Help! My baby won’t take a bottle!
Is your breastfed baby refusing bottles? Don’t panic! Dive into some reasons a nursing baby rejects the bottle and some tips to remedy bottle-feeding aversion.
Originally published on June 24, 2019; Revised August 27, 2024
Author: Robin Kaplan, M.Ed, IBCLC, FNC
Photo by Brytny.com on Unsplash
So your breastfed baby is refusing bottles. Isn’t the typical concern that a breastfeeding/chestfeeding baby may prefer bottles over nursing and not the other way around? While breastfeeding refusal can happen as well, any type of feeding rejection is your baby’s way of communicating that something is feeling challenging. So let’s dive into some of the reasons why a nursing baby rejects the bottle and some tips to remedy a bottle feeding aversion.
ABOUT SDBFC
The San Diego Breastfeeding Center was established in 2009 by Robin Kaplan, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Functional Nutritionist, and parent. Her vision was to create a judgment-free, inclusive support system for families navigating infant feeding challenges.
SDBFC offers a wide range of one-on-one breastfeeding, infant feeding, and nutrition consultations - as well as classes, support groups, online articles, and social media - making it your one-stop-shop for all things infant feeding!
Why do babies refuse to take bottles?
All babies are born with an innate sucking reflex. This is the reflex that causes them to start suckling as soon as something (nipple, finger, bottle, pacifier) is placed in their mouth. Well, that innate sucking reflex at some point becomes integrated, usually between 8-12 weeks old, making it such that the baby now decides whether he/she wants to suck, rather than relying on the reflex. And if your baby hasn’t practiced bottle feeding before the reflex is integrated, they might have no interest in trying out this new feeding skill.
Tips to overcome bottle rejection with an older baby:
Try offering when your baby is sleepy - this is when the innate sucking reflex comes back temporarily!
Change the temperature - maybe warming the milk will be more enticing
Try some distraction techniques - face your baby away from you, try lying your baby on their side, bounce on a yoga ball, go outside for a distraction, have an older sibling show the baby a toy or book
Offer your baby just the bottle nipple (no milk in the bottle), after nursing. Think of this as playful practice, which removes the stress and keeps this low pressure. Once you find a bottle nipple that your baby is willing to suck on without milk, then offer the bottle with milk the next time around.
Your baby doesn’t like that particular bottle nipple or flow
Bottle nipples come in many different shapes, sizes, and flow rates. Don’t fall for the marketing hype when the bottle packaging says that it is ‘just like the breast.’ If your baby is struggling with the flow of milk coming out or cannot form a good seal around the bottle nipple, that is going to feel very frustrating to him/her and could cause bottle refusal of that particular bottle(s)
Tips to overcome bottle rejection when your baby doesn’t like the bottle nipple or flow:
Focus on what your baby does when you put the bottle into his/her mouth.
If his/her lips don’t form a great seal around the bottle nipple (milk spilling out of the sides of her/his mouth, lips curled under, etc), choose a different shaped nipple/bottle.
If he/she looks overwhelmed by the milk flow (eyes bugging out, hands splaying, etc), go with a slower flowing nipple or switch to a completely different bottle brand. And practice paced bottle feeding
If your baby is struggling to get milk out of the bottle, move up to a higher nipple size to see if that helps.
Pumped milk has excess lipase in it
Does your pumped milk smell soapy, metallic, or sour? Was your baby willing to take freshly pumped milk before he/she started rejecting the bottle? It’s possible that your milk might have excess lipase. Lipase is a natural enzyme that breaks down fats in pumped milk, making it easier for babies to digest. However, when lipase levels are too high, it can cause the fats in milk to break down faster, especially when stored in cool temperatures. This can change the taste and smell of the milk, making it less appealing to babies.
Tips for overcoming bottle rejection due to excess lipase:
First, you’ll want to figure out when your milk starts to become sour.
Next, you can scald your milk to deactivate the lipase, stopping it from souring your milk.
Then, you will want to practice with the bottle nipple (like in the recommendations above) to demonstrate to your baby that bottle nipple doesn’t equal sour milk flavor.
Once your baby is willing to practice with the bottle nipple (without milk in it) then offer a bottle with non-sour milk.
