Cara Banks

Accepts insurances

Recently Hired

Cara Banks

Accepts insurances

Recently Hired

Lactation Consultant

8 years of experience

N/A

Averill Park, New York

Cara Banks

Accept insurances

Recently Hired

Lactation Consultant

Averill Park, New York

8 years of experience

About
Services
FAQs
Social media

About me

After the birth of my first daughter in 2011, I became passionate about breastfeeding and its advocacy. I had no idea how hard and isolating it would be and desperately wanted help and advice. We moved back to the Capital Region and I found La Leche League! This community of supportive, non-judgmental nursing families inspired me and I became an accredited Leader in 2017. Since then, I’ve been fervently learning about breastfeeding and human lactation. I earned the title of IBCLC in December 2022. I live in Averill Park, NY with my husband, two daughters, our two rescue cats, and a handful of chickens. I love gardening, cooking, cycling, running, pole vaulting, learning new things, and empowering families to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

Education

Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2004)

Master of Arts in Teachering, SUNY Cortland (2006)

Certification and training

IBCLC (2022)

Memberships and affiliations

ILCA, NYLCA, NLCA

Credentials

BS CBS IBCLC MA

Specialties

Breastfeeding Assistance and Support Breastfeeding Consultation Breastfeeding Support Premature Infants Prenatal Care Telehealth Toddlers

Languages

English

Accepted insurances

Aetna Anthem Blue Cross Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming Blue Cross of Idaho Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania Blue Shield of California Blue Shield of Northeastern New York Cigna Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus Empire Plan Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Highmark Blue Shield Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Optum Health UnitedHealthcare

Service introduction

In-home and virtual lactation care for families in the Capital Region of NY (and anywhere virtually!) Support for latch, positioning, milk supply, pumping, inducing lactation/relactation, breastfeeding twins/multiples, breastfeeding your pre-term baby, mastitis, plugged ducts, engorgement, nipple pain, co-nursing, and more!

Packages

In-home lactation consultation

Cara Banks, IBCLC, will come to your home for a private, custom-tailored lactation consult. Every breastfeeding journey is so unique, which is why every in-home visit looks different. Generally, a consult takes about 90 minutes to 2 hours and you can expect that we will: discuss the main reasons you need a lactation consultation discuss the details of your pregnancy, birth and early breastfeeding assess your baby’s latch and positioning observe a feeding and talk about signs of good milk transfer assess your breasts/nipple health, if needed address any issues or concerns provide education/information surrounding your concerns evaluate any pumps or other tools you’re using create a plan that works for you, your baby, and your family provide relevant written materials for your review and reference develop a customized plan that works for your unique situation provide goal checkpoints and follow-up plan help with insurance reimbursement, if needed Common concerns we can help with include: nipple pain/damage latch and positioning issues slow/low weight gain oversupply low supply engorgement overactive letdown reflux/spitting up mastitis and “plugged” ducts pumping, pump output and flange sizing premature infants introducing bottles/alternative feeding methods identifying signs of tongue/lip tie twins/multiples breastfeeding after reduction surgery baby refusing breast/nursing strikes co-nursing lactation without birthing/inducing lactation relactation after a period of stopping

$295.00

USD Flat rate

Bottle Refusal Consultation

When you can’t be with your baby, you may need them to take a bottle. If you’re returning to work or school, and your baby’s caregiver requires bottles, it is super stressful when your baby refuses to take a bottle. Ideally, we will work together to troubleshoot exactly why baby is refusing a bottle, talk about the steps baby needs to take for bottle feeding, and how they are different from breastfeeding. We will address any oral defensiveness or other issues that may cause your baby to reject the bottle. We will develop a customized training plan to help baby accept a bottle and provide recommendations for bottles/nipples that would work best for your unique baby, AND MORE! Generally, a bottle refusal consult takes about 60 to 90 minutes. Though each bottle refusal journey is quite unique, we will generally discuss: breastfeeding history bottle feeding history baby’s health and wellness history After discussing all your info, I will perform an oral assessment to see what’s going on inside baby’s mouth that might affect bottle feeding. I will explain what I am looking for and how your baby’s response to these different exercises/assessments shows us information relevant to bottle feeding. We will then do a “bottle trial”, which based on your history and baby’s oral anatomy and response to oral stimuli, I will recommend a bottle/nipple that’s appropriate for your unique baby and provide you with that bottle to try with your baby (I will have several sanitized options, but you may need to work with a bottle that is different than the recommended one until you can order the appropriate bottle) I will then give you exercises (these are really fun games to play with your baby!) to help to train them to do the things that are needed to accept a bottle. We will then have up to THREE WEEKS of follow-up via phone, text, or email to be sure you’re making progress!

