Lactation consultants are normally private pay in BC, and for a lot of families, the cost of getting expert feeding help is a real barrier, especially in those early weeks when everything feels urgent.
The good news is that there's another option for BC residents. Because I'm a registered midwife as well as an IBCLC, some of my consults can be covered by MSP with approval from your doctor or midwife. Here's how it works.
What MSP covers
MSP covers a midwifery consultation when you're referred by another care provider. That can be your:
Family doctor (GP)
Midwife (RM)
Nurse (RN or NP)
Social worker
Coverage is available up to 6 weeks postpartum and includes up to 4 hours of consult time. That might be one longer visit or a few shorter ones, depending on what you and your baby need. Sometimes we can get MSP to approve more than 4 hours.
What a consult can help with
Those early weeks are when most feeding challenges show up, and when getting help early makes the biggest difference. A covered consult can help with things like:
Painful latch or nipple damage
Concerns about milk supply or weight gain
A baby who's fussy at the breast or struggling to feed
Questions about tongue tie
Pumping, bottle feeding or supplementing
Getting off triple feeding
It's separate from your regular care
This coverage is outside of your regular prenatal and postpartum care. If you already have a midwife or doctor, seeing me through MSP doesn't replace them or use up any of their care. Think of it as an extra layer of specialized feeding support alongside the care you already have.
How to get started
Get approval from your care provider. Ask your doctor, midwife, nurse or social worker for a referral to Village Lactation.
Book your consult.
Fill out your forms. This step is important. Once you book, please complete all of the forms sent to you. We can't get your MSP coverage approved without them, so the sooner they're in, the smoother things go.
After 6 weeks
If your baby is older than 6 weeks, or you've used your 4 hours, you can still book with me as a private-pay client. Some extended health plans cover IBCLC services, so it's worth checking yours.
There are also other options in Victoria for support after 6 weeks. Family doctors don’t have a 6 week cut off. Finding a breastfeeding medicine doctor can be a great option. You can also get help from your public health nurse after 6 weeks. Some of them are also IBCLCs.