Your baby has a tongue tie, upper lip tie, or high palate
Variations in oral anatomy can sometimes make bottle feeding challenging. Some tongue ties restrict the way a baby extends or wraps his/her tongue around a firm bottle nipple, making it more difficult to extract milk from the bottle. Some upper lip ties restrict the way a baby’s upper lip flanges, making it more difficult to form a good seal around a bottle nipple. Some high palates are very sensitive, causing a baby to gag when a long bottle nipple touches that particular spot at the roof of the mouth.
Tips for overcoming bottle rejection due to a tongue tie, upper lip tie, or high palate:
Work with a lactation consultant to identify which bottle might be most comfortable and effective for your baby, based on his/her oral anatomy, while protecting your nursing relationship.
Work with a lactation consultant to evaluate whether a tongue and/or upper lip tie release would be helpful for bottle feeding (as well as continued breastfeeding and solid food feeding).
Work with an Occupational Therapist or SLP who specializes in alternative bottle feeding methods for babies
If you’ve tried a few of these tricks and your baby is still refusing the bottle, STOP! It’s important to not force the issue or it could become very difficult to resolve. Your baby is trying to communicate that it is time to bring in a lactation consultant who has extra training in bottle refusal (like all of the lactation consultants at SDBFC!)
If your baby is refusing a bottle, we are just a consult away!
Don’t let bottle feeding struggles cause stress for you or your baby! Our consultants can help identify the root cause(s) of why your baby isn’t taking a bottle and can offer suggestions for ways to overcome these challenges! At each bottle feeding appointment, our lactation consultants complete a full oral assessment, try a variety of bottle nipples, and offer strategies for helping your baby build bottle feeding skills. Book a one-on-one bottle feeding consultation today
SDBFC is committed to providing high-quality lactation and functional nutrition consultations to parents in San Diego and beyond. Explore our postpartum, prenatal, and functional nutrition consultations, take a breastfeeding class or attend a workshop.
About the Author
Robin Kaplan has been an IBCLC since 2009, the same year that she opened up the San Diego Breastfeeding Center. Robin was the founding host of the Boob Group podcast and published her first book, Latch: a Handbook for Breastfeeding with Confidence at Every Stage in 2018. Melding her passions for supporting lactating parents and holistic health, Robin finished her Functional Nutrition Certification in 2023. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her two teenage boys, hiking, traveling, weaving, cooking, and searching for the best chai latte.
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San Diego Latch On Meet Up
Learn more about chest/breastfeeding, meet other like-minded parents and chat with our San Diego lactation consultants at the 2024 San Diego Latch On.
It’s All a Latch 2024!
The San Diego Latch On is back. In honor of National Breastfeeding Month, let's celebrate all things lactation with your local San Diego lactation professionals.
Lactation isn’t one size fits all. Whether you’re using your breast/chest, pump, or a bottle (or maybe a combination of all three!), every feeding moment is a latch. So pack whatever you need for your latch and let’s celebrate the magic of human milk together!
FAQs
When is the San Diego Latch On?
The San Diego Latch On event will take place on Saturday, August 24, 2024 from 9a-10:30a. Official ‘Latch On’ will take place at 10a. This is where we will count how many of you latch all at the same time!
Where will the San Diego Latch On take place?
Tierrasanta Rec Center - 11220 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92120. In the shade, right next to the playground
Is there a charge to participate?
Not at all! This meet-up is totally FREE!
Can I bring my family or is this just for latching parents and child/ren?
This is a totally family-friendly meet up! There will be plenty of things to keep older children entertained, so bring them all! Also, this Meet Up is BYOB (bring your own blanket, beverage (coffee, water, tea, etc), and baby)
Do I need to register?
Yes, please!
Where is the exact location for the Meet Up?
Get Ready for San Diego’s Biggest Lactation Meet Up of the Year!
Building Your Lactation Team: Empower your Journey with Community and Family Support
It takes a village to raise a family.
In a perfect world, all parents would feel supported in their infant feeding decisions and practices, but that often is not the case. Even those with the best intentions can sabotage a lactating parent’s journey with an unsupportive statement or unthoughtful question.
