Ana Miramon - Board Certified Lactation Consultant - Service in San Francisco and the Peninsula




email: 4amiramon@gmail.com phone: 650.438.4037

Ana has worked in the field of pediatrics since 1999 and specifically in lactation. She currently works part-time as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant for a major hospital in San Francisco, California. Ana is also a Registered Dietician.

Breast milk is the gold standard for babies. It provides immunities. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed for at least 6 months, and then continue breastfeeding through the first birthday while beginning to add age appropriate baby foods. Recent studies show that babies who are exclusively breastfed for 6 months are:

Less likely to have ear infections.
Less likely to develop diarrhea.
Less likely to have respiratory illness
Less risk of developing childhood obesity.

In fact, breastfeeding for two years is thought to protect children against allergies. The benefits for mom include:

The delay of the menstrual period and may aid in spacing pregnancies.
Lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers and creates.
Creates a strong bond between mother and child

However, many women give up in the first couple of weeks. Starting off right and eliminating problems early is essential.

Begin Breastfeeding
As soon as your baby is ready after birth they can be laid on your tummy and you can breastfeed. Get in a comfortable position, propping your arms with pillows as you hold the baby sideways with his tummy against you. Stroke their cheek and his head should turn toward you.

Offer the nipple by brushing it against their lips, their mouth should open. Wait until they open very wide and then bring their head toward you. Their lips should cover most of the areola, the dark area around the nipple; milk comes out of this area as well. If he just gets the nipple, you will end up extremely sore.

For the first few days, your body is producing colostrum, a pre- milk that is often yellow or clear. This contains all that your baby needs until your regular milk comes in. It's normal for a baby to lose weight after birth, so don't worry that he's not getting enough to eat.

Basic Steps for Optimal Positioning:
If you are at home or in the hospital always begin by positioning yourself comfortably with back support, use pillows to support your arms and on your lap, your feet should also be supported by a step stool. Position the baby close to you, with their hips flexed, so that they do not have to turn its head to reach your breast. The mouth and nose should be facing your nipple. Support your breast so it is not pressing on your baby's chin. Attempt to latch baby onto your breast. Encourage your baby to open its mouth wide and pull them close by supporting their back (rather than the back of their head) so that their chin drives into your breast. Their nose will be touching your breast. Your hand forms a "second neck" for your baby. Enjoy! If you are feeling pain, delatch baby gently and try again. These steps may need to be repeated frequently during the early weeks. You and your baby will find a technique that works for you after some practice. If you are still experiencing difficulty with Breastfeeding contact a Board Certified Lactation Consultant and schedule a home visit.

Breastfeeding Problems
Some initial soreness is to be expected. However, cracked nipples or extreme pain are not normal. This usually means that the baby is not latching on correctly. In this case, if you're at the hospital, ask the nurse if the latch looks right or ask to see a breastfeeding specialist. If you're at home think about contacting a La Leche League leader or Nursing Mother's Council in your area, referring to a breastfeeding handout, or watch a breastfeeding video. If you have done everything and still not having success with breastfeeding schedule a home visit with a Board Certified Lactation Consultant.

Some of the content above is from La Leche League.

I am available for home visits in San Francisco and down the Pennisula to Palo Alto and the costal communities. The length of a home visit can vary depending on the situation. Call or email me if you have any questions or to schedule your own personal one on one consultation. Often a few key pointers can make all the difference.