After my baby was in the NICU for two weeks and unable to feed, I had trouble with nursing him. I had an oversupply and sore nipples from pumping, combined with a baby with a lot or reflux. I rented a pump through them that they made available at Children's National and when I went to return it, I noticed they had in-person appointments. I had seen several other lactation consultants virtually, but none of them were actually able to help me. Everyone said everything looked gine and to use a nipple shield. I was getting ready to give up on nursing and just pump (but that was double the work, so I wanted to find a solution. My appointment with Susan solved all my problems. We did not feel rushed at all and had plenty of time to troubleshoot. The office is very warm and welcoming. They also can come to your home, but I preferred to get out of the house. She took a good look at the latch and helped show me how to pull down his chin slightly to help with his latch. She showed me the best way to feed to help with his reflux and even gave me a little bit of a compounded ointment for my nipples to help with the pain I was having. This was the turning point for us. After that session things got much better. We still had to work on what Susan showed us, but after a few weeks, we finally could enjoy feedings. Baby is now 6 months and nursing has become second nature at this point. I am very thankful to Susan and Metropolitan breastfeeding for providing exceptional service and not only supporting breastfeeding, but supporting NICU moms by providing hospital-grade pumps at the actual hospitals. I am now returning to work and made an appointment so that I can figure out how to continue to provide my baby with breastmilk as I handle a very busy work/travel schedule. I saw many negative reviews regarding cost and sale of items, so I figured I would mention my experience. My experience was great. I did not have a copay but I did have to pay a copay for baby. It will depend on your insurance though, but I didn't have any surprises. For supplies, I was surprised to see the negative reviews. I didn't have any pressure to buy anything from them, nor did I realize they sold anything except for nursing pillows. During my session we used the pillows to feed and I really liked them, so I did buy one, but at no point did I feel like they even wanted me to purchase anything. read more

Do not go here unless you want to pay out of pocket TWICE. I've been to two other lactation consultant groups and finally found one I love and this has been a non issue. Metropolitan Breastfeeding charges you TWICE- one charge for the mom and one for baby and because their costs are so high you're left with a bill after insurance pays their costs. What ridiculous business that claims to support new women treats the mother and new baby as two separate charges when they're there for one appointment? Don't waste your time coming here... very shady and not discussed or mentioned upfront. read more

If you're seeking assistance for your breastfeeding goals do not come here. This place focused on pushing products that I did not need to successfully breastfeed my baby. They gave me so much anxiety after my second visit I left crying. And on more than one occasion they charged me for products I did not purchase (I was eventually reimbursed). After seeing a different lactation consultant, I successfully breastfed my baby for 13 months, without using any special pumps, lactation teas/vitamins/etc. Do not waste your time and money here. read more

Terrible Customer Service, Terrible Establishment. I do not recommend this business. They will capitalize off of your ignorance and vulnerability. The best advice is to do your research and be confident in your motherhood instinct. They will convince you your baby needs unnecessary surgery and continue to capitalize off of your ignorance. read more

There are some negative reviews here on yelp that almost deterred me from using this company, but I ended up keeping my appointment and SO glad I did! Manu is an absolutely WONDERFUL person and helped me a ton. I'm going to address some of the concerns that have been posted on yelp: 1) 2 copays/insurance bills -- Their 2 copay policy is listed on their website and confirmation email, so you will know in advance. You can call your insurance company to see what kind of coverage you have for lactation. They are more than willing to give you their tax ID and address to verify with your insurance. I was worried and tried to cancel my appt because I have a high deductible insurance plan, so I was concerned when I read this. But Kathy (owner) got on the phone with me and assured me I would NOT be responsible for TWO bills or deductibles (mom and baby) even if two copays were charged. 2) They want you to rent a hospital grade pump -- Yes! It's part of their protocol, especially for low milk supply. The cost is VERY reasonable and doing nothing else, after renting the pump, I doubled my milk supply from 1oz to 2oz per pump session. I was using the Spectra before. If you don't want to rent it, you tell them at the appointment that your goal is to do this without spending too much extra money so you want to use other strategies first. Simple. They will let you know that without a hospital grade pump, you likely won't meet your goals and if you're ok with that, try other things first. 3) They want to sell you their products (herbs, bras, etc) -- I will admit, this seems a little sketchy at first. I chose to buy one thing at a time and told Manu that's how I wanted to do it because I wanted to spend money on things that worked and didn't want to waste on things that didn't. She totally understood and wasn't judgmental or pushy, which I REALLY appreciated. They are a business... Of course they want you to buy products from them, but they truly BELIEVE in these products and I have to admit, I think they have helped. When I told Manu this, she even prioritized the products for me and helped me choose one at a time. Don't let the negative posts dissuade you. Check with your insurance company, and you won't be surprised. If you have concerns, ask to speak with Kathy and she's very helpful. read more

