OBGYN, Pregnancy and Childbirth Care

Breastfeeding Education and Consultation

All prenatal classes, hospital tours and outpatient support groups at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, and Sharp Grossmont Hospital are canceled until further notice. We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak with health officials at all levels to determine when in-person events can resume.

We appreciate your understanding as we continue to focus on the health and safety of our patients, staff, caregivers and community.

With breastfeeding comes questions. We're here to answer all of them.

If you're a new mom, or soon will be, we offer an education and resource program to make breastfeeding easier. From prop suggestions to latching techniques, our educators pride themselves on empowering you. And while we can't be there for that 3 am feeding, we can offer peace of mind that you're doing it right.

We provide:

Breastfeeding classes and support groups
Certified lactation consultants
Breast pumps and supplies
Educational resources
Donor breastmilk from Mother's Milk Bank when needed

Care, compassion, expertise.

Sharp nurses receive annual education on breastfeeding, and all new nurses who care for mothers and babies receive an additional 20 hours of breastfeeding education, 5 hours of which are spent working directly with a lactation consultant.

If you have breastfeeding challenges that your nurse is unable to fully address, our lactation consultants are here to help you. All our lactation consultants are registered nurses with specialized training. Meaning, they're equipped to recognize and prevent breastfeeding problems, putting their sole focus on the nursing mother and her newborn. And expect their ongoing care and advice to go beyond your hospital stay.

Our stance on breastfeeding.

We believe that breastmilk is the best milk, and encourage:

Breastfeeding over formula
Breastfeeding within one hour of delivery
Skin-to-skin contact to inspire breastfeeding
Learning about safe medications while breastfeeding, and preparing for the first four weeks of feeding your newborn

Ultimately, whether or not you breastfeed is your choice. While breastfeeding is usually healthier than formula feeding for both mom and baby, we understand when parents have personal or cultural preferences for formula. We provide a caring, supportive environment for every mom, every time, no matter what her choice for feeding is.