So, how can you make sure you're getting the support you need from your partner, healthcare providers, and community to help you experience the best lactation journey possible?
Open Communication with Your Partner
Teamwork: Start by sharing your chest/breastfeeding goals with your partner. Establish yourselves as a united front and make decisions together. This joint effort helps in setting a strong foundation for your chest/breastfeeding journey. Together, inform family members about your goals and ask for support as needed.
Education Together: Consider taking a prenatal chest/breastfeeding class as a couple. This will equip both of you with the knowledge and understanding of the chest/breastfeeding process, making your partner feel more involved and prepared to support you.
Regular Check-ins: Encourage your partner to ask how they can support you, whether it’s through moral support, running errands, or simply being a sounding board. Sometimes, a kind word, a snack, or a gentle back rub can make a world of difference.
Bonding Time:Help your partner build their own unique bond with the baby during exclusive chest/breastfeeding by actively interacting, carrying, cuddling and caring for the baby. Find soothing techniques, like babywearing and infant massage, that they feel confident using with the baby.
Support from Your OBGYN/Midwife
Finding the Right Practitioner: Choose an OBGYN or midwife who is lactation supportive, knowledgeable, and unbiased. This person will be crucial in guiding you both before and after the birth of your baby.
Understanding Your History: Your practitioner should be aware of your medical or personal history that may impact chest/breastfeeding and provide strategies to overcome potential challenges.
Accurate Information: Ensure they are up-to-date with the latest information on medications and chest/breastfeeding to avoid unnecessary interruptions or recommendations to discontinue.
Community Connections: They should also connect you with community-based lactation support to provide continuous care and support, when needed.
Choosing a Supportive Pediatrician
Aligned Values: Select a pediatrician who respects and supports your chest/breastfeeding goals. This alignment will ensure you don’t have to filter through unsupportive advice during your visits.
Informed Recommendations: Your pediatrician should provide you with well-informed current rationales for formula and/or donor milk supplementation and not prescribe infant formula without a proper medical indication or your desire.
Collaborative Care: A pediatrician willing to work with your entire care team ensures a cohesive support system for you and your baby.
Working with a Judgment-Free Lactation Consultant
Your Goals Matter: An unbiased lactation consultant will start each interaction by asking what YOU would like to accomplish in your appointment and what YOUR overall goal is for chest/breastfeeding/providing human milk and tailor their support accordingly.
Continuous Learning: Choose a consultant who is committed to expanding their clinical knowledge to provide you with the best possible recommendations and care.
Coordinated Support: They should be able to connect you with other healthcare providers to offer comprehensive and coordinated infant feeding care when additional support is needed.
Feeling Heard: Most importantly, you should feel seen, heard and supported throughout your chest/breastfeeding journey. Any challenges you experience should be addressed with a clear, achievable plan.
Providing your milk to your child is a beautiful, yet sometimes challenging journey that becomes so much more rewarding and accomplishable with the right people by your side. Embrace open communication with your partner, choose healthcare providers who truly understand and champion your goals, and find a knowledgeable lactation consultant who inspires confidence. By surrounding yourself with a nurturing network, you create an empowering environment for you and your baby to thrive. You deserve all the love, encouragement, and empowerment every step of the way.
San Diego Latch On Event 2023 - WHO'S READY???
Learn more about the 2023 San Diego Latch On event, our signature event for breastfeeding support in San Diego and beyond.
Are you ready to find out the details for the
San Diego Latch On 2023?
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 - First 5 San Diego, Kindred Bravely, Baby Tula, Little Star Dentistry, and UCSD Extended Studies, 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!), check out the Babywearing Demo and Parent/Me Yoga, 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 lactation support, regardless of economic status or ethnicity. But we know there is still racial and economic disparity with regards to access and representation in both lactation support and other crucial pre/postpartum healthcare.
That is why our Foundation provides free/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.
FAQs
When is the San Diego Latch On?
The San Diego Latch On event will take place on Saturday, August 5, 2023 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!
Where can I find more information?
Our Eventbrite page will have all of the most updated details, such as info about T-shirts, goodie bag swag, and the auction!
Do I need to register?
Yes, please!