When I first started coming here, they had a bit of issues with billing because the contractor they were using were just flat out not good. Their system to pay for the services never worked so, I spent quite a bit of time trying to pay them for several months. Thankfully, they switched over to a new system/contractor that's reliable. Other than that, this place is great! Particularly, Dr. Kathleen Cue is AMAZINGGGGGG!!!! I absolutely adore and appreciate her!! She really cares about her patients and goes out of her way to take care of them as if they're her very own (and there's a lot of us lol). I don't know how she does it but she has a lot of energy and a lot of heart!!! read more

I agree with some of the other reviews here. The experience was good overall, but what we didn't like was their constant push to order stuff from them: Everything from the special antibiotic cream that is only prepared by one compounding pharmacy to other retail items at their in-clinic. We ended up ordering a bunch of stuff that we ended up not really using. read more

This office tries to take your money! First of all, the visit was ok but they push all they can to buy their products (vitamins, pumps). I already have a medela electric pump but the nurse advised me that I needed to rent their medela pump because was better than mine. And second, they charge your health insurance twice: mom AND baby. Other offices in DC don't do that. I will not came back again! I felt fooled. read more

I started seeing a lactation specialist here named Brandi. She is exceptional!! As a new mom, I was worried sick that I was not going to get this breastfeeding thing down. I was struggling so much. My baby had a couple complications after birth that led to me needing to give her formula. I was having a difficult time going from formula to breastfeedIng. Brandi was a lifesaver!! She listened to my concerns and provided the breastfeeding strategies most suitable for me and my baby. She was incredibly patient. She even answered my questions night or day! I never felt rushed by her. Brandi taught me how to get my baby to latch. She helped me with my breastfeeding schedule. She provided me with great techniques for reserving a milk stash and using the haakaa. After 6 weeks post, my breast milk supply naturally decreased. Brandi showed me how to reverse that. If you are having any issues or concerns about Breastfeeding, Brandi at Metropolitan Breastfeeding is the best resource!! read more

I wish I had found Metropolitan Breastfeeding sooner. They are fantastic and really go above and beyond for their clients. They listen carefully and have seen it all, so they have many suggestions. They are available late into the evening and on weekends and do referrals as well. They are also able to do prescriptions, which many breastfeeding groups cannot do. They have a little shop with anything you could need so that you aren't searching on amazon for lecithin at midnight. They rent hospital grade pumps as well as what I would call industrial pumps. If you are encountering any breastfeeding issues (or just want pointers), contact metropolitan breastfeeding! read more

Great initial consultation with Brandi! Made a lot of progress and learned important tips we didn't get during our hospital stay.

