ITHACA, N.Y., June 17, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- SimpliFed, the first independent telehealth platform exclusively focused on infant feeding and nutrition, announced today that it has officially launched its services to help new parents navigate how best to feed their new baby in the comfort and safety of their own homes. The new platform launches amid social distancing measures, which impacts the practice of in-home lactation and infant nutrition guidance. SimpliFed was founded by a Cornell University faculty member and new mom in collaboration with her own lactation consultant. The mission of the platform is to empower each parent to make an educated decision to choose what works best for them and their baby whether that be breastmilk, infant formula, or a combination of both.
"I have been deeply troubled by the lack of support available for moms following births during COVID-19, which led to the founding of this new platform for moms seeking lactation and infant nutrition guidance," said Andrea Ippolito, founder of SimpliFed. "We want to relieve moms of some of the stress in those first few days and weeks while they are home with their infant by helping them secure the lactation and nutrition support necessary for a healthy baby."
Ippolito, who is also a Cornell University faculty member, committed to founding SimpliFed after reflecting on her own experience as a new mom facing breastfeeding challenges. When she was first home with her own child, she was able to easily work with lactation consultants, who typically provide care for new moms either in pediatric offices or via in-home care. More recently however, Ippolito realized that during a crisis such as COVID-19 and social distancing, most new mothers do not have the luxury of that experience. Ippolito was able to leverage insights that she gained during her Master's program at MIT as she studied telehealth in the United States military and Department of Veterans Affairs, both of which were early adopters of telehealth.
SimpliFed provides telehealth access to board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs) to help new mothers navigate the various infant feeding options available to ultimately make the best personal choice. Lactation consultant appointments are booked with initial fees beginning at $30 for 20 minutes, with follow up appointments added as necessary by the mother. Reimbursement is often covered by the parents' health insurer or their HSA/FSA program. Through the Affordable Care Act, all new health plans must cover both comprehensive prenatal and postnatal lactation support and counseling. Thus, breastfeeding mothers have coverage for lactation counseling without cost-sharing for as long as they are breastfeeding.
"Building on what we've learned so far, we continue to co-design and improve SimpliFed with the help and feedback of moms to meet the needs of new moms," said Ippolito. "By remotely connecting lactation consultants to new mothers, SimpliFed is the next best thing to having a lactation consultant come to your home. We want to empower each parent to help them understand the best option available for them, to ultimately help them reach their baby's feeding goals for their long-term health."
More information about SimpliFed can be found: https://www.simplifed.us/.
ABOUT SIMPLIFED
SimpliFed is the first independent tele-lactation consulting and nutrition support platform connecting new mothers with resources in the first weeks of becoming a parent. The company's mission is to help new mothers secure access to breastfeeding and infant nutrition support from the comfort and safety of their own homes from board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs). Founded by Andrea Ippolito, a Cornell University faculty member, who struggled with breastfeeding her own child, found the resources to decide what feeding options worked best for her and her baby, and realized that more mothers need access to lactation care, especially during times of crisis. The SimpliFed platform is accessible to new moms across the US, with lactation consultants available for appointment at the parents' convenience. More information can be found at: https://www.simplifed.us/
SOURCE SimpliFed
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