San Diego Latch On Event 2022 - WHO'S READY???

Are you ready to find out the details for the San Diego Latch On 2022?

Celebrate World Chest/Breastfeeding Week with us at the San Diego Latch On event! Join the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation, and our amazing sponsors - Kindred Bravely, Solly Baby, Baby Tula, Little Star Dentistry, and Impact Partners, in a fun-filled event for the whole family!  This year’s event will be in Allied Garden Recreation Park . While you wait for the actual Latch On to occur (at 10:30a), you can set up a picnic, hang out in the playground, peruse the vendor booths (you won’t want to miss these!), and bid on our awesome auction items!

The first 100 attendees to check in will get a free tote bag with goodies, samples and resource materials from our local partners!

The San Diego Latch On event serves as one of our major fundraisers for our non-profit organization, the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation. San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation believes it is our duty as birth and perinatal workers to provide equal access to all regardless of their economic status or the color of their skin. But we know there is still racial and economic disparity of access and representation in both lactation support and other crucial pre/postpartum healthcare.

That is why our Foundation provides free or low-cost lactation support to our community members who identify as low-income or BIPOC, and offer scholarships to BIPOC individuals seeking to become Lactation Professionals.

Here are the preliminary details.  We will begin to share more about the event over the next few weeks!

When is the San Diego Latch On?

The San Diego Latch On event will take place on Saturday, August 6, 2022 from 9a-11a.  The actual Latch On (children latching on to set a local record) will take place at exactly 10:30am, so don’t be late!  

Where will the San Diego Latch On take place?

Allied Gardens Recreation Center Park - 5155 Greenbrier Ave, San Diego, CA 92120

Is there a charge to participate?

Not at all!  This event is totally FREE!

Can I bring my family or is this just for chest/breastfeeding parents and child/ren?

This is a totally family-friendly event! There will be plenty of things to keep older children entertained, so bring them all!

Do I need to register?

Yes, please!

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Wondering how you and your business can get involved?

Since the San Diego Latch On event is a major fundraiser for our nonprofit organization, the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation, we rely heavily on event sponsors and auction donations.  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or have a service/item to donate for our auction, please send an email to Brie Weigandt, Fundraising and Community Outreach Coordinator, at bweigandt@sdbfcfoundation.org

Get Ready for San Diego’s Biggest Lactation Event of the Year!

Meet SDBFC's Newest IBCLC - Meghan Seperack

We are so thrilled to introduce you to our newest lactation consultant at SDBFC! Meghan joined us on November 18th and started seeing her own clients on January 12th!  Here is our interview with Meghan  We can't wait for you all to meet her!

meghan, tell us about yourself!

I would describe myself as a fun-loving, hard-working, family-centered daughter, sister, wife, friend, and lactation consultant. My friends and family would describe me as a positive, outgoing, grounded, and dedicated person. I was born and raised in Northern California and vacationed in San Diego as a child. When it came to college, I chose San Diego to call my new home and I have been here ever since. I moved around the county from College Area to Pacific Beach, East Village to University City, Carmel Valley to Carlsbad, and I have enjoyed many outdoor activities that San Diego has to offer. When I am not working, you can find me with a book on the beach or at a park, walking local trails or hiking, celebrating birthdays and weddings, or visiting family. I am an expert party-planner, power-napper, travel companion, and manifester. I am proud to call San Diego home, where watching the tide roll in and out creates instant inner peace for me.

Check out Meghan’s bio page

What inspired you to become a lactation consultant?