Cannot recommend them and specifically Gladys enough. Working with Gladys was a godsend. I had a very rough start to breastfeeding with an oversupply/engorgement which led to mastitis on top of latch issues. I was ready to give up nursing for exclusive pumping and maybe even breastfeeding all together. Gladys was able to guide me on how to tackle all of these issues week by week. She is so thoughtful and really cares about her clients. When I was ready to stop breastfeeding, my doctor advised me that I'd be at risk for mastitis again. But Gladys put together a plan for me week by week again and I was able to avoid mastitis and wean by baby successfully. The baby is happy and healthy and so am I. The front desk staff are also extremely responsive and welcoming. I was able to get an appointment whenever I needed it. They also helped me set up the appointments to bill to insurance so I really never had to pay much. Don't hesitate to use their services! read more

I have been seeing Kathy for about 1 year after delivering my baby and am so grateful to have found such a great person to help with all of my lactation needs. Kathy has taught me so much about working with a newborn. Her services are invaluable and is a great investment for any new mother who needs advice on any topic. I look forward to my weekly visits and following Kathy's advice has made my life so much easier with my baby. Some really important things Kathy helped with are: 1. Sleep training 2. Milestones 3. Soothing baby 4. She can look at the baby and tell whats wrong as she has so much experience. Its amazing! 5. How to increase Milk Supply. Everything she instructed me to do actually works! 6. Taking supplements she recommended. 7. Using the hospital grade pumps that this practice can rent monthly is so worth it. These hospital grade pumps make the regular store bought pumps look like a baby toy. I wish I had one of these with my first child who is now 6. I really suffered with the store bought pump. This pump is amazing! 8. Having a friend to talk to every week and get helpful tips with anything difficult you're going through with your baby. Kathy is a great person to talk to for new mothers. The favorite bras I now own are the ones I got from Kathy. They fit perfect for pumping and everyday wear. Super comfortable. I also recommend the supplements to increase milk supply, but you have to actually take the pills as directed. The natural herbs actually work. Lastly, the drops for vitamin D and probiotic is one drop and not multiple like the pediatrician recommends. The drops were easer for me to remember to give my baby rather than using 3 different drops every day. High quality product. I highly recommend this practice as Kathy is a wonderful person and her staff is very professional and responsive. read more

Many lactation consultants and other health care professionals can be very judgemental when it comes to breastfeeding. The providers at Metropolitan Breastfeeding are the complete opposite. They are supportive, compassionate and extremely knowledgeable. I have been a patient of Kathy's since the birth of my first child 2 years ago. Thanks to her expertise and guidance, I was able to breastfeed very successfully for one year (which was my goal). I am currently breast feeding my second child, again thanks to Kathy. I was an extremely poor producer with my first child and that was a big fear of mine. By listening to Kathy's advice and following her recommendations, I was able to establish a wonderful supply and a freezer full of milk within the first 2 months of my child's life. The negative reviews about metropolitan breastfeeding could not be further from the truth. Kathy will be very straight forward with you and give advise that is well researched and proven to work. She truly cares about her patients and will go to great lengths to ensure their breastfeeding experience is pleasant and productive. Unlike many other health care professionals, Kathy will not sugar coat anything. She lays out exactly what you need to do based on your personal situation. I never felt pressured to purchase anything from her practice and I am confident in saying that Kathy is the best in the field. If you choose to listen to her recommendations you will achieve all of your breastfeeding goals! read more

I visited Metropolitan Breastfeeding Center in May 2017 before giving birth to my daughter in June. It was recommended to me by my Midwife that I see a lactation consultant prior to giving birth in order to develop a strategy custom to my body. The lactation consultants that I met with were friendly, but the session was low on value. The primary recommendation that I received was to come back after the baby was born or to see another lactation consultant after giving birth, which I felt was obvious and not specific to my needs or my midwife's recommendation to have a plan in place prior to giving birth. While I was there, I was fitted for nursing bras. I was under the impression that the lactation consultants knew how to fit the bras, but after having issues with milk supply, I learned that my nursing bras were not fitting properly, which made me unable to produce enough milk to breastfeed exclusively. Also, since I was not able to purchase the bras the day of my appointment, I came back at another time. The price quoted to me during my initial visit was much less than what I was charged when I came back a few weeks later. Most of their recommendations involved purchasing something from them, which felt like a money grab. There was a hard push to sell the book written by their head lactation consultant. After visiting several lactation consultants after giving birth and consistently receiving advice that contradicted the advice I was given during this appointment, I have to regard it as low on value (at best) and harmful (at worst). The products that I purchased from them were not able to be used as they were not recommended in follow up appointments with lactation consultants that were not part of Metropolitan Breastfeeding Center or caused harm (improperly fitting bras). I think there is more training needed for the consultants of this practice. I see this operation as more of a Breastfeeding supply store than a medical practice based on my experience. read more

