Lactation and Feeding Consultations

Do I need a lactation consultant?

READ MORE about the issues we support.

What happens at a consultation?

All consultations through Luna Lactation and Wellness are provided by board certified lactation consultants, Melissa Cole and Melissa Curry. Each initial consultation begins with getting to know each other a bit. We will review your health and feeding history and explore the current issues you are experiencing. Depending on the issue at hand, the lactation consultant will gently examine you and/or your baby. You will be invited to feed your baby during the appointment so that, together, we can see what is happening.  After we assess the situation, we will develop a written care plan with suggestions for improving whatever feeding issues you may be having.

You are encouraged to ask questions and share concerns. We will provide you with referrals to other health care providers if necessary. A full report will be sent to the other members of your health care team when necessary. We strongly encourage all our patients to keep in touch with us until they feel fully confident that their problems are resolved and they are enjoying feedings!  Our goal is always to uncover the root cause of the feeding issue and make a targeted plan that works for you.

What do I bring to my appointment?

You are encouraged to bring: your list of questions and concerns and any feeding tools being used.

Mandatory Online Intake Form

It is helpful if you fill out and submit our online intake forms before arriving (please choose the form that best fits your situation):

Optional Forms

  • HIPAA Privacy Practices (for your info, no need to print out)
  • Release of Information Form (Only needed if you require an additional release form for health records to be shared with another provider. The intake form also has a place to sign/consent for release of info)

Fee Schedule and Payment Information

In-Office and Virtual Consultations with Melissa Cole, MS, IBCLC, RLC

  • $230 – Initial In-Office or Virtual Consultation 60 min
  • $130 – Follow Up In-Office or Virtual Consultation 60 min
  • $80 – Brief Virtual Follow Up Consultation (via phone or secure video) 30 min

In-Home Consultations with Melissa Curry, IBCLC, CPM (Available within a 10 mile radius of 97206. If you live more than 10 miles from 97206, please email melissa.curry@lunalactation.com to inquire about extended travel availability for an additional fee.)

  • $280 – Initial In-Home Consultation 60 min
  • $180 – Follow Up In-Home Consultation 60 min

Note: For multiples we add on $10 per additional sibling per visit

The initial one-on-one consultation usually runs about 1 – 1.5 hours. An in-depth feeding history will be taken, a comprehensive assessment will be done and a care plan will be provided. Follow-up appointments generally run 1 hour. We review how your care plan is working for your family and re-assess any feeding concerns that you may have. Phone/email follow up is included and encouraged. Generally appointments are done in person, however, video, phone, or email can also be used (pricing is the same).

Payment is due at the time of service: Check, cash and all major credit cards are accepted. Health savings account (HSA) cards can also be accepted.

Cancellation policy: We understand that life with a baby can be unpredictable. We also have many parents waiting to see us urgently. If you need to make a schedule change, let us know ASAP so we can ideally help another family out sooner! If you miss your appointment and don’t give us a 24-hr notice, we reserve the right to charge you for your appointment.

Insurance: After your visit, you will be provided with a detailed, coded ‘superbill’ that you may submit to your insurance company. We do not bill insurance on your behalf but we do try to make sure you have all the necessary paperwork you need to submit for reimbursement. Although many insurance companies do cover lactation care, we can not guarantee our services will be covered by your insurance. Some families also choose to use funds from their pre-tax medical spending accounts to cover our services. Please check with your plan or account provider to see what options you may have.

Worried about cost? Luna Lactation believes all parents should have access to quality lactation care. Feel free to contact us if you need to discuss alternative payment options (we can arrange payment plans for families in need) or would like information on other sources of community-based support.

SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!

PATIENT TESTIMONIALS

  • Melissa is well informed on supplemental care.  She takes the time to know your health history and your goals on the path to wellness.  I am confident and trust Melissa's suggestions on herbal treatment.  With her help, my family has stayed healthy and my milk supply continues to stay strong.  I always have a sense of reassurance when I reach out to Melissa for care.  Thank you!

    K.R. (Portland, OR)
  • I would not be breastfeeding my 22 month old baby today if it were not for Melissa.  Because my son was born 2 months prematurely, my production had decreased significantly. I tried everything for a month and didn't have any real success until I started Melissa's herbal blend.  The herbs are what have allowed me to maintain my lactation for almost 2 years.  She has been a great support in so many ways!

