Valori Sharp

(SHE/HER) IBCLC (pending), Certified Postpartum Doula

Valori completed her training to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) through the University of California, San Diego in 2026. She has been part of the San Diego Breastfeeding Center team since 2023, serving as the Administrative Assistant and support group leader. 

In addition to her role at SDBFC, Valori provides postpartum support and education with a special focus on overnight newborn care for families throughout East San Diego County.

Born and raised in San Diego, Valori has called the small mountain town of Pine Valley home for more than a decade. Valori and her husband are raising two daughters. When she's not supporting families, you'll usually find her tending to her garden, coffee in hand, listening to a good audiobook.

Valori’s Story: 

My passion for lactation and postpartum support grew from two very different experiences of motherhood.

I became a mom at 17, completely unprepared for what came after birth. My postpartum recovery was difficult, but breastfeeding was by far the hardest part. Yet I had no idea lactation professionals even existed. After concerns about my baby's weight, I was told to stop breastfeeding immediately because I was "starving my baby." Those were the exact words used (ouch!), and they're forever burned into my memory. Without education or support, I gave up breastfeeding and quickly spiraled into postpartum depression, a journey that took nearly six years to heal from.

Thirteen years later, when my husband and I decided to grow our family, I was determined to have a different experience. Then, the same week I found out I was pregnant, COVID shut the world down. Once again, I found myself navigating pregnancy feeling isolated, attending appointments alone, and struggling to access the education and support I knew I needed.

This time, I became my own advocate. I immersed myself in learning everything I could about breastfeeding and postpartum recovery. Although breastfeeding still had its challenges, we found our rhythm. With the education and support I needed, I built a full milk supply, nourished my own daughter, and had the unexpected privilege of also providing supplemental breast milk for my niece, who was born just 10 days before her.

Those two experiences taught me just how life-changing compassionate, evidence-based support can be during the postpartum period. Today, I have the privilege of being the support person I once desperately needed.