UC San Diego Health hospitals are committed to supporting families who choose to breastfeed. We combine the unique skills of physicians, nurse practitioners, certified lactation consultants and lactation educators. We encourage all mothers to hold their babies skin-to-skin right after delivery if they are stable, and allow them to nurse in that first hour when they are very alert.
Services provided by our lactation experts include:
- Prenatal consultations
- Postpartum personal instruction (available seven days a week for hospital inpatients)
- Assistance for babies with health issues or developmental delay
- Assistance with multiple births
- Assistance with premature babies
- Information about drugs and breastfeeding
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Breastfeeding class (take during pregnancy) and
breastfeeding support group (after baby is born)
- Lactation appointments for moms and babies needing help after discharge
Meet Our Outpatient Lactation Specialists
After you leave the hospital, you might need extra support from one of our lactation experts:
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Michelle L. Leff, MD, IBCLC, FAAP – pediatrician and certified lactation consultant
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Piper Sandel, MD, MPH – pediatrician and certified lactation consultant
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Eyla Boies, MD – pediatrician specializing in premature infants and breastfeeding
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Erin H. Walsh, MA, CCC-SLP, IBCLC, BCS-S – speech-language pathologist and lactation consultant
UC San Diego Health does not accept free formula from baby formula companies. Instead, we purchase it for infants who are not breastfed, have special medical conditions or need additional supplementation. We also can provide donor breast milk to postpartum moms who need to supplement their breast milk supply.
UC Milk Bank
We partner with the
UC Health Milk Bank to accept donations of breast milk for hospitalized or fragile children who need it. The non-profit milk bank accepts donated frozen breast milk and processes it to feed sick, premature or young infants when their mother lacks sufficient milk supply for their nutritional needs.
Call 858-249-MILK (6455) for more information.
Breast Pump Rentals
Patients and community members can
rent hospital-grade breast pumps and buy breastfeeding supplies at our hospital gift shops.