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, heavily relies 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 - Yvonne Caycedo
Meet Yvonne Caycedo, SDBFC’s newest IBCLC! Yvonne has broad experience having worked at a birth center, as a nanny and caregiver for the elderly, Lactation Educator, and now a Lactation Consultant.
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.
Welcome to the team, Yvonne!
Meet SDBFC's Newest IBCLC - Erin Thom
We are so thrilled to introduce you to our newest lactation consultant at SDBFC! Erin joined us on April 3, 2023 and will start seeing her own clients on May 22, 2023! Here is our interview with Erin. We can't wait for you all to meet her!
Erin, tell us about yourself!
I was born in Covina and raised in Whittier, CA. I graduated from La Habra high school, and unsure of what I wanted to do, I decided to attend community college. I struggled to find my path, changed my major what felt like a million times, and went to college off and on throughout my 20s. In between being a student, I fancied myself an avid traveler, and would try to go to one international location a year. I saw beautiful places and had many life experiences by the end of my 20’s. I returned to college full time at the young age of 29 as a nutritional science major and graduated with my bachelor’s in nutritional science from California State University of Los Angeles with honors. While in my bachelor’s program, I served as the President of the Student Health Advisory committee, was an active member of the student dietetics committee and volunteered at several local hospitals as well as a food pantry we had set up on campus. One of my volunteer locations was at St. Mary’s in Long Beach, where I worked with local HIV/AIDs positive members of the community to assist them with their diet plans and ensure they had access to adequate nutrition. After graduating, I had every intention of taking a year off before returning for my master’s degree to become a registered dietitian. As with all best laid plans, life had other plans and I got pregnant 3 months after graduating!
What inspired you to become a lactation consultant?
As stated above, I became pregnant 3 months after graduating with my bachelor’s degree. At the time, I knew very little about motherhood, breastfeeding, and birth plans. I decided to throw myself fully into the pursuit of knowledge of all things prenatal and postpartum. I wanted to feel empowered in my birth, mothering, and breastfeeding journeys. I began reading everything from Ina May to Maya Bolman. I knew early on I wanted to breastfeed and in the midst of it all I decided to switch gears and pursue an education in lactation. Thus, I enrolled at UCSD and became a lactation counselor at 9 months pregnant. I gave birth to my son Wylder with few complications but within a few days, our breastfeeding journey got rocky. Breastfeeding was painful and I did not seek out help because I thought as a lactation counselor, I could manage it internally. I lacked the hands-on knowledge and extensive training that lactation consultants have to be able to navigate the bumps in the road we were encountering. I experienced a lot of pain for the first few months of breastfeeding; however, I managed to persevere and made it to 18 months of breastfeeding. I knew from my experience I wanted to further my education to become a lactation consultant and help moms like me. I returned to UCSD and began taking various medical training courses. Ultimately, I went on to complete my lactation consulting training and passed my board exam in 2021. I am very passionate about empowering and guiding lactating persons on their personal breastfeeding journey.
What are you most excited about working for the SDBFC?
I think most lactation consultants would agree with me when I say, we do not go down this path to get rich; lactation consulting is a career of passion. To put it simply, I love what I do. I am most excited to further my education at SDBFC and continue to grow and refine my skills as a lactation consultant. SDBFC emphasizes and encourages employees to further their education via attendance seminars, participation in classes, etc., to ensure we are always giving the most current and best evidence-based recommendations to our clients. I am eager to learn and ecstatic for the new knowledge I will attain working at SDBFC. I love that SDBFC strives to service families of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. I am excited for the diversity and range of clientele I will have the privilege of assisting as a lactation consultant at SDBFC.
What are your top 3 tips for a brand new chest/breastfeeding parent?
Give yourself grace and be kind to yourself. You just created and brought a human being into the world – you are a Rockstar!
Tools are our friends. Tools, like nipple shields, can get a bad rap but they can be really useful in aiding someone in continuing or furthering their chest/breastfeeding journey.
ALL human milk counts! Your chest/breastfeeding journey might not look exactly like you had planned, but remember that every drop of human milk you are able to provide for your baby matters!
Welcome to the team, Erin!
