Essential Lactation

The Full Circle Community Fund

Because expert care belongs to every family.

I believe deeply that expert, in-home lactation support is a right, not a privilege. Financial season should never dictate the quality of care a family receives.

To honor this, I offer an equity sliding scale for Whatcom & Skagit county families navigating financial barriers or systemic hurdles. Currently, I hold space for one full scholarship & two support rate spots per month, with a vision to expand this access as our community fund grows.

How it Works:

  • Be Honest: Take a moment to reflect on your access to resources.

  • Pay What You Can: Choose the tier that fits your current reality.

  • Pay It Forward: If you have abundance, your "Dark Blue Cup" fee sustains the circle for others.

Visual guide for Essential Lactation's Full Circle Community Fund sliding scale pricing model.

Which Cup Fits Your Family?

To help you identify where you fall on the equity scale, please reflect on the descriptions adapted from Alexis J. Cunningfolk. Choose the tier that best reflects your current financial access. No proof of income is required; together we will operate on a foundation of trust and mutual respect.

  • This tier represents financial abundance. Paying at this level allows the Community Fund to remain sustainable.

    • I am comfortably able to meet all of my basic needs (food, housing, healthcare, transportation).

    • I own my home or rent a higher-end property.

    • I have regular access to healthcare and financial savings.

    • I have expendable income for "extras" (coffee shops, new clothes, books, vacations).

    • I can take time off work without financial burden.

  • This tier represents financial stability with some constraints. You meet your needs but have less "overflow."

    • I may stress about meeting basic needs, but I still regularly achieve them.

    • I am employed and have access to healthcare.

    • I might have some savings, but it isn't extensive.

    • I have some expendable income and can buy some new items while thrifting others.

    • I can take a vacation every few years without it being a major financial burden.

  • This tier is for those experiencing significant barriers. This is where the Community Fund focuses its support.

    • I frequently stress about meeting basic needs and don’t always achieve them.

    • I have debt that sometimes prohibits me from meeting basic needs.

    • I rent lower-end housing or have unstable housing.

    • I am unemployed or underemployed and qualify for government assistance (Medicaid/WIC).

    • I have no access to savings and no expendable income.

    • I cannot afford to take time off work or go on vacation

Basic Needs include food, housing, healthcare, and transportation. Expendable Income refers to money spent on non-essentials like dining out, entertainment, or luxury items.

A Quick Note About Visits

To ensure the Community Fund can support as many families as possible, scholarship and supported rates are currently available for the Single Visit Consultations that include Circle Support messaging and follow-up.

These options are designed to provide the clinical expertise and gentle guidance your family needs to find rest, while allowing the fund to remain sustainable for the entire community.

The ‘Sky Blue’ Supported rates are listed.

Lactation Option

Supported Single Point

1 In-Home Session + 1 Weeks of Circle Support

  • The most comprehensive feeding support, brought directly to your living room. Whether you are navigating latching challenges, supply concerns, or simply need a professional eye on your nursing or pumping routine, this visit provides 90–120 minutes of dedicated clinical care.

    This rate is made possible by the Full Circle Community Fund.

  • The Supported visit includes access to my online resource:

    The Full Circle Family Portal: Lifetime access to The Essential Archives (my expert resource vault) and monthly sessions in The Full Circle Common Room (my virtual parent support group). Your support doesn’t end when your package does.

$265

(In Network plans may cover most costs; Out-of-Network plans may cover some or most costs; check out the FAQs for more)

Sleep Options

Supported Sleep Foundations

1 Foundational Session + 1 Week of Circle Support for seamless plan integration.

  • A gentle entry into holistic sleep. We look at your baby’s natural rhythms and your family’s unique needs to create a sustainable path toward rest.

    Ideal for families with infants under 6 months and/or those that feel confident about implementing a new plan with less guidance after the session ends.

    This supported rate ensures that the foundations of healthy sleep are accessible when you need them most.

  • Sixty minutes of expert, one-on-one guidance to dive deep into your questions and create a clear path forward together.

    I offer the flexibility of in-person visits at my office or virtual sessions for families anywhere.

    The Full Circle Family Portal: Lifetime access to The Essential Archives (my expert resource vault) and monthly sessions in The Full Circle Common Room (my virtual parent support group). Your support doesn’t end when your package does

    • One deep-dive meeting to transform your family’s rest.

    • No sleep diaries required. I meet you exactly where you are today.

    • We’ll explore evidence-based methods tailored to your child’s unique temperament and developmental stage.

    • Receive a downloadable, personalized care plan immediately following our session for easy reference.

    • 1 week of flexible Circle Support messaging included to help you navigate your plan.

