Quality & Outcomes
How Our Care Affects Breastfeeding Outcomes
When you are deciding where to seek lactation care, the right question is whether it actually works for families like yours. Each year, we survey our clients and publish the results. This page summarizes what families across Houston and San Antonio have told us in three annual surveys, how their breastfeeding patterns compared to state and national averages, and what they say made the difference.
2023-24 results at a glance
2023-24 results at a glance
Our most recent client survey reached 871 families across our Houston and San Antonio locations.
84%
Met or expect to meet their breastfeeding goals
91%
Still breastfeeding at 6 months
Texas average: 58%
60%
Exclusively breastfed at 6 months
National average: 28%
74%
Still breastfeeding at 12 months
National average: 41%
89%
Rated our support as good or excellent
64%
Referred directly by a medical professional, friend, or family member
89%
Used insurance benefits for their care
Year-over-year trend
A consistent pattern, not a one-year result
One survey captures a moment. Three surveys in a row tell you something about the model.
| Survey period | Respondents | Met or on track | Rated support good/excellent | Still BF at 6 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | 552 | 84% | 92% | 87% |
| 2022 | 641 | 82% | 94% | 87% |
| 2023-24 | 871 | 84% | 89% | 91% |
Sample sizes have grown as we have grown. The pattern across the three surveys is steady. The numbers do not depend on a single strong year.
Context for the comparisons
How our families compare to state and national averages
Most families who come to us are working through a real challenge: low supply, painful latch, suspected oral ties, supply concerns at return to work, or a feeling that something is not working and they are not sure why. They are not a random sample of new parents. Texas and national figures sample the general population, most of whom did not face a significant challenge or seek specialty care.
That context matters when reading these comparisons.
| Duration | Our families | Texas average | National average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any breastfeeding at 6 months | 91% | 58% | 62% |
| Exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months | 60% | 26% | 28% |
| Any breastfeeding at 12 months | 74% | 38% | 41% |
Source: CDC National Immunization Survey-Child (NIS-Child), 2022 birth cohort, rates by state, published August 2025.
Our families typically start from a more difficult position than the general population. The duration gap suggests the care is doing meaningful work, not that we are working with an easier cohort.
What the data shows
Why relationship-based care produces these results
Across all three surveys, one pattern is consistent: more visits link to better outcomes.
In 2023-24, 92% of clients who had six or more visits with us reported meeting their breastfeeding goals, compared to 84% overall.In 2022, 91% of clients with six or more visits met their goals. The pattern is consistent and clinically intuitive. Feeding challenges rarely resolve in one appointment, and the families who get the most out of care are the ones who can keep coming back when something changes at six weeks, at three months, at return to work, at the start of solids.
This is part of why we structure care as an ongoing relationship rather than a single consultation, and why we work with insurance plans that cover the visits families actually need.
What families tell us mattered
What families tell us mattered
Across hundreds of qualitative responses, the same themes show up year after year. Families value:
- Feeling heard and supported without judgment
- Practical guidance tailored to their specific situation, not generic advice
- IBCLC expertise on complex issues such as supply concerns, oral function, and feeding aversion
- Care that continues as the baby grows and feeding changes
- Accessibility when questions come up between visits
In their own words
My IBCLC listened to me, helped me overcome pain, and gave me confidence as a new mom.
I had no idea lactation care was covered by my insurance. They made my breastfeeding journey stress-free.
I struggled at first, but they provided me with the tools and encouragement I needed to keep going.
How we measure
How we measure
We survey clients seen during each survey period and compile the results into an annual report. We do not filter responses or select only favorable comments; the report includes both quantitative results and a substantial set of qualitative feedback.
- Our survey samples families who chose to seek our care. They are not a random sample of new parents. Comparisons to state and national averages should be read with this in mind. Most of the families in our sample started with a feeding challenge serious enough to seek specialty support.
- Response rates and sample sizes have grown over time as the practice has grown.
- State and national comparison figures on this page reflect the most recent CDC NIS-Child release. Our printed annual reports reflect the CDC data available at the time each report was published, so the comparison figures in older printed reports may differ slightly from the figures shown here.
- Full reports are available to referring providers on request.
If you are looking for care
We see families prenatally, in the early postpartum period, and throughout the feeding journey. Most visits are covered by insurance, and we offer in-office, in-home, and telehealth options across Greater Houston and San Antonio.
Request Appointment For referring providers ↓For Referring Providers
A 2022 study of primary care providers found that 80% thought families were not getting the lactation support they needed, 74% reported that face time and training constraints limited what they could offer, and only 6% felt ready for challenging cases. Half of providers reported referring out for breastfeeding difficulties.
We work with physicians, midwives, doulas, pediatric dentists, and allied providers across Greater Houston and San Antonio. In 2023-24, 64% of our clients came to us through a direct referral.
Common reasons providers refer to us
- First-time parent
- Parent anxiety about feeding
- High-risk pregnancy
- Previous feeding difficulty
- Breast surgery history
- Latch pain
- Infant weight concerns
- Milk supply concerns
- Reflux or suspected feeding-related GI symptoms
- Suspected infant allergy or intolerance
What you can expect when you refer
- Acknowledgment of referral within one business day
- IBCLC-led assessment within scope of practice
- Coordinated communication for shared patients
- Follow-up summary to the referring provider when authorized by the family
Opens our referral form in a separate, HIPAA-secure system (new tab).
Source: BFMED Primary Care Survey, 2022.