In 2016, I was laid off from my first job out of college. I was working in advertising for a creative agency and formed great relationships with my coworkers, but I was lacking purpose in my day-to-day work. A month of unemployment turned into a month of reflection and personal development. I began a meditation practice and found it extremely helpful in gaining clarity around my priorities. I felt called to finding a career involving families and babies. Fast forward to 2020, after returning to the creative services world for another several years, staying open for life to unfold, I was introduced to the field of lactation consulting through an article about the benefits of breastmilk on the infant gut. The article lit a spark within me and further reading and conversations snowballed until I found myself on the path of transitioning my career. After completing pre-requisite college courses, I began full-time lactation education and training and embraced my new career with deep passion to support chest/breastfeeding parents and their partners to provide human milk to their babies and impact societal health from infancy. 

What are you most excited about working for the SDBFC?

I am delighted to be a member of the San Diego Breastfeeding Center and honored to work alongside Robin Kaplan, and the entire team of skilled consultants. I am grateful for the continued education that SDBFC provides for our team to stay up to date on the latest research in the field and to bring expanded knowledge to our clients, such as plant medicine for milk supply and postpartum support. Behind the scenes of SDBFC is a team of passionate consultants working together to bring the best support possible to the families in our care.

I am looking forward to serving families in my local community and surrounding areas in North County with home visits. I have heard from many mothers how having a consultant come to their home creates ease and comfort. They’ve shared that it increases their confidence after having their questions answered, their baby’s weight and milk transfer assessed, and having an action plan to move forward with. I’m excited to be an integral part of that journey and continue to support and work through chest/breastfeeding challenges. 

What are your top 3 tips for a brand new chest/breastfeeding parent?

There are three things to keep top-of-mind for a new chest/breastfeeding parent. 

1. Your why. If you have chosen to chest/breastfeed, what were the reasons why? Maybe it was something your doctor said, or your sister-in-law told you, like how breastmilk protects babies from infection and disease. What have you discovered that cemented your desire to chest/breastfeed? What fun facts get you excited about breastmilk?

2. Your resources. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a baby, so it is helpful to identify your inner circle of support. Who will be your cheerleader, your helper with laundry and meals, your listening ear? If feeding challenges arise, what providers can you lean on for chest/breastfeeding support? Along with identifying your people resources, having prenatal education resources can play a significant role in the first few days and weeks of lactation. Aiming for skin-to-skin time and frequent nipple stimulation in the early days will lay the foundation for long-term lactation.

3. Yourself! In the first few months, you and your partner may feel like you are in survival mode. What supportive practices have you leaned on in past challenging times? What affirmations would you say to your best friend, and can you say those to yourself? That could sound like, you’ve got this. You are the best mom for this baby. Tomorrow is a new day. You are doing a great job. Check in and give yourself some big loving because a healthy mom is of utmost importance.

Welcome to the team, Meghan!

Meet SDBFC's Newest IBCLC - Heather Sherman

We are so thrilled to introduce you to our newest lactation consultant (pending) at SDBFC! Heather joined us on November 18th and started seeing her own clients on December 27th!  Here is our interview with Heather.  We can't wait for you all to meet her!

Heather, tell us about yourself!

I'm originally from upstate New York. After meeting my husband in 2004 I married into Navy life. We moved around the country quite a bit and have lived in Philadelphia, Central Pennsylvania, Northern Virginia, Virginia Beach, Monterey, and Memphis. In 2019 we moved to San Diego and it immediately became home. I have three sons who keep me very busy. But, I also love to paddleboard, sew clothing, knit all the things, read fiction, watch movies with my family, go to baseball games, and walk my dog on the beach.

Check out Heather’s bio page

What inspired you to become a lactation consultant?

I felt disempowered and out of touch with my body after a traumatic birth experience with my first son. In many ways I felt my body had failed me because the birth hadn't turned out how I had expected. I immediately turned my focus to the breastfeeding relationship and put a lot of energy into working through my initial difficulties. Breastfeeding helped me restore my faith in my body and bond with my son after birth trauma. With my next son I had a home birth attended by an amazing midwife, which really completed my healing. For me these experiences underscored the importance of a great support system and how healthcare providers can make a huge difference in parents' experience during the perinatal period. After becoming a parent I spent a lot of my free time connecting with and supporting other parents, both casually and in support groups, and learning as much as I could about birth and lactation.