$225.00

USD Flat rate

Ratings and reviews

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Frequently asked questions

What do I need to do to prepare for my in-home consultation?

If you are currently nursing your baby, please plan to feed them about an hour to an hour and half before your scheduled appointment. It will be important to be able to observe you feeding your baby, so we’d like them to be interested in eating. If you are pumping, please have your pump and pump parts available. You may also want to have your partner or support person present. Whoever helps you care for your baby and supports your breastfeeding journey is invaluable! Also, please fill out this intake form so we can focus our time on you and your baby and not paperwork! P.S. Do NOT feel the need to shower, put on makeup, do your hair, clean, or tidy up. I do NOT care, I promise, and you’re raising a tiny human and probably don’t have time for any of that!

What do I need to do to prepare for my virtual consultation?

If you are currently nursing your baby, please plan to feed them about an hour to an hour an a help before your scheduled appointment. It would be best if a support person was also available to hold your device or camera so that I can observe a feeding. Please have all your nursing supplies close by, such as pumps, nursing pillows, and anything else you use during a typical feeding session. You may also want to have some extra pillows nearby so we can try new positions, if needed. Also, please fill out this intake form so we can focus our time on you and your baby and not paperwork!

Do you accept health insurance?

YES! Health insurance plans vary greatly, so do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions or concerns about your insurance coverage. If you have Blue Cross PPO, Blue Shield PPO, Anthem PPO, Humana PPO, Highmark PPO, United Healthcare Commercial plans (including the NYSHIP Empire Plan) or Cigna PPO, then you can have 6 appointments fully covered, with no out-of-pocket costs, through The Lactation Network. Click this link to be taken to The Lactation Network’s page and register to have your consult(s) fully covered. (Note to Cigna patients: As of January 2024, about 30% of Cigna plans no longer cover in-person lactation care. If you have Cigna, please register with The Lactation Network, and if they decline, we can discuss next steps.) Also, if your insurance card has the PNOA Plan or MultiPlan symbols, you are also fully covered for 6 appointments through The Lactation Network. Check your insurance card for the PNOA and MultiPlan symbols and then click this link to be taken to The Lactation Network’s page and register to have your consult(s) fully covered. I am proud to have partnered with Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (VA CCN) through Optum Care, to offer our veteran parents SIX fully covered appointments, with NO out-of-pocket costs or copays. Please register for your consultation(s) through The Lactation Network. I am a preferred, in-network provider with Aetna. If you use these payers, I will submit a claim for you with no out-of-pocket costs. You will not incur any fees for copays. If you have CDPHP, you can easily reimburse any lactation care you receive using this simple form . If you have MVP, you must schedule a virtual appointment with their Corporate Lactation consultants before you can request coverage for in-person support. If you would like to request an in-person consultation with me and you have MVP, please call Chris Hutchins at Corporate Lactation at (888)-818-5653 ext 113. UnitedHealthcare Commercial plans are now covered through The Lactation Network. This includes the NYSHIP Empire Plan, so please register with The Lactation Network. UHC plans do not cover telehealth/virtual visits. This means that Heirloom Lactation is in-network through TLN for Commercial members with UnitedHealthcare in 49 states (Hawaii pending) for in-person consultations! If you have insurance coverage not listed here, I will gladly provide you with a superbill (itemized receipt) that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. By law, health insurance plans must provide coverage for lactation support, counseling, and equipment for the duration of breastfeeding. These services may be provided before and after birth. We strongly encourage you to call your insurance company prior to your appointment so they can inform you of your benefits. I strongly believe that lactation care is a human right, not a privilege. I am committed to working with you through the process, from pre-approval to reimbursement, if needed.

Do you charge a travel fee?

For in-home appointments which are less than 30 minutes of travel time, I do not charge a travel fee. For appointments requiring over 30 minutes of travel time, I charge $30. You can check to see if your home is over 30 minutes away using GoogleMaps.