The professional lactation services were helpful. Both providers I saw were kind and through and it was easy to get an appt, front desk for Bethesda office was friendly, Fairfax office is a little rude but they are in a pediatrician office and not part of their practice. The lower review is mainly because I am extremely disappointed in them billing me twice. I made sure to call my insurance and Metropolitan Breastfeeding to make sure that everything would be covered. I was not made aware that even though my insurance covers all breastfeeding services, I would still be charged copays for my daughter because they bill twice for you and your child. I've seen other lactation consultants and was only billed for myself. In the fine print and confirmation emails this is stated both parent and child will be billed, but it would have been helpful to be aware what this meant that we would be charged additionally from the beginning otherwise I would have choose to go elsewhere. read more

Their lactation consultants are wonderful, but I advise to stay away because their billing folks are awful. They used the wrong code when submitting to insurance, and then they refused to change the code. I used MBC with two different babies. With my first baby they submitted with the correct code and I didn't have to pay much out of pocket. Then with my most recent baby, even though I have the same insurance company and the same type of plan, MBC used a "sick" code instead of a "preventative" code (under the ACA lactation consulting is defined as a preventative service) when they submitted the bill to insurance, resulting in me owing hundreds of dollars for each LC visit. I pleaded with them to change the code (I even researched codes and gave them options) and resubmit and they refused. My insurance company has confirmed they are using the wrong code and has even called MBC themselves to request they change the billing code--they refused. It's shameful that a place caring for women cares little to bill correctly and save these same women from paying money they should not be paying. I am now using another LC who cares to bill correctly. read more

Engaging this group was a mistake. On the advice and referral of our pediatrician, and with a jaundiced baby and engorged mom, we desperately sought help. We were extremely thrilled that they were able to show up for a same day appointment. That's about where my enthusiasm stopped. We agreed to the $100 premium to have someone show up to our house. The LC weighed the baby ahead of time and discussed some pointers. During the session she pushed renting upgraded pumps and buying additional parts. After the session, she weighed the baby and the scale showed that the baby had not gained any weight. Meaning: none of the pointers actually helped! That was met with a shrug and instructions for a follow up. (We then found that there would be no follow up because the LC was going out of town and was not to be contacted.) Our baby continued to lose weight. Us and the pediatrician were stumped. After another 10 days of weight loss (and moving to supplementing which we wanted to avoid - baby needed to eat!) we reached out to another company who was able to solve our issues in 15 minutes. Our baby is now on the mend, thankfully. To add insult to injury, they charge at scam levels. In addition to the travel fee that we knew about, they double charge your insurance company for a mom visit and a baby visit. Because your insurance company is double charged, they only cover one person. This has left us with a huge bill, for a visit that was worthless, if not harmful, to our baby. (Note; this was an in network visit) read more

