We are so thrilled to introduce you to our newest lactation consultant at SDBFC! Vicky Gellis joined our team in November 2019, as our Administrative Assistant and will now begin to see SDBFC families as an IBCLC. Prior to November, Vicky spent hours in our office as an IBCLC intern as she was finishing her UCSD IBCLC coursework. After over a year of clinical hours and course work, Vicky is now ready to see her own patients at SDBFC and we couldn’t be more excited! We can't wait for you all to meet her!
Vicky, tell us about yourself!
I grew up in Westchester NY and met my husband at the neighborhood bus stop in kindergarten. Our families are very close and I am the eldest of 12 cousins. I loved caring for my family and have always enjoyed working with children. At NYU, I studied child and adolescent mental health and researched child motor development. After living in NYC for 8 years, my husband and I decided to move across the country so we could experience West Coast living! We can confidently say that we love it!
We love to travel, hike, bike, scuba dive, climb, camp, and take advantage of the year round beautiful weather here in San Diego!
What inspired you to become a lactation consultant?
My sister-in-law is a doula and encouraged me to pursue doula work because she knows I love working with babies. Through my doula work, I discovered my passion for working with birthing families. Although births are incredibly beautiful experiences, my clients were just beginning their journey as new parents and they needed additional help! I wanted to be able to support them through not just their birth but their breastfeeding journey as well. I also really wanted to be a resource for my family and friends as they started to have babies.
What are you most excited about working with SDBFC?
I am thrilled to be part of such a dedicated group of consultants. I am eager to continue to learn from them so I can better serve the families of San Diego. I believe it’s a gift to be able to give back to the clients I work with and to help them through breastfeeding and new parenthood challenges.
What are you top 3 tips for a brand new breastfeeding family?
You are not alone. Having a baby can be very overwhelming and sometimes isolating so I want to encourage families to seek out help from a community of friends and professionals that support them. Find other new parents who can resonate with all of the emotions and feelings you’re going experiencing. Look for professionals who align with your values.
Trust your instincts. There is so much information out there about breastfeeding and everyone will gladly share their opinion with you, even if you don’t quite ask. There is no universal breastfeeding plan that works for everyone. Trust your gut and remember that the most important thing is to find tools and plans that work best for you and your family.
There are no silly questions. Breastfeeding is a brand new skill and just like anything new, there is a learning curve. Parents typically have many questions about breastfeeding expectations, milk supply, positions, latching, breastfeeding accessories, and more! All of your questions are valid and important. Seek out the help of friends, classes, support groups, and lactation consultants because we are eager to share our knowledge and experience!