    M.R.
  • Melissa listened to me and helped me with exactly what I needed. She is fantastic! She really knows her herbs!

    G.J.
  • I want to be sure to promote Luna Lactation and Wellness. Two of my daughters saw Melissa for Lactation support and she just spent an hour and a half in a telehealth consult with me discussing options for my recent health issues. She brought up and saw possibilities that none of my other care providers have. Melissa Cole is very knowledgeable, patient and logical in thinking through issues. If you have felt unsupported by your healthcare provider and are interested in hearing about herbal options, make a telehealth appointment with her. She does Herbal Wellness support and Lactation support.

    K.M.
  • My baby and I have established a comfortable and tender breastfeeding relationship. I breastfeed on demand and don’t give it much more thought than that. He’s gaining weight beautifully, and I’ve regained trust in my body and instincts. Thank you for your support, expert advice, and kindness. It made all the difference.

    K.B.
  • I met with my hematologist and she was shocked that after giving birth my Ferritin levels had substantially increased to healthy levels she had never previously seen. She was racking her brain about what could have increased my levels when I remembered that you wrote that the tincture you made me with moringa, milk thistle and schisandra was iron rich. Not just rebounded, but exceeded! Thank you so much!

    A.B.
  • I have lost track of the number of times Melissa saved my twin breastfeeding journey. She has helped me navigate through clogged ducts, reflux, milk allergies, and tongue and lip ties. In addition to breastfeeding support, she’s also helped with recommending supplements for me and finding the right probiotics and formula to supplement with for the babies.

    A.P.
  • I can't recommend Melissa enough. I have twins and am pretty much exclusively pumping since my return to work. She has helped me with supply issues, frequent clogs, mastitis, and blistering. Melissa has also helped me find ways to maintain a breastfeeding relationship with the twins when possible/desired -- without any pressure. She is accessible between appointments and goes above and beyond in her time and assistance. I'm so grateful!

    J.W.
  • I know many people who have worked with Melissa to make breastfeeding successful. Having tremendous difficulty producing enough milk and breastfeeding my first, I am excited to be working with Melissa prenatally to prepare for my twins arrival next month! Her knowledge, gentleness and encouraging nature have already made a huge difference in my mental preparedness for the adventure that lies ahead!

    S.M.
  • We went to Luna to address issues with proper latching, milk production and digestive issues in our 2.5 month twins. Melissa was extremely thorough in our visit, looking at our situation from our family's distinct perspective and through a holistic lens, which incorporated a variety of perspectives. She presented ideas and techniques that other specialists had not. We highly recommend her.

    L.R.
  • Melissa is very encouraging, experienced, extremely knowledgeable and gave me HOPE in breast-feeding my twins again (babies born at 27 weeks). Highly recommend her for complicated situations. She discovered something several doctors overlooked.

    A.K.
  • I had a great appointment with Melissa. She was able to help me additional techniques to help my babies latch better and also diagnosed them tongue ties that were contributing to our feeding struggles. With that knowledge and a plan, I am hopeful that we will be able to establish a successful breastfeeding relationship.

    T.T.
  • I am embarking on adoptive breastfeeding and gathering information has been a little overwhelming. Melissa is incredibly knowledgeable and has a great plan for getting me started. She eased my fears, provided excellent followup and information to my doctor, and made me feel very encouraged and hopeful. I greatly appreciate how accessible she is and all the resources and help she has for me. I highly recommend her!

    K.R.
  • As future adoptive parents we wanted to explore the possibilities of Induced Lactation. We didn’t really know what to expect or what questions to ask. But couldn’t have picked a more wonderful provider to help us come up with a plan. We are so thankful and less stressed as we feel confident in our plan that we agreed upon. Highly recommend, Melissa!

    T.P.
  • Melissa was super thorough in addressing in and informing us on all our concerns. We are adoptive parents and want to set our child up with the best nutrition early on in life. I feel confident in her recommendations and feel very prepared with the different options laid out for us. Thank you

    J.R.
  • I was so impressed with the knowledge of Melissa! We are in the process of adopting an infant and I wanted to explore the possibility of breast feeding and nursing. She was a wealth of information. She took the time to really understand my health history - which is complicated - and she was so thoughtful with her recommendations. I could not rate her high enough!