What are you most excited about working for the SDBFC?

I am so grateful to work alongside and learn from the incredibly talented IBCLCs at SDBFC. It is so exciting to join a team that provides the kind of compassionate, inclusive, and quality care that makes a positive impact on so many families in our community.

What are your top 3 tips for a brand new chest/breastfeeding parent?

1. 1Take a chest/breastfeeding class while you or your partner is still pregnant or schedule a prenatal lactation consultation. It is so helpful to learn the basics of good positioning and latch before giving birth. Getting this information early on helps set realistic expectations about what your first few days and weeks with your baby will be like. Bring your partner or major support person! It is important that partners and major support people also learn chest/breastfeeding basics and understand how they can be helpful and supportive when you are chest/breastfeeding.

   2. Identify your personal support team and cheerleaders. Meeting your chest/breastfeeding goals can be impacted by the support you get, or don't get, from your partner, family, social circle, and healthcare providers. Keep your cheerleaders close and set loving boundaries with well-meaning folks who may not understand or support your goals. Choose OBGYNs, midwives, pediatricians, and lactation consultants who respect your choices and make you feel heard and supported.

   3. Be prepared to be flexible. Sometimes we get very attached to how we think things "should" be. It is wonderful when things work exactly how we hoped. But, if you hit a bump in the road you can still have a positive feeding relationship with your baby. Work with your lactation consultant to explore all of your options and choose the one that feels best for you and your family.

Welcome to the team, Heather!

Meet SDBFC's Newest IBCLC - Yvonne Campbell

We are so thrilled to introduce you to our newest lactation consultant (pending)/RN at SDBFC! Yvonne joined us on August 2nd and will be doing office visits starting August 31st!  Here is our interview with Yvonne.  We can't wait for you all to meet her!

Yvonne, tell us about yourself!

Hello! Let’s see, I spent my year 0 through 25 in a small town in Sweden called Trollhattan (basically translates to Troll’s Hat). We were a multicultural household with an American dad and a Swedish mom. My parents met in San Francisco while my mother was working as an Au Pair for a year after high school and then they moved to Sweden to raise a family (18 months of parental leave, yes please). Sweden is great in a lot of ways, however I don’t think I would trade it for all of the sunshine days we get here in San Diego. A couple years after receiving my BSN, I felt adventurous and moved to San Diego. I’ve been here 12 years now! I have a husband, Sean, two daughters, Elise and Clara (6 and 3 years old) and a 10 year old cat Zoe. We love to travel, otherwise I bet we would have a dog too!

In my free time I’m an avid baker, often found whipping up cream cakes, cookies, breads, you name it. I have a crazy sweet tooth that I try to balance with exercise and otherwise healthy eating like a true Swede. Did you know that Swedes eat the most candy per capita in the world? 35 pounds per person per year! Career-wise I have always felt the happiest helping people. I have worked as an Emergency Room Nurse for almost 15 years (definitely doesn’t feel like it’s been that long). 

Check out Yvonne’s bio page

What inspired you to become a lactation consultant?

I absolutely fell in love with breastfeeding after having kids of my own. I always thought breastfeeding was something beautiful and envisioned doing it one day. Little did I know how difficult, yet absolutely amazing the journey can be. Being a bit of a researcher I started reading more and more about lactation. It kept piquing my interest and I developed a new passion!

What are you most excited about working for the SDBFC?

I can’t think of anything more satisfying and heartwarming than helping families reach their breastfeeding goals, whatever that may look like for them. I want to empower families and be a positive cheerleader in their corner. I’m very excited that the SDBFC has a foundation so that we can reach more families.

What are your top 3 tips for a brand new chest/breastfeeding parent?

