Breastfeeding counselling

What is breastfeeding counselling?

Breastfeeding counselling is professional support for mothers who breastfeed or want to breastfeed their baby. The counsellor helps with latching on, with too little or too much milk, with sore breasts, with pumping and with questions about feeding the baby. The counselling can take place in a practice, in hospital or at home.

In health insurance, breastfeeding counselling is one of the specific benefits in the event of maternity. The law lists it explicitly, alongside check-ups during and after pregnancy and the birth. A special rule applies to these benefits: the health insurer may not ask for any co-payment. So you pay neither a deductible nor a retention fee.

Three groups of professionals may bill for it:

• Midwives authorised to work for basic health insurance. The midwife often already supports you during pregnancy and the postnatal period.
• Midwives’ organisations, for example midwifery practices.
• Nurses with special training in breastfeeding counselling.

Basic health insurance cannot pay other counsellors, for example those without basic training in nursing or midwifery.

How it works

Basic health insurance covers three sessions of breastfeeding counselling. You do not need a doctor’s prescription for them. The midwife or breastfeeding counsellor bills the sessions according to the tariff, either directly to the health insurer or through you. Because there is no co-payment, you get the full amount back if you paid the bill yourself.

The three sessions come on top of the home visits in the postnatal period. In the 56 days after the birth, the midwife may make up to 10 home visits at the expense of basic health insurance. For first-time mothers, and after a premature birth, a multiple birth or a caesarean section, the limit is 16. In the first 10 days, there may also be up to 5 additional second visits on the same day. These home visits include care, monitoring and advice to the mother on caring for and feeding the baby. Further visits require a doctor’s order.

Basic health insurance pays for other benefits around breastfeeding too. It covers a breast pump on a doctor’s prescription and for one of the medical indications in the Aids and Appliances List (MiGeL), to rent or to buy. For an electric single breast pump, the MiGeL sets a maximum reimbursement amount of CHF 175.65 for a purchase.

Legal basis

• Art. 29 para. 1 and 2 let. c KVG: in addition to benefits in the event of illness, basic health insurance covers specific benefits in the event of maternity, including necessary breastfeeding counselling.
• Art. 15 KLV: breastfeeding counselling is covered if it is provided by midwives, midwives’ organisations or nurses specially trained in breastfeeding counselling (para. 1). Coverage is limited to three sessions (para. 2).
• Art. 16 para. 1 let. b and c KLV: midwives provide breastfeeding counselling under Art. 15 KLV and postnatal care with home visits: up to 10, or up to 16 for first-time mothers and for premature, multiple and caesarean births, in the 56 days after the birth, plus up to 5 second visits in the first 10 days.
• Art. 64 para. 7 KVG: no co-payment on the benefits under Art. 29 para. 2 KVG (let. a) or on any benefits in the event of illness from the 13th week of pregnancy until eight weeks after the birth (let. b).
• MiGeL item 01.01: breast pumps on a doctor’s prescription, with maximum reimbursement amounts for rental and purchase.

Example: postnatal period and breastfeeding counselling with a first child

Lara is 31, has a CHF 2,500 deductible and gives birth to her first child on 10.03.2026. After the birth, the midwife visits her at home. As a first-time mother, Lara is entitled to up to 16 home visits until 05.05.2026, the 56th day after the birth. In June, she still has questions about breastfeeding and has three sessions with a breastfeeding counsellor who is a trained nurse.

Lara’s baby needs its own basic health insurance from birth. The premium depends on place of residence, health insurer, model and deductible. In the municipality of Zurich (region 1), it cost the following per month in 2026 for a child with accident cover:

What this means for you

Plan breastfeeding counselling like the other benefits around the birth:

1. Look for a midwife early. During pregnancy, find out who will visit you in the postnatal period and whether she also offers breastfeeding counselling.
2. Use the sessions deliberately. Basic health insurance pays for three breastfeeding counselling sessions. The advice during postnatal visits is covered separately.
3. Check your statements. No deductible may appear for breastfeeding counselling, check-ups or the birth. Keep your statements of benefits, for example in your account.
4. Insure your baby. You have up to three months after the birth to take out basic health insurance; cover then applies retroactively from birth. For supplementary insurance, registration before birth is worthwhile, because after the birth the insurer may ask health questions. You can compare premiums in the premium calculator or the children’s premium calculator.

If you need more than three breastfeeding counselling sessions, check your supplementary insurance. The profiles under Health insurers show which health insurers offer which supplementary insurance.

Common mistakes

• Choosing a breastfeeding counsellor without the right basic training. Basic health insurance only pays midwives and specially trained nurses.
• Accepting a deductible on the statement. The health insurer may not charge any co-payment on breastfeeding counselling.
• Confusing postnatal visits with breastfeeding counselling. The three breastfeeding counselling sessions come on top of the home visits.
• Waiting too long to register the baby. The baby’s basic health insurance must be taken out within three months of the birth. For supplementary insurance, the insurer asks health questions after the birth.

How we present premiums and examples is explained under How we calculate.