If you are having any issues with breastfeeding, I can not recommend these experts enough. My very experienced doula recommended Metropolitan to me for both my kids, and I only wish I'd taken her up on it with my first baby. When I gave birth to my second, I left the hospital without seeing a lactation consultant due to lack of availability and high demand. I knew j needed a nipple shield (based on my previous experience) and the hospital was not able to give me one. I called metropolitan breastfeeding on the day I left the hospital. The lactation consultant Dawn, happened to be in our area and she was at my house within an hour of us arriving home from the hospital. She was able to help me find comfortable positions in the place I was actually going to be breastfeeding. She also got me set up with a hospital grade pump rental to help my milk come in since my baby was losing a lot of weight. You think of a common problem new moms have and my baby/ me had it (lip tie, tongue tie, bad latch, reflux, clogged ducts, open sores from first attempts to feed, etc.) Metropolitan Breastfeeding knew how to help me with all of it. Our first son had horrible silent reflux for a long time and no one really diagnosed it or told me how to notice it when I was feeding him. Within 10 minute of seeing Kathy (a nurse practitioner as well as a lactation consultant), she showed me the cues for reflux (which my second baby had) and said that I wasn't having a supply problem- it was reflux. After days of being told by family & friends after hours of feeding, "is he still hungry?", when Kathy told me it was reflux and not hunger, I almost cried. She also got us in early to see an ENT that specializes in tongue ties for which I am so grateful. As others have mentioned, Kathy does give a hard sell in her office for products HOWEVER I must say that she does recommend the best. The nursing bras she sells are the ones I'd already picked after a lot of research and the same goes for the supplements. If you want to wait for Amazon, you could buy them online but there's something to be said for the convenience of having them with you to take home. Also- I found her book very useful and worth the 10 dollars. read more

Unfortunately nothing positive to say here. Consultant I saw did not listen to my concerns and despite making it clear why I made the appointment, she was hellbent on spending the time focusing on something else. Most of the appointment was her trying to get me to buy the products they sell. I left with absolutely none of my questions answered. In addition to this, billing was a nightmare. Prior to the appointment I tried calling billing on multiple occasions to ensure that this was a covered service. They didn't pick up or return calls and left me to have to call insurance myself (billing has 2 phone numbers and I called both twice and then later my insurance company tried both numbers twice as well- nothing!). I was referred to Strong Ties in Rockville and although I have not yet been, already my experience has been WAY better. They are way more transparent and easy to get on the phone. I have the costs and the insurance information upfront, just wish I went there in the first place! I would NOT recommend going to Metropolitan Breastfeeding. While they are in-network providers with insurance (which many other lactation consultants are not), it's a waste of time and money and you'll probably end up going out-of-network anyway to get the service you need! read more

Kathy McCue is the unsung hero of my births. After all the excitement settles from the delivery, the real work begins - keeping this baby healthy and well fed! Kathy has helped me achieve my breastfeeding goals with all three of my children and never backs down from a challenge. She answers e-mails and phone calls at all hours of the day and night, giving almost immediate support and relief. It's not to say it's without a lot of work, but she's always there to help us through every step of the way. The first time we worked together (I was very stressed out, my baby hadn't gained weight for 10 days) she said something I'll never forget, she said "Send me the information I need and let me do the worrying. You take care of your baby and don't worry unless I tell you there's a reason to worry." As a 10-day-old mom at the time, I'm not sure if she realized how much relief that gave me. She has continued that level of support for the last 4.5 years. Thank you for always taking my worry away from me and solving any concern I bring to you. You are truly incredible at what you do. read more

I'm a FTM to a beautiful baby girl! After years of IVF and losses, we were blessed with a gorgeous little one. Going into delivery, I decided I was against breastfeeding due to the stress of getting pregnant (however, I was determined to do the collustrum). After my baby did so well latching and drinking from a bottle, I decided to go ahead and pursue breastfeeding. I called Nancy Clark (owner) and told her my story as well as how I plan to do some breastfeeding and formula for the rest. However, I had a lot of questions about breastfeeding, pumping, and formula. I told Nancy upfront I needed someone who supports my decision to use formula without any particular reason. From the beginning, she mentioned there is no judgment or pressure to do any type of feeding, but it's up to what's best for mom and baby. In the world that has so much pressure on breastfeeding, this was a huge relief to me. After we spoke, Nancy scheduled an appointment with Dru and I am so glad she did. Dru arrived on time, and even text me to confirm what time she was coming (texting is the best option for any mom!) She was very personable, friendly and a great educational resource. Dru spent almost two hours with me and reviewed the proper latch, techniques to get me and baby comfortable, reviewed milk supply and went over how much my baby was likely eating after each feed. Following, she called me and sent me an email the next day to follow-up. Since then, she has answered several remaining questions. I am so happy my pediatrician referred this group to me and will refer my many pregnant friends! Thank you! read more