1. Go with flow and be your most flexible you. Often things aren’t going to be exactly as you had envisioned from the get go with a new baby. If you stay positive and embrace the challenges, you end up with so much less stress. If there are any breastfeeding questions or concerns we're here ready to help!

2. Accept and/or reach out for help. The saying “it takes a village” is so true! What’s helpful varies from family to family. It could be for someone to hold your baby while you shower, for someone to take over household chores, or bring food so you can focus on the baby. Make a list of things that would be helpful for -you-, then people offering to help can choose items off that list (we all know well meaning helpers sometimes need a little *cough* direction so that they are in fact being helpful).

3. Surround yourself with positive people who understand your goals. There are so many different ways to parent and it makes the most sense to take advice from people who share your parenting vision and goals. Find a support group that speaks to you! SDBFC offers a great one every week.

Welcome to the team, Yvonne!

Meet SDBFC's Newest IBCLC - Mariana Covarrubias

We are so thrilled to introduce you to our newest lactation consultant at SDBFC! Mariana joined us on March 24th and will be doing office visits starting June 1st!  Here is our interview with Mariana.  We can't wait for you all to meet her!

Mariana, tell us about yourself!

I grew up in Tijuana, just across the border from San Diego, CA. I then moved to San Diego when I was 16 years old. Since then I have lived in other cities like Mexico City and Miami, but recently moved back to San Diego. I love living in San Diego because I am close to family and because it is next door to Tijuana, which has the most amazing food and it is where my roots are. I have been married for 6 years and have a daughter who is the center of my life and one of the biggest reasons I decided to pursue a career as a lactation consultant. I have a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition & Dietetics.  It is a field I love and am very passionate about, but I wanted to look at nutrition from the start. My curiosity and constant love for learning led me to study lactation. I had the pleasure of working for a Pediatrician, IBCLC while living in Mexico City which further propelled my curiosity, since I got to learn about the many facets of lactation and the big difference I could make helping people. I am a constant student and homebody that loves doing anything creative. I also have a passion for living a natural/non-toxic lifestyle. I love to cook and really enjoy creating beautiful tables when hosting friends and family.

Check out Mariana’s bio page

What inspired you to become a lactation consultant?

As a Nutrition & Dietetics student gaining experience in the field, I had the opportunity to work on the delivery floor of Mary Birch Hospital. Working on that floor made me happy; I really enjoyed working around babies. Being the constant learner that I am, I started looking at the different learning possibilities that I could add to my career. I learned about becoming an IBCLC and never looked back. Mid-way through my IBCLC program I found out I was pregnant  and had to pause it, due to a high-risk pregnancy. When my daughter was born and I had the opportunity to experience everything first-hand, I found out I was even more passionate about this than when I began. I then finished my training with UCSD Lactation Program and am so proud to be able to provide help and guidance to anyone who needs it.

What are you most excited about working for the SDBFC?

I am most excited about the fact that I will be able to offer lactation services to Spanish speakers. I am Mexican and fluent in both English and Spanish. Being the first consultant at SDBFC that is a Spanish speaker is a badge that I wear with honor. Coming from Mexico, I used to cross the border daily to go to school in the U.S. We would wake up at 5:00 AM and sometimes it would take up to 4 hours to get to school and then we had to do the same journey back, all to start it again the next day. I am proud of where I come from and am thankful for all the sacrifices my parents made to give me an education. I am proud that I will be using that education to help others and hopefully it will inspire people in the Hispanic community to seek out my help and guidance. I am proud to be representing the Latina community as a lactation consultant, bringing my culture and experiences with me. I am so excited to meet new families and help them along their journey.

What are your top 3 tips for a brand new chest/breastfeeding parent?

1.     Be flexible with your expectations. Although, ideally your chest/breastfeeding journey is exactly how you pictured it, it may be a little or completely different. Do not let that discourage you. Chest/breastfeeding looks a million ways, the right way is what works best for you and your family. You are a great parent no matter what your journey looks like. Allow yourself to see beauty in the unexpected.