$195

(HSA/FSA welcome)

Supported Sleep Reset

1 Comprehensive Session + 2 Progress Calls + 6 Weeks of Ongoing Circle Support.

  • We dig deep into the 'why' behind the wake-ups and build a custom plan that honors your attachment and your child’s temperament.

    This rate reflects my commitment to making high-level sleep support equitable.

  • 6 Weeks of Support: You and your family get the sleep expertise you need.

    75-Minute In-Person Intensive: Together we will do a deep-dive analysis of your child’s sleep patterns and current rhythms to co-create a comprehensive, unique care plan tailored to your family’s needs. Visits can be in office, virtual, or in your home.

    Flexible Follow-up Calls: Two 20 minute check in calls designed to ensure your transition is seamless. We’ll use these focused sessions to troubleshoot real-time challenges, celebrate your progress, and refine your plan as you and your child settle into your new rhythm.

    Navigation Guide: A downloadable, personalized care plan provided immediately after our session, serving as your guide for every milestone ahead.

    Expertise in Your Pocket: Unlimited secure messaging throughout our 6 weeks together so you never feel alone.

    Flexible messaging add-ons are available if you’d like continued guidance as you implement your plan after 6 weeks.

    The Full Circle Family Portal: Lifetime access to The Essential Archives (my expert resource vault) and monthly sessions in The Full Circle Common Room (my virtual parent support group). Your support doesn’t end when your package does.

    • An intensive meeting to unpack your current challenges, explore the science of sleep, and answer every question on your heart.

    • A thorough, individualized evaluation of your child’s unique sleep with actionable steps to achieve lasting, peaceful rest.

    • Identifying your child's unique biological needs and wake-window requirements.

    • Audit of the sleep space to maximize rest and minimize disruptions.

    • Establishing a rhythm to your day to ensure your child is "optimally tired" for sleep.

    • Strategies to support your child through separation anxiety or nighttime fears.

    • Preparing you for upcoming regressions, travel, or transitions (like moving to a big kid bed or starting daycare).

    • Completely tailored to honor your family’s unique rhythm and values.

  • What sets our partnership apart is a clinical, feeding-first perspective. As a lactation expert, I don’t view sleep in isolation. We will look at the essential connection between your child’s nutritional needs, your nursing or pumping goals, and the biological rhythms of sleep.

    We’ll ensure your sleep strategy protects your milk supply and honors the nursing relationship, creating a full circle of support for both you and your baby.

$400

(HSA/FSA welcome)

Requesting Support

Not seeking support but want to help a neighbor? Your contributions keep this fund growing.

Support the Fund

The Full Circle Experience: Client Feedback

  • "Sara is incredibly kind and knowledgeable. She made me feel comfortable and confident by listening to my challenges and providing valuable advice. I have been able to exclusively breastfeed my 3rd child, and I couldn't have done without Sara. Thank you so much!"

    -Sammy R

  • "Sara was an angel sent to save me! She is incredibly friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. I was at my wits end with breastfeeding. I had extreme difficulty getting my daughter to latch properly so I was in constant pain. I was crying almost every time I fed her and was just about to give up. I scheduled my appointment and Sara showed up and completely changed everything for me. She normalized my struggle, which helped me a lot as I was experiencing postpartum anxiety. She was thorough in her examination, and was hands-on as she coached me through feeding my daughter. She left me with instructions and resources to further assist me, and was available if I had any additional questions or concerns. Thanks to her help, breastfeeding is no longer painful and I enjoy the bonding time with my baby girl. I would recommend her to any new breastfeeding mama!"

    -JV

  • "I cannot recommend Essential Lactation highly enough. As a first time mom, even though my daughter seemed to latch fine, they offered tips, positions, and encouragement that I didn’t even know I needed, but has immensely helped as my daughter has gotten bigger and her needs have changed. Not only do their consultants support in the visit, but I was able to text follow up questions and receive immediate support and help. Being a mom can be so isolating and it felt amazing to have this help. We had a follow up appointment to learn how to safely prepare and give bottles, where both my husband and I learned a lot! Thank you so much!"

    -AC

  • "Sara was so incredibly helpful as my son and I started our breastfeeding journey. She was also so helpful for my husband's bottle feeding techniques. She eased all our concerns and was efficient, professional and personable. The support she provided by phone after our visits was invaluable too."

    -Laura R

  • "Sara is absolutely fantastic!! She is so welcoming and warm, she made it so easy to talk with her. I felt so comfortable being open and sharing my struggles with motherhood, breastfeeding and being a full-time working mom. She had a plethora of helpful information and was more than willing to hear my millions of questions. I highly recommend her!!"

