Are there any free LCs?

[DCMama01]

I had one consultation with a LC at the Breastfeeding Center of Greater Washington and that was $90. It would have been $150 for a house call, and this was for an hour. While BFing has gotten alot better than the early days (DD will be 5 weeks tomorrow), I think I will need a future consultation at some point. I can't afford to pay $90 an hr again (I will be on leave without pay for part of my maternity leave so money is TIGHT.)

Is LLL LCs free (or cheap)? Any other options?

FYI I don't qualify for WIC or any other social services.

[Peony]

LLL leaders are free to call. Most breastfeeding issues can be resolved over the phone with the proper questions. I'd try them before a LC, they are trained to refer if need be.

[chi_mama]

try LLL. Where I live two of our leaders are LC, regardless most leaders have a lot of experience and are usually willing to do housecalls.

[DCMama01]

I didn't know the phone calls were free!

I'll try one of the local LLLs, thanks!

[PatioGardener]

Here in Canada sometimes there are IBCLC public health nurses. Their services are free. You could try a call to your local dept of Public Health just to inquire.

[annekh23]

LLL is a charity, their services are free, but sometimes there advice will be to work with a lactation consultant, sometimes there expert help is needed, a LLL leader is not the same as a lactation consultant.

Consider going to a local LLL meeting for general support and you should get the chance to ask specific questions too.

If you do call LLL consider joining, if you can't afford to now, consider doing it in future, the most basic membership is $25 iirc, think of it as paying it forward, you don't pay the cost of a phone call as they have a free phone number that should connect you to a local leader or some leaders give out their numbers even when they are not on duty to answer the general number, this does cost money, so even if you can't pay now, consider joining and supporting the future work.

You don't mention a specific problem, with the right books, online support, a local LLL group, you may well not need any more help and if you do, consider the alternatives $90 is 2-3 weeks worth of formula, sometimes not getting help costs too!

[LilMomma83]

Do your local LC's lead a support group? One the ones in my area does, and it is like a 3 hour cafe/drop in style meeting where you can weigh baby before and after feeds, get advice from her and other moms or just socialize...it's free.