2.     Support system, support system, support system. It is ideal that you plan out your support system, whatever that may look like for you.  It does not necessarily have to be family.  Supporting your postpartum period may look like ordering a meal delivery service, having a friend cook some meals for you, or hiring someone to help with household chores. This will allow you the time to focus on you and your baby. Ask for help… a good support system will help you deal with sleepless nights and new parent duties. At SDBFC we offer chest/breastfeeding support groups; meeting up with parents going through similar journey’s might help you a feel sense of community and most importantly have your questions/concerns addressed.

3.     Opinions, everyone has them, but only you know what works best for you and your family. Follow your gut instinct and trust it. You will get a lot of opinions or “advice” from friends, family, and sometimes even strangers, but letting your instincts guide your choices will turn out best. Seek out professionals that align with your values and gather all the necessary information to make informed decisions.

Welcome to the team, Mariana!

Meet SDBFC's Newest IBCLC - Tabitha Kemp

We are so thrilled to introduce you to our newest lactation consultant at SDBFC! Tabitha Kemp joined us on August 24th and will be doing office visits starting Sept 28th!  Here is my interview with Tabitha.  I can't wait for you all to meet her!

Tabitha, tell us about yourself!

I am a San Diego Native, married to Adam, my amazing husband of 10 years! We have two beautiful daughters. I am an amateur runner, and I love a good coffee and donut.

What inspired you to become a lactation consultant?

About 4 years ago, while working in the emergency room, I took care of a new mother and her child who simply needed help with breastfeeding. She was nervous and overwhelmed. I will always remember her because she was so thankful to have help with one of the most basic roles of parenthood: feeding her child. After that, I enrolled to take a course to become a Certified Lactation Educator and was overwhelmed by the importance of giving parents the ability to provide breastmilk for their child. I had found my way to contribute to my community by promoting and protecting the health of families.

What are you most excited about working for the SDBFC?

I am excited for the new challenge! I look forward to learning from the impressive lactation consultants at the San Diego Breastfeeding Center. The teamwork and collaboration is amazing, and I love the way all the consultants support one another and their clients as they work through feeding challenges. I hope I can be an advocate and support for all my clients to help them reach their goals!

What are your top 3 tips for a brand new breastfeeding parent?

1. Be patient. Breastfeeding is natural and normal, but this does not mean it is easy. So be patient with yourself and your baby as you learn. 

2. Find help. There will be hiccups and speed bumps, but resources abound, so do not wait to seek help when and if you have a problem. 

3. Find friends. Surrounding yourself with people (even online) who love and support breastfeeding can be a lifesaver. Having the opportunity to watch someone else breastfeed can be a game changer. So, find a neighbor, friend, or support group where you can be surrounded by breastfeeding.

Welcome to the team, Tabitha!

Nice Try, Covid…. But You Can’t Stop Us From Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week

The annual World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7th) is usually filled with parties, gatherings, giveaways, and more.  It is a week to celebrate all of your breastfeeding, chest feeding, and pumping accomplishments with families around the world.  Many of you may have attended our Big Latch On event or participated in our Ultimate World Breastfeeding Week giveaway in the past. For some of you, this may be the first time you have breast/chestfed or pumped for a child.  

And while 2020 has been a complete physical and emotional circus (PG-version of what we really want to say), we are so incredibly grateful to still be here, providing our breastfeeding expertise and emotional support to all of you.  So, if Covid can’t shut down the San Diego Breastfeeding Center, then it sure can’t stop us from celebrating World Breastfeeding Week!

So, who’s ready to celebrate with us??????

We have several online events scheduled for August 1-7th, with more being added (so make sure you are following us on Instagram and Facebook because you will not want to miss out!)  Here is a list of what we have planned so far!

