UC San Diego is committed to supporting families who choose to breastfeed. They combine the unique skills of physicians, nurse practitioners, certified lactation consultants and lactation educators. They 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 lactation experts include:

• Prenatal consultations

• Postpartum personal instruction (available seven days a week for hospital inpatients)

• Assistance with special-needs babies

• Assistance with multiple births

• Assistance with premature babies: Supporting Premature Infant Nutrition (SPIN) Program

• Drugs and breastfeeding information

• Breastfeeding class (take during pregnancy) and breastfeeding support group (after baby is born)