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Nurture Travel Area

Thank you for considering Nurture to support your family! Nurture serves Allen, Auglaize, Coshocton, Delaware, Franklin, Fairfield (Northwest), Guernsey, Hancock, Hardin, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Muskingum, Putnam, Tuscarawas, Van Wert Counties with in-home lactation, accepting both self pay and insurance. Currently, Physical Therapy is available for Franklin County.

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Resources

Local Resources:

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Navigating Insurance and more with Nurture Columbus

Navigating insurance is confusing! When Allyson and I (Julie) first sat down to create Nurture Columbus, one of our main goals was to figure out insurance coverage and creative ways we could offer quality, in-home lactation services to ALL families. We have made some great progress working toward this goal, and are continually working each week to improve access to IBCLC lactation services. Here are your current options for covered or discounted services with Nurture:

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Breastfeeding Basics

Allyson Wessells, PT, IBCLC

Breastfeeding is a developmental milestone that optimizes the health of baby, mother and the environment. Understanding why a baby breastfeeds, knowing how to be prepared to get breastfeeding started, and being familiar with signs that milk supply and baby’s growth are plentiful help minimize challenges that may occur with this natural progression.

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Occupational Therapy + Lactation Webinar

Cover picture of presentation first slide.

This recorded presentation is for occupational therapy practitioners and other professionals who are interested in learning about occupational therapy’s role in supporting infant feeding and new parents postpartum. This presentation covers how infant feeding influences all areas of occupation, specific occupational interventions to help support infant feeding, as well as additional considerations such as mental health, sensory processing, ergonomics, & postpartum recovery. 

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Preparation for Postpartum & Infant Feeding

The transition into parenthood, while exciting, can also be challenging. This role change involves new responsibilities that can impact an individual’s habits, routines, and day to day activities. Most new parents are so focused on their birth plan that they tend to forget about planning for the fourth trimester (the first twelve weeks after giving birth, and the continued adjustment periods beyond this initial postpartum phase.) Informed preparation and education can help  reduce stress and anxiety, and create a  smoother transition into parenthood.  

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FAQ

What is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)?

A healthcare professional who specializes in the clinical management of human lactation and breastfeeding. An IBCLC is certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners, which is considered the “gold standard” in the field. This certification requires rigorous education, hands on training, and re-certification every 5 years.  Learn more here: International Lactation Consultant Association, United States Lactation Consultant Association

Why choose an IBCLC?

An IBCLC is trained to help establish and sustain breastfeeding, create a care plan for complex feeding issues, and remain sensitive to each individual’s unique needs and goals. The benefits of breastfeeding to baby, mother, family, and the environment are well known. Strategies for overcoming difficulties that can sometimes arise with breastfeeding are not always well known or identified by other health professionals. An IBCLC has the expertise to help with these specific challenges.

What are some difficulties Lactation Consultants help with during a visit?

Lactation Consultants address persisting painful latch, slow weight gain, clogged/plugged ducts, mastitis, low milk supply, insufficient mammary tissue or hypoplasia, inverted/flat nipples, tongue tie, and many more complications. An IBCLC can help identify underlying causes to these problems and provide you with an effective plan for moving forward.

Does insurance cover the cost of a Lactation Consultant?

As part of women’s preventative services, coverage options made possible by the Affordable Care Act are required to cover breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling. Learn more here: Breastfeeding Benefits. For Nurture Columbus Insurance options click here: Navigating Insurance. For any out of network plans, Nurture Columbus will provide you with a Lactation Visit Receipt (LVR) for you to submit to your insurance company or if you provide your insurance information on your intake for we will submit your insurance claim on your behalf for possible reimbursement depending on your plan’s coverage; however, Nurture Columbus is not responsible for reimbursement.

What is Craniosacral Therapy for Infants?

Allyson Wessells, PT, MPT, IBCLC

What is Craniosacral Therapy (CST)?

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on on therapy guided by touch and intention. CST can optimize space and cerebrospinal fluid circulation within the cranium and throughout our spine where our nervous system is originating and directing our bodies to move. It has origins in osteopathic medicine which values respecting the body as a whole but with intricate structure and function relationships. It is a treatment that can be helpful throughout the lifespan but especially in infancy when bones and ligaments are continuing to form with direction from muscles and the nerves that guide them. Sensory or touch input can create a better motor or response output. Parents are doing this inherently all day long as they caress their new babies! Those trained in craniosacral therapy will often provide additional exercises and methods of touching to promote comfortable movement.

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Reflections on Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Allyson Wessells, PT, MPT, IBCLC

Breast Function:

Breast Cancer Awareness Month continues to be important for awareness of the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States. Understanding the function of the breast and its relation to disease prevention is equally important. The breast can be considered an organ of the immune system uniquely transforming beyond pregnancy to nourish a new human with vital nutrients and antibodies, among thousands of other protective factors.1  Longer duration of breastfeeding is associated with optimizing a child’s physical and mental health for a lifetime ahead while also reducing a mother’s risk for many diseases, including breast cancer.2,3,4 Awareness of human milk as species specific nourishment that equips our immune systems to better defend our bodies is something everyone should promote. Mothers who choose to breastfeed should have easy access to skilled lactation care and community support proven to help meet breastfeeding goals, improve maternal and infant health outcomes, and contain healthcare costs.5,6,7

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