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The Big Virtual Latch On

August 1, 2020; 10-10:45a | Zoom

2020 has proved to make in-person gatherings difficult (to say the least!), so our yearly Big Latch On event has moved online! If you have never attended a Big Latch On event, this is where we bring together as many breast/chestfeeding parents together to latch on their babies all at the same time to set a world record!

This is an event you won’t want to miss this year, as hopefully this will be the only time in our lifetime where we will try to set a world record for the MOST latched on kiddos at the same time during a pandemic! (Well, that’s something I never thought I would write in a million years!)

There will be a few giveaways (like some awesome Kindred Bravely bras/tanks and Tula baby carriers!), laughter, camaraderie, and celebration as we bring together our community of nursing families.  And let’s face it…. we all need something fun to celebrate right now!

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Share Your Stories!

Throughout World Breastfeeding Month (all of August 2020)

To celebrate and acknowledge all the ways we feed; breastfeed/chestfeed/pump/bottle, AND to encourage other families, we would love to feature YOUR story. We will be posting the stories on our blog and featuring them on our social media. Peer to peer support is so crucial, and right now (due to Covid) this may be missing for some of you. So let's lift each other up and let other parents know that they are not alone! With this project we also hope to amplify the voices of communities who are underrepresented in breastfeeding/chestfeeding/lactation and who are failed to be properly supported by the health care system and community.

Stories should be no longer than 1 page, and if you'd like to share a photo that we can include that would be amazing! Here is a link to some breastfeeding memoirs we have collected for our website in the past.

If you are interested in sharing your experience with feeding your child, please email robinkaplan@sdbfc.com

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Instagram Giveaways!

August 1-7, 2020

We absolutely love giveaways because they allow us to collaborate with amazing and inventive companies/products and share with our SDBFC families and social media community!  This year, instead of having ONE large World Breastfeeding Week giveaway with a bunch of products, we will be launching a monthly giveaway event (name TBD!) so that you can really get to know our favorite companies, their products that make your life easier, and their communities.  We will launch our monthly giveaway event with Teat and Cosset and Baby Tula, both outstanding companies we have collaborated with many times in the past.  Start following them now to learn more about them and stay tuned for the giveaways and our IG stories Q&A takeover!

And, you never know when another fun event will be planned, so stay tuned and happy feeding!

What Happens During a Virtual Breastfeeding Consultation?

Since COVID-19 has sent all of us to ‘shelter in place’, we are getting asked so many questions about our virtual consultations.  Parents want to know what happens during a virtual breastfeeding consultation and how it can be helpful.

So, I wanted to take this opportunity to answer some questions we have been getting about our virtual consultations and explain all that we can accomplish during one.

Let’s get into the questions!

Can a lactation consultant actually help with breastfeeding without being in the same room?

100% yes!  We are total ninjas when it comes to this!  Our ‘detective’ skills and ability to see the whole picture help us understand your situation and concerns even when we can only see each other through our phones/computers!

What happens at a virtual breastfeeding consultation?

Here is how it works at SDBFC

Before your appointment:

1. We send you a video on how to do an oral assessment on your child.  This is how we check for tongue and lip ties and how everything is working in your baby’s mouth.  You can either record yourself doing this assessment on your kiddo and then send it to us before your appt (the preferred method) or we can walk you through this assessment during your consultation.

2. You fill out an intake form so that we have all of your background information and feeding history before we even meet.

During your appointment:

1. We discuss your baby’s oral assessment - which looks at suck, tongue range of motion, and overall oral structure

2. We watch your baby latch and breastfeed, offering advice on positioning and latch, while demonstrating these techniques with our lovely baby dolls.

3. We discuss milk supply and ways to make sure that your baby is getting enough

4. We can help with pumping and flange sizing

5. We co-create a personalized plan of care to help you meet your personal feeding goals.

What type of equipment do I need and is it helpful to have a support person nearby during the consult?

• We use Google Hangouts Meet (HIPAA compliant), so you just need your phone.  A phone is better than a computer because it allows us to get up close to your baby while we are assessing positioning, latch, and sucking rhythm.

