Rooted Maternal Wellness Foundation

Closing the gap between coverage and care.

Coverage ≠ Access

Many IBCLCs report being unable to credential as in-network providers with certain insurers, including BCBS NJ — creating access barriers for families who technically have coverage.

Coverage Is Counted in Codes

Some Aetna plans structure lactation benefits by billing code limits rather than per visit. When one consult requires more than one code, coverage can be used up faster than families expect.

Some Plans Aren’t Bound by Newer Protections

Older “grandfathered” health plans may not be subject to current preventive care rules, limiting access even when lactation support is widely expected to be covered.

Coverage Without Providers

Even when lactation support is a covered benefit, families may be told no in-network providers are available — forcing out-of-pocket care or delays.

WHEN SYSTEMS FALL SHORT

You don't have to do this alone.

When families struggle to access lactation care, it’s rarely because they didn’t try hard enough. More often, they’re navigating insurance language, provider shortages, and systems that weren’t designed for real-life feeding journeys.

The Rooted Maternal Wellness Foundation exists to step in where those systems fall short. We help remove practical barriers to lactation support — whether that means funding care, connecting families with qualified providers, or advocating for clearer, more equitable access.

Because every family deserves support that actually reaches them.

How We Help

The Rooted Maternal Wellness Foundation works to ensure families can access timely, evidence-based lactation support — even when insurance coverage is confusing, limited, or unavailable.

We focus on practical solutions that meet families where they are:

Because getting support shouldn’t require a law degree or endless phone calls.

We help offset the cost of lactation care when financial or insurance barriers stand in the way, prioritizing early, time-sensitive support when it matters most.

Connection to Qualified Providers

We connect families with experienced, board-certified lactation consultants and trusted feeding professionals — without requiring families to navigate complex systems alone.

Insurance Navigation & Guidance

We help families understand their lactation benefits, identify common barriers, and navigate next steps — including coverage questions, documentation needs, and available options — so they can make informed decisions with less stress.

Direct Support for Families

Advocacy & Systems Awareness

We elevate family and provider experiences to highlight gaps in access and advocate for clearer, more equitable pathways to lactation care.

Education Without Pressure

We provide evidence-based information that supports informed feeding decisions — honoring that every family’s feeding journey is different.

Why It Matters

Access to skilled lactation support isn’t just about feeding method — it’s about early intervention, informed decision-making, and protecting the well-being of both parent and infant.

When lactation care is timely and accessible, families are more likely to:
  • feel confident in their feeding choices
  • reduce feeding-related stress and anxiety
  • identify challenges early, before they escalate
  • make adjustments that support their goals — whether that includes breastfeeding, pumping, combination feeding, or transitioning to formula

When access is delayed or denied, families often lose critical time. Feeding challenges can intensify, stress increases, and families are left navigating decisions without adequate support.

The Rooted Maternal Wellness Foundation exists to help ensure that families aren’t blocked from care during one of the most time-sensitive periods of parenthood — because support in the early days can shape the entire feeding experience.

Research That Supports This

Early lactation support improves feeding outcomes.

Research shows that access to skilled lactation care in the early postpartum period is associated with improved feeding continuation, reduced complications, and increased parental confidence.
Source: Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM); Cochrane Reviews

Delays in support increase stress and early feeding challenges.

When lactation care is delayed, families are more likely to experience feeding-related stress, pain, unnecessary supplementation, or early weaning — often before receiving adequate guidance.
Source: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; AAP

IBCLCs are the gold standard for lactation care.

International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are the only globally recognized, independently board-certified professionals specializing in lactation and infant feeding.
Source: U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding

Access to lactation support supports maternal mental health.

Feeding difficulties are associated with increased anxiety and emotional distress; access to informed, compassionate support can mitigate these effects.
Source: Maternal & Child Health Journal; BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Coverage without access does not achieve preventive care goals.

Preventive benefits are most effective when families can access care in real-world settings — not just when coverage exists in policy language.
Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS); ACA Preventive Services Guidance