Restoring Continuity of Care: Big News for Gulf Coast Breastfeeding Mamas

Scotty Thomson recording notes from a private lactation consultation

I have been a nurse for 31 years and a lactation consultant for 27 years. As many of you know, I left the hospital setting in 2023 to dedicate my time fully to Gulf Coast Lactation. My goal was simple: to help mothers breastfeed.

However, as of May 2025, changes in insurance billing decreased the number of mothers who were eligible for covered care. With that transition came many challenges. I could not fathom walking away from Gulf Coast Lactation and the families in the community who needed breastfeeding assistance and guidance. So, risky as it was, I decided to open a dedicated office space to make appointments more affordable and to launch a free breastfeeding support group, Milkie Way Cafe.

But today, I have even better news: Starting January 1, 2026, Gulf Coast Lactation will once again be accepting most insurance plans, allowing us to restore true breastfeeding continuity of care for our families.

What I've Observed: Why Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding Matters

Prior to having an office, the majority of my appointments were in-home visits covered by insurance. From 2021 to 2023, I began to see a pattern emerge. I realized that there are specific "milestones" where a milk supply is most vulnerable and where breastfeeding continuity of care is most essential.

Babies often change their breastfeeding habits and schedules when their behaviors shift: sleeping longer at night, hitting growth spurts, or going through developmental 'leaps.' Because milk supply is so dependent on supply and demand, many women are at risk of a drop in supply during these transitions.

Furthermore, every woman's anatomy is different. Differences in breast size, glandular tissue, history of surgeries, and hormones mean that every mother has a unique milk supply and storage capacity. These factors directly affect how a baby sleeps, how often they poop, their weight gain, and even issues like spitting up.

How Insurance Coverage Impacts Breastfeeding Success Rates

With the changes in insurance coverage, I saw a marked decrease in appointments. This created a heartbreaking trend: by the time a mama finally reached out, it was often nearly too late to increase a supply or get a baby back to the breast. If a mama made an initial appointment, the follow-up appointments that were essential to success never happened due to cost.

When I can provide breastfeeding continuity of care through routine check-ins, I can catch problems before they become crises. It is much easier to:

• Catch a dipping supply and turn it around before it’s gone.

• Intervene when weight trends slip before a baby is diagnosed as "failure to thrive."

• Educate mothers on introducing bottles, especially for those returning to work.

Instead of preventive care, the lack of coverage has forced many into "crisis care", intervening only when a problem is so advanced it may be impossible to save the milk supply or get a baby back to the breast.

Supporting Every Journey: From Choice to Necessity

There are many babies who do just fine breastfeeding without much assistance. However, there are others who, without consistent guidance, fall off their growth curves. In these cases, mothers may lose their milk supply and switch to formula, not by choice, but out of necessity.

While most women breastfeed because they want to, others breastfeed because they simply cannot afford formula. No matter what drives the decision, breastfeeding continuity of care should be available to ensure a healthy relationship and a thriving baby. Guidance shouldn't be based on who can afford it and who can't; women deserve follow-up for a positive, healthy experience.

Milk supply can be tricky. I have been able to catch a supply before it starts to dip, helping women increase it based on their baby’s needs. While some women navigate behavior changes easily, others are much more sensitive to full breasts when babies start sleeping longer stretches. Before they know it, their supply has decreased significantly. With regular follow-up, I can provide the education needed to navigate these milestones. Without it, more women struggle, and babies may not get what they need.

Navigating Modern Breastfeeding Challenges

Part of the reason these struggles are so common today is that our culture has changed. Breastfeeding in today's culture is more complex than it was in years past. With busier schedules, more women returning to work, and fewer multigenerational homes, the "wise women" we used to turn to for advice are less available. Social media and AI have started taking the place of grandmothers and great-grandmothers. While having answers at our fingertips is great, it can also be overwhelming. At Gulf Coast Lactation, we strive to simplify that noise while providing evidence-based guidance.

No matter what drives a woman to breastfeed, whether by choice or because they cannot afford formula, consistent support should be available. Women deserve follow-up for a healthy experience, and our children deserve care that ensures they are getting enough to eat.

Exciting News: Insurance-Based Coverage Returns in 2026

I am so grateful to all the mamas who have made private appointments in the last six months; your trust in me has been deeply appreciated during this season of change. I also want to recognize that Milkie Way Cafe, our free breastfeeding support group, has been instrumental in filling in the gaps when insurance-based care wasn't available. We are pleased to continue offering these resources in the new year: Milkie Way Cafe meets twice a week, and our Prenatal Breastfeeding Class is held once a month on the third Saturday. 

And, with all of this said, I am happy to reiterate that Gulf Coast Lactation will be accepting most insurance plans starting January 1, 2026. We are thrilled to get back to supporting the community with more breastfeeding continuity of care through insurance-based appointments. We want to ensure that every family has the opportunity for the follow-up they deserve. For those without coverage, we will continue to offer private self-pay appointments to keep our services as accessible as possible.

To schedule your appointment and receive the link to submit your insurance information, please contact us directly. We will help you get on the calendar and process your coverage details.

Gulf Coast Lactation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) company.