Find a Certified Lactation Consultant in Oakland, CA

Lactation consultants on Meela are certified, client-recommended, and vetted by licensed medical practitioners. Find one near you.

Create a free account, and we'll bring top lactation experts to you.

Get started

1,000+ childbirth experts

Client recommended, 97% 5-star reviews

Vetted by licensed medical practitioners

Verified client testimonials

Why Use Meela to Hire Your Lactation Consultant?

Meela is the trusted place for parents to find top-rated lactation consultants, connecting over 1,700 parents with vetted professionals each month. Reach out to lactation consultants directly, or answer a few questions and let us bring you the best available options near you. All for free, no strings attached.

Certified, Expert-Vetted Lactation Consultants Near You

Our lactation experts include IBCLCs, IBCLEs, CLCs and more. They are the best of the best and hold the highest standards of evidence-based, inclusive, and compassionate care. Each verified professional on Meela is vetted by a licensed medical professional and comes with multiple client recommendations, active certifications, and has extensive training and experience in perinatal care.

Found 14 Pros in Oakland, CA, USA | Lactation support
EXPERIENCE
0 50
Families served
0 3500
Birth fee
$0 $7500
HOURLY RATE
$0 $500
img img

Sheryll Randazzo

San Jose, CA

1 reviews • 90 families supported • 10 years experience

1 reviews • 90 families supported • 10 years experience

I am dedicated to making sure that you and your partner feel like you have the skills you need to have the most positive birth experience as possible. I love to explore and research ways to provide you with continuous support, and use evidence based information so that you can make educated decisions during your pregnancy, birth, and into postpartum. I support families all throughout the following areas: South Bay, Peninsula, San Francisco, and East Bay. I am 100% vaccinated and boosted. Want to learn more about my doula package? Book a free consultation today!

Care philosophy

I want to help expectant families have the same empowered and supported birthing experience that I did back in 2014 when I experienced a water birth at home with my third child. Labor is a wild ride and I go into each birth expecting the unexpected. I tailor the way I will be supporting my families based on their needs because no two births are alike.

Areas served

  • San Francisco Bay Area, East Bay, South Bay
  • Peninsula

Reviews

  • Sarai
    August 3, 2022 at 10:37 am | Client review

    My experience with Sheryll was absolutely amazing. I was a first time mom at the age of 46 and was seeking someone to help me through a stressful pregnancy and Sheryll was the sweetest and most patient soul. She is so soft spoken and full of amazing knowledge, and when it came time for delivery, she instilled a complete sense of calm in me. I highly recommend her as a Doula, she is wonderful.

img img

Sydney Jones

CA

1 reviews • 298 families supported • 6 years experience

1 reviews • 298 families supported • 6 years experience

I offer in home and virtual lactation consultant services, postpartum doula services, and placenta encapsulation services with option for prints and tinctures as well.

Care philosophy

Gentle, professional, and safe postpartum support services and lactation care.

Areas served

  • Serving most neighborhoods in the greater Bay Area

Reviews

  • Saman
    September 28, 2023 at 4:25 am | Client review

    In our experience, Sydney was undoubtedly the best midwife at the birthing center we used for the birth of our son. Her breadth of knowledge, her kind and confident demeanor, and her support of parents advocating for themselves and their babies were more than we could have hoped for. She was able to allay our fears as first-time parents and guide us with generosity and deep knowledge of her field. At every impasse, she was able to either inform us of our options herself or direct us to the resources we needed. She is a natural educator, and clearly cares deeply about the people she serves. Sydney has great capacity for both the hands-on parts of midwifery as well as a masterful command of the logistical and administrative side of the business. There were midwives at the birthing center with many years more experience than Sydney, but no one gained our confidence the way she did. In addition to all this, we must add that Sydney simply has the gift. There is no other way to say it. Whenever you go into an environment and find a shining example of excellence born through both natural talents and hard work – it is undeniable to all.

img

Sadie kelly

Berkeley, CA

0 reviews • 15 families supported • 2 years experience

0 reviews • 15 families supported • 2 years experience

Boundless Birth llc supports families in labor, lactation and postpartum. We are on a mission to build a better village. Founder and operator Sadie Kelly believes that labor and the months following lay the foundation to parenthood, and all families deserve support for the best foot forward

Care philosophy

I have a great appreciation for natural and physiological birth, but and even greater appreciation for bodily autonomy. As such I support all families and all labor choices

