We are so thrilled to introduce you to our newest lactation consultant at SDBFC! Yvonne joined us on April 3, 2023 and will start seeing her own clients on May 22, 2023! Here is our interview with Yvonne. We can't wait for you all to meet her!
Yvonne, tell us about yourself!
I was born in Los Angeles, CA to Colombian parents. I received a BA in Film Studies from Columbia College Hollywood & worked in the film industry for 10 years. I decided to change career paths; my heart yearned for a deeper connection. I knew I always wanted to work with parents and babies, but I wasn’t sure in what capacity. In 2013, I did an internship at St. John’s Medical Center Oxnard, where I worked with the nurses in the Mother Baby Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. That experience had a tremendous impact in my life. I knew that I wanted to help parents and babies in those important first moments. I decided to return to school and further my studies. I am grateful to have worked at a birth center, a nanny for many families, a caregiver for the elderly, Lactation Educator, and now a Lactation Consultant.
What inspired you to become a lactation consultant?
During my time working at a birth center, I had the honor of supporting parents in numerous births and during the beginning days with their baby. This time really had an impact on me in cherishing those beautiful moments between a parent and her child. From giving birth, to chest/breastfeeding your child, these intimate moments create an everlasting bond between the two. At that time, I knew I wanted to make a career in supporting these parents during these special moments.
Early on, I noticed that many parents struggled with chest/breastfeeding. Parents would feel frustrated and/or sad for not being able to easily nurse their little ones. I began to encounter this as a common sentiment for many families. It was through this experience, I realized the importance of chest/breastfeeding education from pregnancy and in the very early days of a baby’s life. I find immense gratitude now for being able to support families in their feeding journeys.
What are you most excited about working for the SDBFC?
It’s an honor to work for a renowned breastfeeding center. I’m excited to work with a diverse team of Lactation Consultants and build relationships with families of all different backgrounds. I love the inclusivity of SDBFC and I’m excited to keep learning and expanding my knowledge with such a beautiful center that truly cares about its community.
What are your top 3 tips for a brand new chest/breastfeeding parent?
Give yourself GRACE. I like to use the analogy of thinking when you rode a bicycle for the first time. It was challenging and it took practice. You may have fallen a few times, but you got back up and eventually removed those training wheels.
Every Suck Counts. Everyone is going to have a different journey. Some babies will latch right off the bat. Some take a little bit more time and that’s OK. You know what journey is best for you!
Lots of Skin-to-Skin and Cuddle time.