• It can be VERY helpful to have a support person with you so that you can just focus on latching/feeding your baby and have someone else hold the phone for you.  Also, partner/family support is more crucial than ever now that we don’t have access to in-person support groups and consultations. Your partner will be included in the conversation and tips will be provided so that they can assist and support you with the feeding process.

How can a lactation consultant assess for tongue tie without putting her fingers in my baby’s mouth?

You actually get to do the oral assessment on your child while either recording a video to send to us, during your consult, or both!  This is actually really awesome because you get to feel what the lactation consultant would normally feel, helping you better understand how your child’s tongue is functioning… either at max capacity or with room for improvement!  We will look for how your baby’s tongue lateralizes, lifts, maintains suction, extends, and cups your finger. We will also view what his/her tongue frenulum and upper lip frenulum look like.

How can a lactation consultant help with positioning and latch during a virtual consult?

Using a baby doll, we can demonstrate positioning techniques, if you need guidance.  Once we evaluate your baby’s latch, we can use verbal recommendations and visuals (such as YouTube videos) to demonstrate how to help your baby achieve a wide latch.

I prefer to learn in-person.  How can I learn from someone without being in the same room?

We feel the same way!  We would prefer to offer an in-person breastfeeding consultation when given the choice.  We thrive while sharing space with a family while working with them. We miss our in-person consultations soooooo much!  Unfortunately, lack of access to PPE has required us to temporarily suspend in-person consultations provided by the San Diego Breastfeeding Center. So, we all have had to fine-tune our assessment and counseling skills to meet your needs and hopefully we will change your mind about learning from someone via the interwebs :-) 

How can we tell if my baby is getting enough without a lactation consultant’s scale?

Now, that is the one downside to virtual consults.  No scale to weigh your baby before and after a feeding.  So, we have to watch your baby carefully while feeding. We will look for jaw movement, suck/swallow ratios, stamina while feeding, and other indicators for milk transfer.  We also might recommend renting a scale from the hospital for weighted feedings for a few days (since there are no in-person support groups to gather this data.) OR you might consider purchasing a scale from Amazon just to track your baby’s weight for a few days, which will give us the information we need to know if your baby is getting enough over a 24 hour period. Also we will be very conservative in our recommendations for supplementation with pumped milk and/or formula.  We will make sure that we do everything we can to ensure that your baby is thriving while we work on the feeding details.

Should I just wait until the ‘shelter in place’ has been lifted so I can meet with a lactation consultant in person?

Definitely not!  Breastfeeding is not fun when it hurts or feels confusing.  We don’t want you to second guess yourself, especially during the heightened pandemic stress we are all under.  With possible formula shortages on the horizon, we want to help you solve your breastfeeding challenges ASAP, as well as be a resource when other feeding questions arise.

So, does that help?

Remember, we accept Aetna PPO, Tricare, and UCSD HMOs. Also, we have an amazing sliding scale, so if our cash prices are a deterrent, please call our office (619-724-4117) so that we can offer you a sliding scale rate.  

What other questions do you have about our virtual breastfeeding consultations?  I would be happy to answer them for you!

Breastfeeding During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Covid-19 has caused an unprecedented change in how we as lactation consultants are able to support breastfeeding families.  It seems like every day there is new information and new recommendations for breastfeeding parents on what is considered safe when breastfeeding during this pandemic.  We just don’t have enough information about this novel coronavirus. Research is being conducted everyday to help guide these new protocols for breastfeeding families.  The constant change in recommendations is based on whatever new information doctors and specialists feel creates the safest environment for families, but feels confusing both to us as lactation consultants and as parents.  

So, here is what we at SDBFC can do for you. 

We can direct you to the most current information and recommendations for breastfeeding during Covid-19 on our new webpage.  We can sift through the complicated language and summarize how this impacts you as a breastfeeding family. My plan is to update our website whenever there is a change in recommendations for breastfeeding families, so that you don’t have to hunt down this information yourself. 