Model Call for Family Photo Shoot
SDBFC and SDBFC Foundation are hosting a professional photo shoot in a few weeks and are looking for 10 parents/babies of varying ages to participate. The photographer will be taking breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding photos, so you are still welcome to apply even if you are not nursing at this time.
These photos will be used by the San Diego Breastfeeding Center and the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation (our nonprofit) on our website, social media, and marketing materials. Our goal is to show the diversity of families in our community. As a 'thank you' for participating, each family will receive 5 digital images that your can print on your own.
If you are interested, here are the details:
Date: Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Time and Location:
12:30-1:30p Southeast Clinic with Chardá (704 Euclid Ave, San Diego, 92114)
2p-3p SD Community Birth Center with Jarrah Foster (2801 Fourth Ave, San Diego, 92103)
4p-6p San Diego Breastfeeding Center with SDBFC Staff (8325 University Ave. La Mesa, 91942)
Requirements: Each family must sign a photo release form prior to the photo shoot, giving SDBFC and SDBFC Foundation permission to use any of the photos on our websites, social media, and marketing materials.
If interested, please send an email to info@sdbfc.com by May 16, 2023. Include:
Your name
Phone number
Age of your baby
A photo of you, your partner (if he/she would like to be photographed, as well), and your baby. This can totally be a photo from your phone....doesn't have to be professional!.
Indicate while clinic photo shoot you would like to attend
Indicate whether you are comfortable being photographed while breastfeeding. Not all photos will be of breastfeeding families, so it is still possible to participate even if you have already weaned or your baby is not breastfeeding at this time :-)
Once we know who is interested, we will choose 10 families based on infant's age. We are hoping for a nice variety of age groups! We will be contacting chosen participants by May 19, 2023.
FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW SDBFCF CLINIC IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO!
Last week we celebrated a MAJOR MILESTONE as part of our Foundation’s Three Year Strategic Growth Plan! In an effort to INCREASE ACCESS to equitable and affordable lactation support in San Diego’s “first food deserts,” it has been our mission to expand our services to Southeast San Diego. On Tuesday December 13th, we did just that!! We welcomed friends, colleagues and community members into our newest Foundation clinic space in Southeast San Diego during a lovely open house! Located inside Access Youth Academy and led by the incredible Chardá Bell, IBCLC, CBE, CD, this clinic will offer a FREE weekly chest/breastfeeding support group that starts on Jan. 3rd, 2023 and, starting in February 2023, FREE or low-cost private lactation consultations!
Here are some thoughts from Chardá:
“Last year I wrote about how Black families, particularly in Southeast San Diego, often do not have access to breastfeeding support when they are struggling with challenges. Well thanks to some major work in the community, things have changed. In a collaborative effort, the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation and Global Communities have now created a weekly breastfeeding support group to fill this gap and reduce disparities through increased ease of access. But that’s not the best part, keep reading!
“Healthy Start contracts with the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation to provide amazing FREE lactation consults to its participants and that individualized help is critical. Yet another thing that is just as important is being able to see someone else who looks like you doing the same thing, going through similar situations, so you don’t feel so alone and have the strength to continue. These parents didn’t have a place to go after/between consults where they felt comfortable to share with other peers the struggles and joys of breastfeeding while Black. These struggles are unique barriers experienced most frequently among Black women and are reported to include but not limited to: lack of social, work, and cultural acceptance, language and literacy barriers for our Black diverse populations, and overall lack of access to information that promotes and supports breastfeeding, acculturation, and lifestyle choices.
Not to mention the disincentive to breastfeed due to the disproportionate rate of infant formula distribution to Black mothers in the hospitals.
“My goal has always been to get a support group in my hometown of Southeast San Diego, a mid-size area of the county, that is predominantly African American, low income to upper middle class, with some military families. I’m proud to be assisting in the opening of the first breastfeeding support clinic in Southeast San Diego; through steady exposure, easy access to support, and most importantly free support available to those who need it most. These resources will empower Black families and make chest/breastfeeding a traditional norm again. By improving chest/breastfeeding rates within the Black community, we will be achieving better overall health and well-being while reducing racial inequities for our entire community.”
