Cara Banks
Accepts insurances
Recently Hired
Category
Lactation Consultant
Average star rating
N/A
Experience
8 years
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 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
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
Be the first to write Cara a review!
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.
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