Metropolitan Breastfeeding was recommended to us during our first visit to our pediatrician. The nurse we met with expressed to Kathy the urgency of our need to meet with her. Within an hour of hearing from the nurse, on a Saturday, Kathy arrived at our home for a consultation. We had three lactation consults at the hospital and a breastfeeding class prior to birth, but Kathy's visit was the catalyst for successful, confident, and comfortable breastfeeding. The quantity and quality of information that she gave us far exceeded our experience with other lactation professionals. Her demeanor during the visit put us at ease at a very anxious time in early parenthood. She also made recommendations for breastfeeding equipment, further enabling our continued success. Some stats for the data-driven: Weight loss before Kathy's visit: 8% (9.5oz) in three days Weight gain after Kathy's visit: gained 5oz in next 48 hours, and another 7 oz in the next 4 days. Sleepless nights before Kathy's visit: every night. Sleepless nights after Kathy's visit: zero. My wife is well rested and confident. Our baby is back over birthweight, consistently gaining, and happy. We are so grateful that Kathy helped us. She continues to text us to ensure all is well. My wife and I recommend metropolitan breastfeeding without reservation. read more

This was a horrible experience all around. The consultant told us to hire a postpartum doula to take care of the baby so that I could pump 5-6 hours a day, to order illegal drugs from Canada to increase output, and to ignore my pediatrician's advice. Then the owner, who never met with us, lied to my pediatrician about what the consultant said. If you need help, seek it elsewhere. read more

We reached out to Metropolitan Breastfeeding when our son was having trouble breastfeeding in his first week. At that point I was pumping and bottle feeding every 2 hours and was worried that I would have to pump his whole first year! We reached out to them on a Sunday evening and they responded almost immediately and set up an appointment for the next day. Dawn was our consultant and she was fantastic. She was very hands on, which was so helpful, and she got him to latch almost right away! She had a scale so she could actually weigh him pre and post feed to see how much he was getting, which was SUPER helpful. She answered all my questions and continued to be available via email and text after our appointment for follow-up questions. He's been feeding like a champ ever since! And, our insurance covered the visit except for the travel fee. Highly recommend! :) read more

I contacted them desperate for some quick relief with my newborn, and someone was able to come the next morning (a Saturday). Dawn was a wealth of knowledge and gave me an arsenal of new information and a game plan for helping breastfeeding be less painful for me. Having them come to my house was definitely a huge bonus for me, and I was happy to pay the extra $15 "travel fee" for that convenience. Would absolutely recommend Dawn to anyone else! read more

When my little guy had jaundice at 3 days old, and I had low supply of milk, I knew I wanted to talk to a lactation consultant immediately. I'm so glad I found NoVa Lactation Consultants. Dru was able to come within a few days to take a look at my boy's latch, weigh him and give me tips on how to breastfeed effectively. Now at 2 months he is exclusively breastfed and is super healthy and happy! read more

Michelle has been a life saver in helping me to adjust to the difficulties of feeding my preemie son. I strongly recommend Metropolitan Breastfeeding to all new moms!! Taking care of a new baby is hard enough, it's good to know I have someone there for me to make the feeding aspect easy. read more

When I left the hospital with my two day old, nurses assured me we were feeding and latching fine. By the time I got home and my milk started coming in, my nipples were cracked, scabby and horrendously painful. The thought of breastfeeding made me wince and my heart broke because I was dead set on EBF (exclusively breastfeeding). After a particularly bad first night at home and not feeding my son for over five hours, I found metropolitan breastfeeding (called them at 7AM and got an answer and appointment for the same day). Kathy diagnosed my issue in under 2 minutes and at the end of the hour I had breastfed painlessly, pumped enough milk for his next feed AND got all the supplies I need (for a VERY LOW price). My son and I have been here three times now and Kathy set us right including referring us to a brilliant pediatrician, helping relive my newborn's constipation and restlessness (she got him to poo in 3 minutes flat and burped instantly). I can't say enough great things about this business or the staff! read more

