Ally Lactation

06/04/2026

If you have UnitedHealthcare and a new baby (or one on the way), this proposed change directly impacts you. And if you don't have UnitedHealthcare but care about accessible lactation support for others, this affects you too. Access to skilled lactation care shouldn't depend on insurance policies.

On September 1, 2026, UnitedHealthcare is planning to change how it pays for lactation support—
Right now, lactation support is covered as preventive care. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), this care is supposed to be available to you without any extra cost. However, starting September 1, 2026, UnitedHealthcare says it will:
Stop paying when a lactation visit is billed for the baby. It will only pay when the visit is billed for the mother even when both mother and baby are assessed and cared for.
This change would make that essential help harder to access, and in some cases, make it impossible. At Ally Lactation, we're pushing back against this in the hopes that UHC will reconsider. If you want to help us, please read this blog post for a full explanation and ready-to-use letter templates to send to your employer and elected officials.
You can also head over to UHC's Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/unitedhealthcare or their Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UnitedHealthcare and comment on any recent post to get their attention. Mention the changes and how it impacts you or those you care about.

This fight isn't final, and right now, your lactation consultants need your help. This is about protecting access to vital care when families are at their most vulnerable.

The change takes effect September 1, so the sooner you act, the better. This is winnable. Companies walk back bad decisions when enough people speak up through enough channels. You have a voice here. Please use it.

With gratitude for every parent who takes time to push back,

Sarah Bendure, RN, IBCLC
Owner, Ally Lactation

If You Have UnitedHealthcare and a New Baby or are Expecting One, This Affects You

05/28/2026

Ally Lactation is honored to share that Sarah Bendure, RN, IBCLC, has been voted Best Lactation Consultant in the
2026 Oklahoma City Mom Choice Awards.
To every family who took the time to vote, to share your experiences, and to trust us with your feeding journey — thank you. Your support means everything, and it’s a privilege to walk alongside you during such an important season of life.

💗 With gratitude,
Sarah & Ally Lactation

05/14/2026

✨ PCOS has a new name: PMOS ✨

You may start hearing PCOS called PMOS — Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome.

The name changed because this condition is not just about ovarian cysts. It is a whole-body endocrine and metabolic condition that can involve hormones, insulin resistance, inflammation, cycles, skin changes, fertility, and long-term health.

But here’s the part we want more parents to know:

Sometimes low milk supply is not just about latch.
Sometimes it is not just about how often you are nursing or pumping.
Sometimes your body is giving us clues that we need to look deeper.

Some parents struggling with low supply may already know they have PCOS/PMOS. Others may have never been diagnosed, but may have a history of things like irregular cycles, infertility, miscarriage, gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, significant acne, facial hair growth, or little breast/chest growth during pregnancy.

That does not mean you cannot make milk.
It does not mean your body has failed.
It means your lactation plan may need to look at the whole picture.

At Ally Lactation, low supply is one of the things we specialize in. We look at milk transfer, oral function, pumping, fl**ge fit, feeding patterns, infant weight gain, breast/chest anatomy, and possible hormonal or metabolic red flags.

We cannot diagnose PMOS, insulin resistance, thyroid issues, or other medical conditions — but we can help you recognize patterns, protect your milk supply, feed your baby well, and know when it may be time to ask your medical provider for a deeper evaluation.

If you are doing “all the right things” and your supply is still not responding the way expected, you deserve more than generic advice.

You deserve someone willing to help you connect the dots. 🤍

03/04/2026

Happy IBCLC Day 🩷
Ally Lactation started as a dream—IBCLCs who worked together, learned together, and wanted families to feel truly supported. Today, that dream is still here.
We’re celebrating our current team: Sarah, Daree, Erica, and Cody (telehealth)
And we’re grateful for Donna, who was an important part of our Dream Team and our history.
If you’ve ever met an IBCLC who changed your experience—even in a small way—tell us below and tag that lactation consultant if you can. Those messages matter more than you know.
Original photograph that was inspiration for this was taken by Jacqueline Kerr Photography

02/13/2026

We did the thing. We asked Chatgpt to create a caricature based on what it knew about each of us and Ally Lactation. For the second one, we asked for a more professional tone. Which one do you like more? How did it do?

02/10/2026

Again, so incredibly thankful to our community for your nomination in the 2026 Best of the 405 Awards. Sarah and Erica were both nominated. Erica primarily works at Southwest Medical and fills in as needed and we love her 🎉 We are posting the link to the OKC Mom's Choice Voting in another post because Sarah from Ally was nominated there as well. Thank you so much. So incredibly thankful for your nomination. 💗 Thank you again 🥰 Sarah at Ally

It's that time of year again—vote for your favorite dining, shopping, and entertainment in the city!

02/07/2026

Help us hold Blue Cross Blue Shield accountable. 💖 Please sign this petition.

“Covered” doesn’t always mean accessible.

BCBS Oklahoma tells families that breastfeeding support is available—but too many parents quickly learn that qualified lactation care is nearly impossible to find because BCBS refuses to contract with private practice IBCLCs. This leaves families paying out of pocket for care that is promised under their health plan.
If you’re a BCBS OK member, a healthcare professional, or a breastfeeding advocate, your voice matters. This petition is about holding a profit-driven insurance payer accountable and demanding that they provide the services they assure members are available.
Families deserve real access—not empty promises.
👉 Sign and share the petition. https://c.org/tsr59WtKL8

08/25/2025

Such great info 💖

07/12/2025

📣 Important Update for BCBS Patients – Please Read
We’re sharing the pictured post from in another state that outlines a recent and important change related to BCBS insurance coverage.

As many of you know, we’ve been billing BCBS patients through The Lactation Network (TLN). TLN has always operated out-of-network with BCBS. Their goal was eventually transitioning to in-network status. Unfortunately, due to ongoing systemic issues (some of which are discussed in the shared post and others that are broader than just one state), TLN will no longer accept new BCBS patients starting Monday, July 14th. Until July 14th, new BCBS patients can still check for coverage with TLN via our website at https://go.lactationnetwork.com/AllyLactation

This means Ally Lactation will also no longer be able to accept new BCBS patients after that date. Current BCBS patients who are already established with us are not affected and can continue receiving care as outlined by their TLN portal. Again, Until July 14th, new BCBS patients can still check for coverage with TLN via our website at https://go.lactationnetwork.com/AllyLactation

We are actively exploring credentialing options with BCBS here in Oklahoma. While the state has recently updated some policies, we have not yet seen any successful credentialing outcomes for IBCLCs under the new guidelines. Because of this, we will temporarily shift to private pay for new BCBS patients while we continue to seek solutions.

We are deeply sorry for the disruption and truly appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate this evolving landscape. Please know we are advocating behind the scenes and exploring every available avenue to ensure access to care.

💛 Thank you for trusting Ally Lactation.
— Sarah & the Ally Lactation Team
allylactation.com