I am new to the area and have a 1 week old little girl. Despite my best efforts at breastfeeding, doing a lot of reading and trying to apply it, etc, I am still having issues getting my daughter latched on correctly so I don't experience any pain. I had the same type of issues when first nursing my son (who is now 2.5 years old). I was hoping some other moms who've had similar difficulties might be able to recommend a good lactation consultant in the Cupertino area who can help me work through this. I am looking for someone who can give "hands on" help and build up my confidence so I can be a breastfeeding success story. I delivered at El Camino and found the lactation consultants there (called Maternal Connections) useless...all they did was provide me with pamphlets. I want someone who will be supportive and help me through this....not someone who makes me feel like a failure (I'm doing a good enough job feeling like that on my own!!!)
PLEASE contact the Parenting and Breastfeed center at Good Samaritain Hospital. They have a breastfeeding session every Tuesday at the hospital from 2-4pm. It is not that far away. You could also try the Harmony Birth Center in Campbell. Good luck.
Los Gatos Hospital (Sandi Miller) they have a class every Thursday at 2:30 to 4 and it's free!!! talk to Sandi she is the head of the dept. and she's awesome.
Good Luck :o)
Try Harmony Birth Resources on Campbell Ave. They are a great place for new moms to find anything they need. Two products for sore nipples that I love are bamboobino nursing pads that feel like cashmere available at tiny tots on railway ave in campbell and motherlove nipple cream is the best.
there is a great breastfeeding store at good sam hospital in los gatos that has wonderful lactation consultants.
I was able to get help with my first and third child at El Camino hospital also. I'm surprised you had such a bad experience with them. Perhaps it's worth another try? I believe they have more than one consultant. Also, I think some of the ladies that work there are not actually lactation consultants, but they support them (with sales and making appts, etc.) Maybe it was a member of the support staff that tried to "help" you? If you do try Maternal Connections again, call ahead for an appt with a lactation consultant.
Are you using a nursing pillow? When my third was having trouble latching on, they suggested switching from the "Boppy" pillow I was using to "My Breast Friend" pillow. I was amazed that it actually made a difference.
I know how difficult it is to nurse in pain! I hope you are able to find a solution soon.
-D.
Johanna Koch at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation is very good. I've also been to Seqouia and they were also very helpful.
In Palo Alto there's an awesome resource center called Day One Center. They have lactation consultants who are supposed to be awesome.
Pat at Good Sam is awesome. You can get free advice from her on Tuesdays from 2-4 in the auditorium in the basement. Just show up and when your little one needs to nurse, interrupt Pat and tell her you need her to look at your latch. She will drop everything to help folks with latch problems. This is her policy, so don't be afraid to pull her away from something else.
Another resource in Blossom Birth in Palo Alto. Call them and ask how to get a hold of Cindy Howard for a consult.
I saw several lactation consultants right after I gave birth, but I couldn't get a good latch until I saw Joanna Koch through Palo Alto Medical Foundation. She's very reassuring. She helped position my baby, got him to suckle correctly for the first time, and she weighed him before and after to measure how much he drank. I had almost given up, and she helped turn the situation around! She works out of the main PAMF clinic in Palo Alto, and I think I have her home office number if you need it.
In the meantime, you can keep your milk supply up by pumping every 2-3 hours. My son's 5 months old now, and I still produce a lot of milk, even though I work full time. I think establishing a good supply early on has helped me. Good luck with nursing your little one!
Did you try setting up a one on one appt at Maternal Connections? I was able to get help there. I thought they did a pretty good job.
I am not familiar with consultants in the Cupertino area, specifically, but can recommend a few resources for you. I have a newborn as well and have been trying to learn as much as I can about a good latch and overall good breastfeeding practices and success.
O'Connor Hospital offers a new mothers' support group which focuses on breastfeeding support. I have attended twice and find it helpful - group discussion as well as individual support/coaching. Mondays, 11:00am-12:30pm.
Here is a link w/info (scroll down toward bottom of page):
http://www.oconnorhospital.org/yourhealth/Pages/ClassesPr...
Good Samaritan Hospital offers a breastfeeding support group. I just learned about this from another mother, and she highly recommended the lactation consultant/nurse that facilitates the group. Tuesdays, 2-4pm. Here is a link w/info:
http://www.parentingandbreastfeeding.com/SupportGroup1.htm
Individual consultant: Janet Dombro (IBCLC)
###-###-#### or ____@____.com
Janet worked w/me in an individual consult at my home, and it was very helpful...and I may need to contact her again for a follow up.
Hope this helps. Would welcome knowing what resources you find to help you. Good luck!
E.,
There is a great team of nurses at Good Sam Hospital off 85. They have a support group on Tuesday afternoons that is free and really helpful and then if necessary, you can hire one of the consultants. They are very generous with their time and will do some individual check ins over the phone, help with latch, help with details, etc. at the group meeting. They are great!
S.
I'm sorry and surprised you had a bad experience at El Camino. However, Maternal Connections really does have a great group of lactation consultants if you make a private appointment. I had the same problem with latching my first child, saw a lactation consultant in Palo Alto (Joanna Koch) who was not very helpful and made me feel like a failure too, so when I had my second a year ago I saw a consultant at Maternal Connections. The consultant was patient and supportive and gave me a lot of good tips. She was "hands-on" and seemed very experienced. I was able to successfully nurse my second with no problems for a full year. And don't forget nursing is never totally "pain-free" for the first month, no matter what they tell you, there is some degree of pain until your nipples get accustomed to nursing. I also recommend you use lanolin on your nipples, this stuff helped me tremendously in easing the pain! I would give Maternal Connections a second chance and make sure to have a private consultation. I believe this is different that what is offered to you while in the hospital. You are never a failure for trying to do your best, Good Luck!
I recall hearing every nursing mom goes through a week or so of unbearable soreness then it subsides. I was amazed what a challenge it was but in the end so rewarding. If you want a free consulover the hone you may want to call la leche. Best of luck to you!
I LOVE Sandi and Jennifer at Los Gatos Community Hospital!