Areas served

  • East bay
img img

Amanda Martins

Santa Clara, CA

1 reviews • 25 families supported • 6 years experience

1 reviews • 25 families supported • 6 years experience

My journey started when I finished my studies in early childhood education in Brazil and worked with children of all ages including children with emotional and behavioral disorders. One day I had a opportunity to help my friend on her postpartum and I felt so helpful and happy to give her the love and support she needed. After that I immersed myself in the world of motherhood, I felt so passionate and became a postpartum doula. I also had the amazing experience when I had my own sunshine boy, and being a mother is so unique and wonderful but also very challenging. Today I am so accomplished to do my job as a postpartum doula! I know the importance of having a Doula to help, and support a mother and family in their pre-birth, delivery and also in the difficulties encountered in the postpartum journey

Care philosophy

I make it our duty to show up for you and your baby to help alleviate stress and show true care through physical comfort and emotional reassurance. I provide guidance so that your experience is a positive one.

Areas served

  • Sf bay area
  • Santa Clara
  • San Jose
  • Mountain View

Reviews

  • Marcia
    October 10, 2022 at 10:57 am | Client review

    Working with Amanda as our postpartum doula was an amazing experience! I highly recommend her services. She was well educated, informed on all birthing questions I had and was a big comfort. My husband and I both felt really connected with her, and she valued our postpartum plan.
    Through this experience, Amanda went from a doula to becoming our friend, and now as a new mom, I can still connect with her to ask questions. Amanda was a great doula, and I plan on having her by my side for our next child!”

$ flexible
img img

Stacy Avalos

CA

0 reviews • 40 families supported • 20 years experience

0 reviews • 40 families supported • 20 years experience

I have over 20 years of experience working with children. I have been a babysitter, nanny, coach, parent, grandparent, and teacher. I have been working with children who are in their early childhood developmental years and have become fond of working with newborns and their mothers through their fourth-trimester journey. It is only recently that I decided to become a professional doula in 2019. After working with many clients and their infants, it was a client who suggested that I look into the Postpartum Doula role. After my postpartum training with CAPPA, I decided to further my career and start working toward my labor and birth doula training, as well as becoming a new parent and childbirth educator.

Care philosophy

My philosophy is that we all need support without judgment. I share evidence-based resources to educate you and your support partner to empower you to speak up and feel confident when approaching your care team. As your Doula, I will ensure you have every opportunity to make the best decisions possible for you and your child, so you can have the best possible outcome.

Areas served

  • San Jose CA, USA
  • Santa Cruz, CA
  • SF South Bay Area, CA
  • SF Peninsula Area, CA
  • Dublin, CA
  • Gilroy, CA
  • Livermore, CA
$ flexible
img

Annie Spirka

CA

0 reviews • 18 families supported • 2 years experience

0 reviews • 18 families supported • 2 years experience

With a background in education and childcare, I bring with me a unique understanding for supporting transitional times for families and my focus is on your entire family unit as it grows and shifts. I believe in evidence based, trauma-informed care that centers your body autonomy, prioritizes your needs, and celebrates your existence. Drawing from my background in dance and massage therapy, I love combining therapeutic movement and bodywork to help you harness your strength and feel rooted through change. I’m here for you as a source of loving care, to help you make informed decisions, and to make sure you and your baby are fully supported and nourished throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Prenatally, my clients receive 2 prenatal sessions which include childbirth education, nutrition consulting & self care techniques as well as preparation for labor (including birth plan guidance, comfort measures, optimal labor positions, partner/support person guidance and coaching). We also cover postpartum planning and preparation prenatally. One prenatal will include a private yoga and guided relaxation session and one massage. I offer phone, text & email support starting the moment you hire me. I offer on-call support starting at 38 weeks and 24/7 continuous labor and birth support and immediate postpartum care at your birthing location. I include 1-2 postpartum home visits in my practice. This may include newborn care, new parent care, healing and recovery, sibling care, lactation support, light housekeeping and meal preparation. I offer hourly postpartum doula support separately as well, which focuses on taking care of you so you can take care of your baby. As your doula, I offer physical and emotional support, I help build your confidence, and I assist you in finding reassurance and joy in your prenatal, birth and postpartum experience. I’m here to prepare your body and mind for an empowered birth experience that lets you feel safe, trusting, and in control, every step of the way and sets you up for sustainability long into parenthood.

Care philosophy

I believe in evidence based education and nourishing, custom care tailored to your unique needs and desires. My philosophy is rooted in the belief that there is no “one size fits all” to the kind of support each birthing family requires. Through nurturing and unbiased care, I believe in bringing you the highest quality, holistic support backed by research and aligned with your goals.