    J.L.
  • Just had a wellness appointment with Melissa and she is so amazing! She thoroughly answered all my questions, and always takes a lot of time to address any concerns!

    Z.Z.
  • Melissa is a superhero! As a new mother whose infant was born via surrogacy, I wanted to breastfeed my baby as much as possible. Melissa has helped me establish a supply of milk which allowed me to exclusively breastfeed for the first week of my son’s life. When I was feeling overwhelmed with the process of feeding my newborn, Melissa helped me develop a sustainable feeding plan that provides for my baby’s nutritional and bonding needs, as well as helps me maintain my milk supply 🙂 thank you!!!

    J.L.
  • I saw Melissa in for some ongoing health issues that were not getting resolved by my PCP or other care givers. Her thoughts were open to considering other options besides the ones I had been told in the past that I was dealing with. I am looking forward to trying her herbal tinctures to address my issues and with continuing to work with Melissa as a team to resolve them.

    K.M.
  • Unsure of whether I wanted to go the typical lactation induction route of pharmaceuticals or take a more holistic approach, I knew I would need some guidance. I consulted with Melissa because I'd heard excellent things about her clinical lactation skills and herbal medicine background. Her consultation took into consideration my full medical background, and her protocol involves specific herbal remedies to address my overall wellness so my hormones will respond better to lactation induction.

    J.K.
  • We went to Melissa for our 2 week old, after some suspicion that his tongue was restricted. She was absolutely incredible during the entire process. She has such a sweet demeanor and was so kind and nurturing with our son. She is very knowledgeable and not only helped us diagnosis his tongue tie, but gave several helpful tips to have a better breastfeeding experience for both of us. She provided a wealth of information and we feel very empowered to make the best decision for our son.

    I.T.
  • Melissa was able to diagnose a tongue and lip tie after having latching and supply trouble. She helped us to find providers that would be able to release the tie and even went out of her way to chat with a new provider we found. After speaking to them she was able to help us feel confident in who we had perform the procedure for our son. Not only did she help with that, she also was available throughout the healing process as I had questions and concerns. So glad to have her!

    Y.W.
  • I was having difficulty nursing due to excruciating pain. The hospital lactation nurse was kind and tried to help, the consultants at the mom/baby clinic were compassionate and full of tips; but Melissa was all that, and gave me answers. Melissa diagnosed a tongue tie and got my referral out asap. She then sent out another referral to a different provider who could see us sooner. I had ongoing text support and I never felt like I was bothering her. Thank you, Melissa, for helping us!

    N.M.
  • Melissa has been a huge blessing to my family. My son has a lip and tongue tie which has made breastfeeding very difficult. Before working with Melissa, I spent 9 weeks using a nipple shield. After one appointment, I was able to stop using it. I was amazed! Melissa has helped me connect with my son and has helped turn breastfeeding into an enjoyable experience rather than a dreaded one. I can’t express enough how much her guidance and support means to me. I am forever grateful for her.

    L.K.
  • My son has tongue tie but we were unsure if it was worth fixing because he is a micro preemie and has already been through so much. Melissa put my husband and I at ease right away that she could help us determine if the procedure was the right thing for our son and that she could help us make the post procedure exercises less stressful for our baby. She also believed in me and my baby that we could help transition him from bottle to breast. We are so thankful for Melissa & highly recommend!

    J.I.
  • I came to Melissa distraught. I had a 3.5 week old infant who couldn’t transfer milk from the breast, was struggling to gain weight, and had an undiagnosed tongue tie. And I was on a maddening triple feed since day 4. The LC support I received via Kaiser was awful and not solution oriented. Melissa came highly recommend and she proved to be a life saver. Melissa facilitated our baby‘s tongue tie procedure and aftercare and we are now exclusively breastfeeding. She is amazing!

    R.S.
  • Melissa is so kind, knowledgeable, and helpful! I was referred to Melissa because of her extensive knowledge around tongue ties. She was able to refer us for a release and follow up post procedure - all virtually - which was great as we are not located in Portland and are very cautious with COVID. I was feeling stressed about aftercare and healing, but Melissa offered awesome advice and support to make everything seem manageable. She also knows a lot about herbs and natural remedies!