THIS IS THE WORK we are so excited to be a part of, and it truly wouldn’t be possible without the consistent grassroots support we receive every year from YOU, our community members! If you’re as excited about this clinic as we are - NOW IS THE TIME to help us! Let’s ride this momentum all the way to our $15,000 end of year goal!
BEST Way to Celebrate Giving Tuesday - Supporting Local Chest/Breastfeeding Families!
When I started the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation in 2016, my mission was to remove racial and economic barriers for BIPOC and low-income chest/breastfeeding families in San Diego. After years of witnessing barrier after barrier for these families, I decided to BE the change, rather than just talk about what needed to change.
However, this change would NEVER have been possible without funding from our loving clients and family, our major donors, and community partners. With YOUR generous donations, paired with grants from Impact Partners, The Jem Project, Postpartum Health Alliance, Kaiser Family Foundation, Global Communities, San Diego Women Give, United Healthcare, Kindred Bravely, Little Star Pediatric Dentistry, and the California Endowment, look at all we have accomplished!
Since 2016, SDBFC Foundation has provided over 1300 free/reduced-fee lactation consultations for BIPOC and low-income families.
Since 2021, we have provided 16 scholarships to BIPOC individuals to further their education in becoming a lactation professional in their communities; professionals to finally provide culturally-congruent, low-barrier care.
In 2022, we opened 2 lactation clinics; one in the San Diego Community Birth Center (the ONLY black-owned birth center in San Diego) and one in Southeast San Diego (to be announced next month!)
None of these accomplishments could have happened without support from our amazing community, whom we are so grateful for! Will you help us continue this momentum into 2023?
$25 pays for pump supplies during a lactation consultation
$50 pays for staffing a breastfeeding support group
$100 pays for one lactation consultation
$1500 pays for a scale for a new BIPOC lactation consultant
We still have so much work to do. Will you join us in changing the landscape of Chest/Breastfeeding Support in San Diego?
MAKE YOUR AMAZON PURCHASES REALLY COUNT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!
DID YOU KNOW….
While 93% of parents start breastfeeding exclusively at birth in San Diego, only 56% continue doing so at 3 months, largely due to a lack of access and financial resources to ongoing lactation support.
You can help marginalized families gain access to life changing chest/breastfeeding support by purchasing Amazon items online, just by shopping through smile.amazon.com instead of amazon.com!
GUESS HOW EASY THIS IS???
We are asking you to take 60 seconds of your time today to designate the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation as your charitable recipient for Amazon Smile. All you have to do is go to their website (smile.amazon.com) and choose the San Diego Breastfeeding Center Foundation as your Amazon Smile charitable recipient. Then as you make your holiday purchases, and regular purchases throughout the year, the SDBFC Foundation will receive 0.5% of every purchase, at no extra cost to you. We turn Amazon’s money into barrier free lactation consultations for low-income and BIPOC families in need!
***From your desktop, go to smile.amazon.com and you will be prompted to choose a charity. Just type in our name!
***You can also register on the Amazon app! Open the app and find ’Settings’ in the main menu (☰). Tap on ‘AmazonSmile’ and follow the on-screen instructions to turn on AmazonSmile on your phone.
Your Amazon Smile purchases can help families, like Shelby’s, get the chest/breastfeeding support they deserve!
“I was really struggling with breastfeeding. It was painful, the latch looked fine but the engorgement was not going away. I was desperate for help. My husband was in school, I worked part time and everyone was telling us we needed to see a lactation consultant but we could not afford it. Around 4 weeks postpartum was when I discovered San Diego Breastfeeding Center. I was shocked that they had a program drastically discounted that we had access to. It made such a difference to meet with a consultant who was so present and kind to our struggles. What I found really helpful was nursing my son on location and weighing him to see how much he was taking in. We received great tips on how to help the engorgement and how to start pumping to introduce a bottle. Once we left we felt encouraged, empowered and more present on how to feed our son. It was such a blessing to have the available resource at such a discounted price.” - Shelby
Wishing you all the best during this giving season!
Warmly,
Robin, Brie and Gaby
Bottlefeeding a breastfed baby can feel completely overwhelming. But with our lactation consultant tips, it doesn’t have to be! Explore all our bottlefeeding advice in this Bottle Feeding FAQ article.