Areas served

  • Oakland, CA
  • Berkeley, CA
  • Alameda, CA
  • Kensington, CA
  • Emeryville, CA
img

Alisa Thomas

San Jose, CA

0 reviews • 12 families supported • 2 years experience

0 reviews • 12 families supported • 2 years experience

Umi Care is founded and operated by two sisters who are passionate about supporting women, especially black and brown women, during their postpartum period. Only after becoming a mother/aunt, was it truly understood the level of care and support mothers need to properly heal, recover and rejuvenate after birth. We understand first hand mothers and families may not know what to expect and may feel overwhelmed during these first few weeks transitioning into postpartum. That's why we offer support to help you get through this delicate period with dependable support and advice. Our primary objective is to care and support mom so she can focus on healing and bonding with her baby.

Care philosophy

Umi care supports mother’s physical and emotional needs to encourage whole-body wellness. Mothers receiving prenatal & postpartum doula care are two times less likely to experience birth complications and significantly more likely to initiate breastfeeding. Doula Care has also been shown to assist new mothers in implementing healthy and informed behaviors.

Areas served

  • Santa Clarta County
  • South Bay
img img

Deundra Hundon

San Francisco, CA

3 reviews • 65 families supported • 7 years experience

3 reviews • 65 families supported • 7 years experience

Bare With Me Doula Group (Formally known as Bare With Me: A Mother-Daughter Doula Duo) was founded by Deundra Hundon and Stephanie Dixon, a mother-daughter duo based out of San Francisco, California. It was founded based on their own experiences, the experiences of their loved-ones, peers and ancestors. Although now known as, Bare With Me Doula Group , the company’s founding principles remain the same; to restore the community through collective work, education and providing evidence-based information.

Care philosophy

Formed with the mission to inform and empower our communities on topics like pregnancy, labor and birth, and postpartum through collaboration.

Areas served

  • Oakland
  • Palo Alto

Reviews

  • Alli
    November 21, 2022 at 7:43 am | Peer review

    Deundra is a wealth of wisdom. Not just knowledge, but the kind of wisdom that ignites confidence, joy and connection in others. She brings her whole self into her work, is skilled at both giving and receiving feedback and is relentless in advocating for respectful and holistic care for families. She becomes the type of “Auntie” that you can’t imagine raising kids without.

$ flexible
img

Amy Flores

CA

0 reviews • 2 families supported • 1 years experience

0 reviews • 2 families supported • 1 years experience

A Bay Area native, I became a Full Spectrum Doula because its something I wish I had when I gave birth with my daughter and while I was recovering at home from a cesarean birth. I want to support all types of families from single parents to families with multiple partners, through their fertility, pregnancy, birth and postpartum journeys. I can provide physical and emotional support for you and your partner(s) during these exciting and sometimes scary times.

Care philosophy

My mission is to support you through your Reproductive health, Pregnancy and Postpartum journeys. No matter your background or beliefs, your gender or sexuality, your race or your size. No matter your family dynamic. People and families are all different and in my eyes all equal.

Areas served

  • Contra Costa County
  • Solano County
  • Alameda County
  • Marin County
  • San Francisco County
$ flexible
img

India Tate

Emeryville, CA

0 reviews • 15 families supported • 2 years experience

0 reviews • 15 families supported • 2 years experience

Hi All! My name is India, the face behind Eternal Blessings Doula Services and a mama to two little kings. Eternal Blessings Doula Services proudly services the East Bay, San Francisco Bay Area, Sonoma County, Napa Valley and other areas of Northern California. I am here to provide services to you and your family in any birth setting including, but not limited to hospital, home, birth center, medicated, non-medicated, water, cesarean, vbac, and Induction. I gained serious interest in birthwork after the pregnancy and birth of my son and believe it is very important to have as much support during this precious time in your life. Since then, I have felt it to be my calling to service women in my area. I am here to provide care to both mom and partner, provide comfort measure techniques, continual labor & delivery support, Lactation Support, Postpartum (after baby) support, and inform you of your options to make the best decision for how you want your birth – YES, you have options! My main goal as your doula is to be your personal cheerleader and provide you and your partner with the assistance needed, so that you can be confident in your birth.

Care philosophy

The most important thing to me is making sure my clients are educated and prepared for birth. By keeping a line of communication open and providing my clients with all the information needed, I am confident they will go in being prepared for the birth.