Metropolitan Breastfeeding - Pumping and feeding like a pro!! - Lactation Services Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

During our first well baby visit our NextGen Pediatrics doctor was out-of-town and to our misfortune the owner of this business subbed for her. She used scare tactics to sign us up for consultation. As new parents we were in a shock and she did not give us space to discuss whether we want to work with them or explore other options. It was a done deal according to her. She looked at my breast with an insulting look and pretty much implied that it is my fault that my baby is losing weight. She forced us to rent their equipment saying the pump I purchased is a useless knock-off. After 6 weeks we asked them if someone could check our baby's tongue already because we suspect she may have tongue-tie and so thanks to our own initiative we finally learned that she did in fact. I was very upset that due to this malpractice we ended up spending incredible amounts of money, energy and tears just to end up with our baby completely dependent on the bottle and refusing the breast. I would not recommend this unprofessional, sales-oriented business to anyone. DC has many wonderful consultation practices where they offer professional support and genuine care. read more

Nancy and her team are truly wonderful. I've had them help me with both of my babies and they were great. Both of my sons had a tongue tie, which Nancy identified and help me get the help I needed to nurse. She provided very flexible service (coming on the weekends) and squeezing me into her schedule. She checked in on me and was available by phone / text/ email with on-demand support as needed. She is thoughtful, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable. She provided first-time mom support for me and then a refresher course when I had my second baby. She helped me get both my sons back to birth weight and answered all my questions. She's non-judgmental and really is there to help you in any way you need (whether it's giving your baby formula or breast milk. Fed is best!) . I'd recommend her to anyone. read more

I had a 2.5 week baby girl who would not latch. I was pumping and feeding her, and so "sleep when the baby sleeps" turned into "pump when the baby sleeps," and I wasn't getting any sleep at all. It was terribly stressful and I was at a loss. I called Bethesda Breastfeeding and they were super-professional and efficient. Kellee Hays came out to help us, and worked miracles. She was very thoughtful and considerate of me as a freshly postpartum mom who was a mess. She was very organized and had a bag full of equipment, e.g. a scale to weigh the baby before and after the feeding. She showed me how to better position the baby and some tricks to help her latch. After the visit, she called several times to follow up and ask how things were going and gave me a lot of useful advice. Basically, she was wonderful. It took a few weeks but I followed her advice religiously and the baby is now breastfeeding beautifully. In fact, we have the reverse problem now; the baby won't take a bottle, and I am going back to work soon. I think it is time to call Kellee again. Anyway, I could not have asked for a better experience. Worth every cent. read more

Kathy McCue is a fantastic lactation consultant, nurse, and overall life coach. She got me through two very difficult post-partum periods. Kathy helped me through all kinds of nursing issues, including mastitis, thrush, latch issues, etc. Kathy knows how to treat the medical issues because she is trained, smart, and credible. On top of this, she also has empathy for what a new mom is going through. She treats you like a real person and makes you feel less crazy. Every new mom should have Kathy on speed dial. read more

Kathy was our lactation consultant before she started Bethesda Breastfeeding, and she was a lifesaver. She was full of concrete advice, and she calmed us down when we were freaking out, but she also somehow managed to make ME feel like a really competent mother during the process. I recommend her to anybody I know in the DC area who's having any breastfeeding issues. read more