    S.G.
  • Melissa is knowledgeable, kind, and compassionate. We had a rough time with delayed milk production, tongue tie, and supply issues. We had not been making much progress with 2 other lactation consultants before we found Melissa. Through a few weeks of working with Melissa, we went from painfully tiring triple feeds to exclusive breastfeeding with a good supply! Melissa was very patient and easy to communicate with during the visit and in between appts. We cannot recommend her enough 🙂

    J.C.
  • We’ve had such a rough breastfeeding journey, and finally found out about Melissa after our baby’s third tongue tie release. We had lots of concerns and uncertainly, and an enormous amount of anxiety. Melissa was extremely thorough, knowledgeable, and kind. She evaluated our situation with care and worked with us to make a plan on how best to move forward. We covered everything - wound aftercare, oral exercises, probiotics, volume/transfer concerns, pumping management..EVERYTHING. So grateful.

    V.E.
  • I have nothing but amazing things to say about my experience. I was at the point of wanting to just give up. Baby was tongue tied and has reflux issues, our local medical care did not offer lactation support. After weeks of frustration I stumbled upon Luna lactation. Melissa and her intern Melissa took the time to listen and really help us. We learned little tricks to help make our breastfeeding relationship so much better. I only wish I would have went sooner!

    H.D.
  • We had a preemie who was having trouble breastfeeding. Melissa came highly recommended by our midwives and I am so glad we made an appointment with her! We found out that our baby was tongue-tied and got referrals from Melissa to get his tongue corrected. She also spent 1.5 hrs showing us different techniques and tools to help our little guy transition from a bottle to the breast. After one day of putting Melissa’s techniques to use, we can already see a huge improvement and I feel so relieved.

    M.L.
  • Melissa was a breath of fresh air after our experience with the mother baby clinic. She listened to all our concerns, successes, failures, and goals. She gave my son and me a thorough exam and assessment, tools we were able to use immediately, referrals for dealing with his tongue tie, and reassured me that I was doing the best I could. I left feeling better than when I went in. Thanks to her guidance my supply is increased, the tongue tie is resolving, and we're nursing successfully!

    N.M.
  • Melissa was so helpful, understanding and knowledgeable! She diagnosed my son with a tongue tie which is the answer to why he can’t transfer milk! I left the appointment feeling confident and empowered!

    N.Z.
  • Melissa was recommended to me by multiple Moms in my moms group. We struggled with a tongue tie and difficult nursing from the beginning and the consultant provided by the hospital was fine but not as in depth as we needed. Melissa takes the time to listen and responds quickly with emails and texts. She helped us with the tongue tie revision and all areas of lactation. I appreciate the thought and care that she gives her clients. I would have stopped nursing long ago had it not been for her!

    J.W.
  • I came to see Melissa after my son was diagnosed with Laryngomalacia and a tongue tie. She was very knowledgeable about both conditions and helped me with my questions and concerns. I highly recommend her!

    E.S.
  • I can't recommend Melissa Cole and Luna Lactation enough. Melissa was instrumental in helping us after my daughter had her lip and tongue tie released. I truly don't think we'd still be breastfeeding now at 8 months if it wasn't for Melissa. The amount of care and dedication she puts into each session is incredible. She is thorough, kind, compassionate and a wealth of knowledge. Highly recommend!!!!

    L.K.
  • I came to Melissa with my 7 month old daughter after having a tongue tie release with hopes of restarting breastfeeding. After seeing another IBCLC that wasn't nearly as thorough, Melissa was compassionate and detailed in coming up with a plan for us. I left feeling hopeful and full of ideas to try with my baby. I would recommend her, fully!

    V.S.
  • Melissa is beyond amazing. My son had a tongue tie at birth and never really latched on. At our first session, Melissa did a thorough evaluation and identified the tongue tie as an impairment to his feeding. She immediately got us in to see an ENT to reverse his tongue tie and gave me a plan to slowly start introducing the breast again and ways to keep my supply up with pumping. I just wish I had found her earlier. She is the best!