You have enough to do. Let us help lighten the load.

Please, keep in mind….I am not an epidemiologist or physician.  I am definitely not an expert on Covid-19. I am an IBCLC who has been collecting information through webinars and websites, like the CDC, WHO, Mother to Baby, ABM, AAP, USBC, and CBC to share the best resources for you and your family when making a decision about breastfeeding during Covid-19.

With limited in-person monitoring of infants by healthcare providers, breastfeeding support from an IBCLC is critical to make sure that a parent’s milk supply is meeting baby’s needs and that baby is feeding well to promote optimal growth and development.  Virtual consultations with an IBCLC will provide breastfeeding parents with the information and guidance they need to provide breastmilk to their children.  

If you or someone you know is pregnant, let them know about our virtual Preparing to Breastfeed class.  We are offering if every 2 weeks, since all in-person breastfeeding classes has been cancelled.  And it is LIVE and super interactive! You don’t even have to live in San Diego to participate!

If you or someone you know is struggling with breastfeeding, sign up for one of our virtual breastfeeding consultations.  You would be shocked at all we can accomplish through videoconferencing and we will make sure that you have someone to rely on for infant feeding support until you can meet with your pediatrician or an IBCLC in person.

Wishing you and your family good health and safety! Please know we are here to support you in any way that we can!

Warmly,

Robin Kaplan, Owner of the San Diego Breastfeeding Center

Lactation Support during COVID 19 - Let's Get Virtual!

With new Shelter in Place restrictions, the San Diego Breastfeeding Center has decided that it will be safer for our staff and our clients if we all stay at home.

So, starting today, our physical space is temporarily closed, but our virtual space is WIDE OPEN! We are doing everything we can to provide the same high-quality, judgment-free breastfeeding support that we have offered in person for the past 10 years… just DIGITALLY.

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Virtual Breastfeeding Consultations

For those of you looking for an individual breastfeeding consultation from an expert IBCLC, book one of our VIRTUAL BREASTFEEDING CONSULTATIONS. You’d be shocked on all we can accomplish without being in the same room!

Each virtual breastfeeding consultation includes an oral assessment on your baby (Yep! We can do those virtually!), positioning and latch assessment/recommendations, milk supply/sore nipple remedies, and a personalized plan of care. We can also do prenatal consultations and pump flange fittings, as we do these virtually all of the time!

As always, all appointments come with 2 weeks of free email support. And, we can still bill your insurance (Tricare and Aetna PPO) and have our sliding scale for those families with financial needs. If our appointments do not fit within your budget due to financial constraints, PLEASE call our office to find out the rate on our sliding scale!

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Virtual Breastfeeding Support Groups

For those of you who love support groups and are looking to stay connected with other breastfeeding parents while getting some breastfeeding help along the way, pop into one of our VIRTUAL BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUPS! Our community of local IBCLCs are hosting a free meeting, Monday-Friday, from noon-1pm. Click on this calendar link, choose the day, and then ask to Join Hangouts Meet.

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Virtual Prenatal Breastfeeding Classes

For those expectant parents wanting to prepare for breastfeeding without an in-person class to go to, check out our VIRTUAL PREPARING TO BREASTFEED CLASS. Taught LIVE by Robin Kaplan, owner of the San Diego Breastfeeding Center (and author of LATCH), this class will get you excited about breastfeeding! From latch and positioning to preventing common breastfeeding concerns, Robin helps you and your partner prepare a breastfeeding plan that works best for your family. Facts and myths will be addressed as you get the tools and resources you need to confidently start your breastfeeding journey.

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Don’t let breastfeeding challenges exacerbate during COVID19. Please reach out for help! We are here to support you along your breastfeeding journey and want to do everything we can to help make this part of your life a little bit easier!