Areas served

  • San Francisco Bay Area, East Bay, Sonoma County,
  • Napa Valley and other areas of Northern California
$ flexible
img

Kara Rainsford

CA

0 reviews • 4 families supported • 1 years experience

0 reviews • 4 families supported • 1 years experience

Born and raised in the Bay Area, I have been passionate about women's health care for as long as I can remember! The innate strength of women and the miracle of birth has certainly helped shape my career thus far. In my nursing studies, I came to realize that not many women were aware of the many benefits of doula support. Access to doula care is not just important to me but has been shown to improve family outcomes and satisfaction. I want to be affordable and accessible to all women in the Bay Area, therefore I strive to offer services that meet your budget. While working as a doula, I also study nursing at Dominican University of California, in hopes of one day becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife. Please visit my website at www.bayareaholisticbirthing.com/

Care philosophy

My philosophy surrounding doula work stems from the idea that women's bodies possess all the knowledge and strength needed for a successful labor and birth. Your body was made for this, and you are capable! I strongly support the notion that an optimal birth setting is one in which the mother feels safe, supported, and secure. As a holistic birth doula, I strive to provide a client-individualized

Areas served

  • San Francisco Bay Area
$ flexible
img

Leslie Jones

Fairfield, CA

0 reviews • 9 families supported • 5 years experience

0 reviews • 9 families supported • 5 years experience

My goal is to help the birthing parents with informational, physical and emotional support throughout their childbearing years. Every birthing parent deserves to feel empowered through the birthing process. Our bodies have been made for this purpose and our babies know how to be born. Trust birth.

Care philosophy

I strive to provide comprehensive care to families for all their childbirth needs. I offer birth doula services as well as childbirth education in Solano County and beyond.

Areas served

  • Fairfield
  • Vacaville
  • Vallejo
  • Napa
  • Davis
  • Sacramento
  • San Francisco
$ flexible
img img

Thea Lemaster

Oakland, CA

0 reviews • 7 families supported • 1 years experience

0 reviews • 7 families supported • 1 years experience

Thea’s role as a doula is steeped in authenticity and advocacy. She believes in community-based care, reproductive justice, and bodily autonomy for all! As a mixed-race, queer birth worker, Thea is committed to offering inclusive care. She values centering her trauma-informed approach to each individual’s unique needs, so her clients may feel seen and heard. Many modalities are woven into her role as a birth worker. Thea’s intersecting identities as an advocate, herbalist, Montessorian, and lactation educator all play an integral role in the care she provides. Her services are rooted in her education on the sociology of the family, evidence based research, and traditional indigenous practices. Through the transformative experiences that come with pregnancy, Thea is here to stand beside her clients with an empathetic ear and tender heart. Together, they cultivate a sense of connection, honor their experiences as personal power, and navigate the profound experience of bringing a life earthside. Outside of being a doula, you’ll find Thea spending time with her partner and their cat in their cozy Oakland apartment. Her most joyful moments involve the outdoors, 35mm film photography, and loved ones.

Care philosophy

Reverent, reliable care for all - for every reproductive choice and outcome. Bringing the sacred and ceremony back into birth, postpartum, termination, and loss. Treating all clients with dignity and tenderness. Offering support through the lens of trauma-informed care and harm reduction. The basis of All Encompassing Doula Services is reproductive justice and bodily autonomy for all!

Areas served

  • Oakland
  • Berkeley
  • Albany
  • El Cerrito
  • Lafayette
  • Orinda
  • Hayward
  • San Leandro
  • Union City
  • Walnut Creek
  • San Lorenzo
  • El Sobrante
  • San Francisco
  • Piedmont
img img

Teri Nava-Anderson

Walnut Creek, CA

0 reviews • 500 families supported • 12 years experience

0 reviews • 500 families supported • 12 years experience

The Harmony Doula Group is a team of certified childbirth and postpartum specialists with over 40 years of combined experienced, offering childbirth and lactation education, birth and postpartum doula and concierge services, placenta encapsulation, herbal blends and professional aromatherapy consults. We work in collaboration with a network of chiropractors, pelvic floor therapists, sexual health experts and more to help support you in your postpartum healing.

Care philosophy

Most people only birth a few times, we offer emotional and physical support and evidence-based information to support you in having your best birth, whatever that looks like for you.

Areas served

  • Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Pleasanton, Tracy

Lactation Consultant: FAQs

A certified lactation consultant is a professional that helps parents address and solve their breastfeeding problems. Many new parents believe that breastfeeding is easy, only to find more obstacles than anticipated. 92% of parents say they are having problems with breastfeeding their new baby within only 3 days.

Nursing doesn’t always come naturally.

Breastfeeding can be overwhelming and all-consuming. A lactation consultant in Oakland, CA can identify issues such as low milk supply, latching problems, or nipple engorgement. They also offer advice and techniques to help parents understand existing issues, improve how they read their baby’s cues, and feel empowered about breastfeeding despite existing social norms.

