Frequently Asked Questions

Scheduling and Insurance

+ How do I schedule an appointment with Dr. Renno?

After registering online, you will receive a confirmation email with further instructions. Dr. Renno will contact you as soon as possible—but always within 24 hours—to schedule the appointment. If you would like to speak with Dr. Renno prior to registering, please feel free to schedule a meet and greet or contact her via the website.

+ Are visits with Dr. Renno covered by my medical insurance?

Dr. Renno does not bill insurance or participate in any insurance plans. However, federal law requires that health insurance companies cover breastfeeding services, including prenatal and postnatal consultation and breastfeeding education. A superbill is available after your visit upon request. This is a specialized receipt that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Please be aware that a superbill does not guarantee that an insurance company will pay for the services provided. You are encouraged to contact your insurance company directly with any questions.

+ Are any discounts available?

Yes!

1. Invite a friend to join you in the prenatal course Lactation Conversations and you'll each pay half price. That's $150 instead of $300. Simply send Dr. Renno a message via the Contact Page to request your individual BOGO codes.
2. You may bundle your choice of prenatal education (Lactation Conversations course or One-On-One consultation) with a Newborn Preventive Breastfeeding Visit and receive $150 off your registration fees using code PRENATALBUNDLE.
3. Note that a Newborn Preventive Breastfeeding Visit ($300) is priced $100 lower than an Initial Breastfeeding Visit ($400), but in both cases, you receive the same attentive care in your home, comprehensively addressing your feeding needs, as well as 7 additional days of support via phone or text. The only difference is that to be eligible for the preventive visit, registration needs to occur prior to baby's delivery.
4. Follow Up Care ranges in price from $100 to $200, depending on which service you select. So after your initial investment, if any additional visits are required, the cost is substantially lower.

+ Are visits with Dr. Renno eligible to be covered by my HSA/FSA? What about prenatal education?

Yes. Lactation consultant services and breastfeeding education are eligible expenses with a Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), or a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). These cards may be used directly at checkout.

+ Can I sign up if I live outside the state of Arkansas?

Yes and no. Out-of-state clients can register for Lactation Conversations and One-On-One Prenatal Education. Dr. Renno is only licensed to practice medicine in the state of Arkansas, so all postnatal medical care is limited to in-state clients.

+ What does IBCLC stand for?

IBCLC stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. To meet the rigorous requirements for this certification, Dr. Renno completed 90 hours of lactation education, 1000 hours of lactation clinical practice, and passed the board exam. In addition, she meets continuing education requirements to maintain her certification.

+ What is the scope of practice of a lactation consultant?

Lactation consultants are experts in supporting breastfeeding mothers and are an invaluable part of the healthcare team. They can assist with latch, evaluate milk transfer, and counsel regarding milk production, pain, milk storage, nipple care, etc. They can also recommend to mothers when evaluation by a medical specialist is indicated. Lactation consultants are not able to diagnose, prescribe, or perform procedures.

+ What is Breastfeeding Medicine?

As a licensed physician practicing Breastfeeding Medicine, Dr. Renno is able to assist mothers and babies in all the ways a lactation consultant can, but additionally can order labs and diagnostic imaging, prescribe medications, and perform procedures when medically indicated. She draws on her years of experience as a board certified pediatrician to understand the anatomic and physiologic abnormalities that can complicate breastfeeding. Please refer to Postnatal Breastfeeding Care for a list of maternal and infant concerns that Dr. Renno is able to address.

+ Does Dr. Renno treat tongue-tie (ankyloglossia)?

Yes. Dr. Renno has been performing lingual frenotomy (tongue-tie release) since 2011. She evaluates each mother and baby dyad carefully to determine whether the infant’s oral anatomy is contributing to the breastfeeding difficulties, and if it will be better managed by a procedure or by non-invasive interventions. If Dr. Renno determines that frenotomy is medically necessary—and if the parents wish to proceed—Dr. Renno is able to perform the procedure during that same visit, with latch assistance immediately afterward. There is no additional charge for the procedure, which will only be performed at Dr. Renno’s discretion.

+ Does Dr. Renno have an office?

Dr. Renno sees patients exclusively in their homes. She will bring all necessary equipment and supplies with her for the visit.

+ What if my baby is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)?

Dr. Renno does not provide medical care for newborns while they are admitted to the hospital. She is happy to meet with mothers regarding pumping, milk supply, nipple pain, and other maternal concerns to help them navigate their NICU journey. She is also passionate about helping NICU babies learn to breastfeed effectively once they have been discharged.

+ Does Dr. Renno see patients as a general pediatrician?

While she maintains her board certification in general pediatrics, Dr. Renno is not accepting patients as a primary care pediatrician at this time. She will communicate closely with your child’s pediatrician regarding the care she provides as a Breastfeeding Medicine specialist.

+ What is Dr. Renno’s service area?

Dr. Renno will drive up to 20 miles or 35 minutes to see you in your home. You may extend this service area up to 35 miles or 50 minutes. To determine if your home meets criteria for service, please get directions from 17711 Chenal Pkwy, Little Rock, AR 72223. If you live outside the Extended Service Area, please do not register for a visit prior to contacting Dr. Renno directly.

+ What safety precautions are in place during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Dr. Renno has been fully vaccinated, and continues to follow CDC guidelines for masking in a healthcare setting. All equipment is thoroughly sanitized between patients. To protect Dr. Renno’s other vulnerable newborn patients, in-home visits will not be scheduled with patients with known or suspected COVID-19 infection, or during the period of quarantine after exposure.

+ Where does Lactation Conversations meet?

There are in-person and virtual course options available at checkout, so you can select your preference. The in-person groups will meet in west Little Rock.

+ Are significant others allowed to attend Lactation Conversations sessions too?

Yes! Spouses and significant others are welcome to join any of the educational sessions, and are actively encouraged to attend the session highlighting the role of the support person throughout the breastfeeding journey.

+ How many spots are available in each Lactation Conversations class?

Each Lactation Conversations group is limited to six expectant mothers. This is true for both in-person and virtual sessions. Keeping the groups small will help foster relationships with other group members, and will ensure ample time for individual questions and interaction. The number of spots remaining in each class can be found by selecting course dates on the Lactation Conversations page.

+ Ostriches? Really?

Yep! While it was far from a typical childhood, growing up on an ostrich ranch provided ample life lessons and was one of the factors that inspired Dr. Renno’s pursuit of medicine. It was her job to anesthetize the older chicks and hold them still while her dad performed surgery. She was also responsible for identifying which newborn chicks were not eating and drinking well, then helping them overcome their feeding difficulties. She now considers this early career preparation!