    -BB

  • "Sara's support completely changed my lactation journey! When my daughter was born, I struggled to figure out breastfeeding on my own. My daughter was losing weight faster than I was comfortable with her losing. Sara was able to come out the first week and provide concrete steps that immediately helped us breastfeed. Sara taught me new skills that helped me breastfeed successfully, pump effectively, and figure out a balance between the two. Her compassionate and positive attitude helped me believe in myself. I am still breastfeeding at 9 weeks and am positive I would've given up long ago without Sara's support. Highly recommend!"

    -Chris K

  • "Very compassionate, thorough, kind, gentle - everything you could want in a lactation consultant. She came into my home as a stranger, and left feeling like a close friend. Highly highly highly recommend Sara. Thank you again - you are perfect for your profession!"

    -Stephanie O

  • "Sara was great, she was very informative and professional when assessing my baby and I. She provided me with strategies and plenty of options when it came to feeding my baby. She is also very responsive with her messaging portal."

    -KM

  • "Sara is everything you could want out of a lactation provider. She is professional, prompt, organized, down to earth, and supportive."

    -Leah B

  • "Sara was extremely knowledgeable, efficient, kind, and gentle. She was able to provide the specific care that my son and I needed after his birth. She went out of her way to meet us as soon as possible to relieve my pain at the beginning of our breastfeeding journey. She provided all the tools, advice, and knowledge necessary for us to succeed! I highly recommend Sara to any new family looking for assistance. I don’t know where we would be now without her!"

    -Yasmin W

  • "Sara has been an absolute pleasure to work with. She listens well, and explains in ways that make sense and answer your questions, putting you at ease. She has this ability to give you the confidence you need to conquer your breast feeding and pumping journey, whatever it may look like, while cheering you and your baby on the sidelines and always being available to help out and offer advice. She clearly loves her job and giving women the tools to be successful, and it shows through how knowledgeable she is, and how she comes in and treats you and your baby like you’re the only ones who matter. I would recommend her over and over! She answered so many questions, put me at ease as a first time mom, and created an incredibly helpful care plan for my girl and me. I cannot thank her enough!"

    -Alexa L

  • "Sara was great in helping with latch issues and easily availble for extra support via text. I have other children, so absolutely loved that she came to our home. It was one less place to drive after trying to recover from having a baby."

    -Clare W

  • “ Sara was incredibly helpful and her tips helped us turn a corner in our nursing journey. She is a good listener and effective educator - without overwhelming you with too much information. I wholeheartedly recommend her!”

    -Anonymous

  • “Sara is remarkable! She is incredibly competent, knowledgeable and instilled a lot of confidence. She was a cheerleader and encouraging even when I was anxious and overwhelmed. She went above and beyond to check in regularly and provided tons of support after meeting in person. She is incredibly professional, wrote everything down for us after meeting (which was a gift with post partum exhaustion and brain fog). I went from painful nipples and an underweight baby at week 1, to being in a groove (no nipple pain) with breastfeeding and occasional bottles and more than enough weight gain by week 5! For new moms, I highly recommend meeting with Sara week 1 out of the hospital and planning to meet 1-2 more times to follow up and check in. She fitted me for pump parts that are the right size and helped my husband learn to bottle feed. It was all incredibly helpful for a first time mom! You’ll be in excellent hands with Sara!“

    -Christine T

  • ” Sara was beyond reassuring and knowledgeable. Feeding a baby can be stressful, clunky and have parents in a funk but Sara helps not only with practical plans and solutions but was so validating to the intense experience that can happen for families. Not to mention her services are made accessible by doing home visits. I reached out several times after her visit and she was always so willing to answer questions. She also provided frequent check ins which were appreciated. I highly recommend!!”

    -AH

  • “ I am a first time mom and my partner and I worked with Sara beginning in late pregnancy and until my baby was 2 months old. I wholeheartedly believe that her expertise, attentiveness, and gentle approach made our early postpartum feeding experience significantly smoother than it would have been. We felt cared for and heard because of Sara's attunement, kindness, and knowledge. She offered holistic emotional and physical breastfeeding support, helped both me and baby with mechanics, provided resources, and was incredibly responsive to our questions and concerns. She offered in-home visits as well, which was wonderful in the first week with a brand new baby. Breastfeeding, and feeding your baby in general, is such a tender, brand new experience and I can't recommend Sara enough as a companion on that journey.”

    -Kristen B

  • “ Sara is an incredibly patient, a great listener, highly organized and friendly lactation consultant. I'm impressed by how she kept track of the many questions and concerns that I had, and answered each one effectively. I also really appreciate that she provides home visits. Lastly, when the Lactation Network stopped working with my insurance, she was so understanding as I spent weeks trying to figure out if I could work with her as an out-of-network provider. She regularly checked in with me to see if I needed support and remained an incredible resource even as we were in limbo. I cannot express how caring, wonderful and skilled she is at her work.”

    -JL