance. We are in-network with United Health Care (UHC)/UMR, Cigna, Aetna, Multiplan and Curative.
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