    J.C.
  • Melissa was so helpful! We had a bumpy start to nursing and had gotten confusing information from multiple lactations consultants through the hospital. Melissa helped me realize that more was going right than wrong in nursing my son, and gave me some techniques to help him overcome his minor tongue tie and speed up a bit in his nursing time (because nursing for nearly an hour each time is a bit tiring!). So thankful for her help!

    R.D.
  • Wow, she was so kind and had great recommendations. I always feel like most lactation consultants make me feel like I am doing it all wrong but she was great with suggestions and looking at it from a holistic approach. Love that she knew exactly what to do and made it a very open conversation about whether to correct a tongue tie or not. She also had research that she was willing to give about laser surgery for tongue tie. So glad I went.

    B.W.
  • My son was born with a tongue-tie, which created major nursing issues. After so-so experiences with 2 other LC's, I feel so fortunate to have found Melissa. Within 2 sessions, my son and I were back on track. He is now 5 months old and I have not needed to supplement with formula since a week or after our first session. When I have mentioned Melissa to a number of medical professionals (my ND, our pediatrician, etc), all have recognized her name and said "she's the best". Highly recommend!!!

    H.K.
  • I loved my experience at Luna lactation. After struggling for 3 months, having tongue tie and lip tie, and worrying about possibly another procedure. I finally found Luna Lactation! Melissa was very knowledgeable and was able to explain exacting what my baby was doing and why, and had lots of advice. Everything was explained and demonstrated so by the time I left I really felt like I had the tools/ skills needed to be successful. And I understood my baby better! Don't struggle alone!

    W.M.
  • I can't say enough good things about Melissa. She pointed out tongue tie issues and helped me when I was struggling with milk supply. Melissa is always there for me and available to help. Many times I texted her desperately and she always had a solution. I am glad I found her!

    J.C.
  • My baby had her tongue tie revised twice. Her tongue re attached after the first revision and the first lactation specialist failed to notice the reattachment. That's when I switched to Melissa. I'm so glad I did because she has been so helpful. She also is very knowledgeable about herbs to help milk supply and remedies that help a fussy baby who has an upset tummy.

    B.T.
  • Melissa was very helpful to both my husband and me at our appointment. She helped me figure out how to nurse and pump more comfortably, and had products on hand for me to try. She also helped us with bottle feeding and exercises for my baby's mouth (she had a frenectomy). Melissa was easy to be around and to talk to, was extremely professional and encouraging, and very knowledgeable. We will definitely consult her again as needed and I highly recommend her services!

    R.T.
  • Melissa was wonderful! We came to see her one day after discharge from the hospital. She was extremely thorough, knowledgeable, and helpful. She was the only person who looked in our baby's mouth and noticed a severe tongue tie. She then took extra steps to help us get into an ENT specialist as soon as possible. She really helped us make breastfeeding as smooth as possible until the frenulum was snipped. Afterwards, we saw her for follow up care, and again she was wonderful! Highly recommend!

    L.B.
  • Melissa has been such a blessing to our family. She helped get my sons tongue and lip tie diagnosed for a quick reversal. Not only did she help with latch and bottle feeding tips she was very helpful giving herbs to help both of us with our needs. I highly recommend Luna Lactation and Wellness every chance I get.

    J.W.
  • It only took 16 weeks and 4 days but my baby finally latched and nursed correctly. This was only 3 weeks after my first appointment. We had multiple issues & were repeatedly told that it was a feeding issue, not a breastfeeding issue. I have nursed my other 3 kids for a total of 80 months (that's over 6 years experience breastfeeding) and was a peer counselor but with this baby we were at a loss. He was born at 36 weeks, tongue and lip tied, recessed chin, odd palate, torticollis, and weak suck.

    C.Z.
  • Our biggest regret with our first baby (who had a lip and tongue tie) was not seeing Melissa sooner. Life would have been much less painful if we had. With baby#2, we rushed to see her right away and it was so helpful again even without the tie issues. If you are having any troubles at all, I would go see her immediately!

    M.K.
  • We went to two other lactation specialists to no avail before a friend recommend Melissa. She diagnosed our son's tongue tie right away, and is helping me work through my supply difficulties in a calm, humane way that makes it a lot easier emotionally. She really knows her stuff AND has a great bedside manner. Highly recommend!

    M.M.
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