Dawn and Kathy saved my ability to breastfeed. A brief NICU stay following my daughter's birth coupled with a low supply on my end and poor weight gain for our baby girl made me feel like I was doomed in the breastfeeding department. The hospital lactation consultants were horrible and I came home feeling like formula was our only option. But our amazing doula connected me with Bethesda Breastfeeding and I will be eternally grateful for that. Dawn was at our house in 24 hours. She immediately identified our issues and got us on a path for success. What I loved most about Dawn in particular is she didn't make me feel stressed that breastfeeding was an all-or-nothing deal. She helped me figure out what we could to maximize our potential for breastfeeding and helped me figure out a plan of action that would work in those crazy postpartum days. Having her come to my home during that time was a huge help. Kathy McCue also provided additional support in the months after and her skill and knowledge in the area of lactation simply cannot be beat. These women know breastfeeding and have far more information on the topic than anyone else I encountered. Our pediatrician has been absolutely amazed at our success. Thanks to all this wonderful support, we are still breastfeeding at almost 11 months of age, with no signs of slowing down. I am so grateful for everything Dawn and Kathy have done for us and the fact that we are still breastfeeding despite so many challenges proves that they know what they are doing! My advice: if you are pregnant and plan on breastfeeding, bring the number for Bethesda Breastfeeding to the hospital with you. Keep it with you just in case. I never imagined that I would have issues breastfeeding, but I did, and in those hours and days following birth, time is of the essence. read more

This review is long overdue. Kathy McCue is simply the best lactation consultant in our area. I can't begin to describe how much she has helped me through. She is a nurse practitioner, and has SO much more knowledge and experience than anyone else around. She got me through mastitis, clogged ducts, but more than that, she provided me with the encouragement and knowledge (and some times the pep-talk I needed) to meet my goal of exclusively breastfeeding for 12 months. I actually made it to 18 months and would have NEVER made it without her! If you are searching for support on your breast feeding journey, stop the search and cross your fingers that she is still taking new clients!! Lenka G read more

NVLC (partnered with Metropolitan Breastfeeding) has been wonderful in the first few weeks of our daughter's life. Received a call back within hours of a super early (3am) appointment request as our baby was not latching and not getting food. Brittany arrived a few hours later, and spent a really long time helping us - from analyzing the latching (when daughter did latch), to correcting our bottle feeding supplement, to showing us how to properly use the pump. Have also been in constant contact with Brittany afterwards, who has been very responsive and helpful outside of normal business hours, guiding us along. Cannot say enough great things about Brittany and the rest of the staff! read more

I am writing this from the perspective of the husband/father. Kathy gave my wife and me the knowledge and confidence needed to get past the first challenging weeks of (attempting) breastfeeding. I just want to say that Kathy helped us so much that it can't quite be put in to words. My wife's mother and sister had not been able to breastfeed, and we thus thought it would be hard for my wife to do so. We were prepared to not be able to. But I can tell you - there's nothing our daughter enjoys more than feeding time with her mom. It's heartwarming and we would, without a doubt, not have been able to do this without Kathy. She is a PRO. She makes the lactation consultants at the hospital frankly seem like novices. I am convinced there is not a better lactation consultant in the area than Kathy. read more

Can't recommend Kathy and her group enough - if it wasn't for them, I likely would have stopped nursing after just a few weeks. I came to them with an issue that made feeding very difficult and my baby's weight was stagnant. Kathy is an NP and at my first meeting, I was amazed at how much knowledge she had about breastfeeding but also about babies themselves. She was a voice of reason and calming presence to both me and my baby at a time when I was very stressed out. I visited several more times as we tried to figure out my problem and each time she was patient, kind, and determined to solve my issue. She wanted me to email her his weight daily so that she could monitor him and even encouraged emails on the weekends. Another member of the team also called me in response to an email during after hours - they really strive to provide immediate support and want to get to the bottom of things. At the end of the day, they were able to get me to a place where feeding is not only doable but also enjoyable for me and my baby. Thank you for all of the support! read more

I second the reviews regarding Kathy the owner. There is a side of her that is fun, witty, Joan Rivers-esque, but there is also a ruthless side to her. Be forewarned. She appears empathetic, but when it comes to anything business-related, she is rigid and downright mean. She is penny wise and pound foolish, and snarky to boot. So many other places to go for lactation help. Take a pass on this one. read more