Every parent’s journey is unique, and there might be specific challenges or obstacles in your particular situation. The ultimate goal of a lactation consultant is to support parents who choose to breastfeed their children. A lactation consultant in Oakland, CA can often save parents time and energy, and also give them some peace of mind.

Many mothers also face issues where they cannot breastfeed in the workplace or lack the family support or time to ensure that their child is breastfed correctly. A lactation consultant in Oakland, CA can also provide a significant amount of moral support, diagnose breastfeeding issues, and solve latching, positioning, and scheduling issues.

To find a lactation specialist in Oakland, CA, most parents recommend creating a job post on Meela and having uniquely qualified lactation experts near you (in your budget) reach out to you through the Meela app.

You can interview and chat with as many lactation specialists as you wish and hire a lactation consultant with confidence. It is completely free to create a job post on Meela and find a lactation consultant. There are no commitments to hire any of the qualified and expert vetted experts Meela brings you.

Here’s how it works in 3 easy steps:

  1. Post a job for free: Answer some questions and receive responses from top-rated lactation specialists near you. It takes less than 30 seconds to post your job.
  2. Get your list of lactation consultants: In a few hours, you will have a collection of lactation consultants near you who are qualified to meet your needs. You can compare pricing, experience, and read reviews. You can chat with each lactation specialist to learn more about them.
  3. Hire a lactation consultant with confidence: Schedule virtual or in-person interviews with your top choices. Hire your top lactation specialist and start getting the care you deserve.

To find a lactation consultant, you can also browse the available professionals near you in Oakland, CA and read reviews, compare pricing, experience and fit. Send the lactation consultants you are interested in a message, introducing yourself and setting up an interview. We recommend reaching out to and interviewing at least three lactation consultants before hiring a lactation specialist near you. After interviewing, hire the most qualified lactation specialist near you and start getting the care you deserve.

The cost of a lactation consultant can vary based on a variety of factors, including their experience, their services, and their skills or specializations. Overall, the average cost of a lactation consultant in Oakland, CA is $185 per hour based on a survey of 120 lactation specialists in the Oakland, CA area.

Under the Affordable Care Act, many insurance companies should be covering the cost of lactation services. However, there are a number of factors that determine whether insurance will cover the cost of a certified lactation consultant in Oakland, CA. You should contact your insurance company for more information.

Here are some factors to consider regarding insurance and your lactation consultant cost:

  • Your insurance provider
  • Your individual health plan
  • The type of lactation specialist
  • The specific service provided

Meela’s network of lactations specialists in Oakland, CA offer both in-home lactation support sessions or virtual lactation support sessions. Both types of sessions typically last between 1 and 3 hours. In your sessions, your lactation specialist will spend time understanding the issues you are facing and work with you and your baby to diagnose the issues have and also provide specific guidance and hands-on practice and exercises.

Lactation consultants help parents understand the best way to comfortably breastfeed their baby and help them navigate breastfeeding social norms. They can also help reduce stress and anxiety about breastfeeding, or help with specific challenges (such as breastfeeding twins, for example). Other parents might just want emotional support that doesn’t currently exist within their family, workplace, or network or friends.

Certified lactation consultants can also help with specialized issues that may arise with premature children or sick children. A parent may not have thought about breastfeeding help until they notice that their baby isn’t gaining weight properly, and finally realize that they might need some support and knowledge before continuing to breastfeed. On the other hand, some parents might prepare with a lactation consultant months before the baby is born.

Whether you are planning ahead or are thinking about a lactation now that you are having breastfeeding issues or concerns, a lactation consultant can be incredibly helpful and useful for parents.

Lactation counselors in Oakland, CA can often help parents with breastfeeding and offer breastfeeding advice, training, and troubleshooting. Many of these counselors have taken the CLC exam, or the Certified Lactation Counselor exam. A certified lactation counselor has typically undergone 45 hours of training.

On the other hand, a certified lactation consultant in Oakland, CA has undergone a specific amount of clinical training hours, which is not a requirement to become a lactation counselor. These lactation consultants are certified by the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants, as well. A lactation consultant typically has a bachelor’s degree in a health field and has undergone 90 hours of training and has somewhere between 300 and 1,000 hours of experience with parents.

Lactation consultants in Oakland, CA are often working with other healthcare teams in collaboration with postpartum nurses to ensure that parents understand how to breastfeed their babies. Both lactation consultants and lactation counselors can provide support, develop feeding plans, and offer actionable advice with respect to breastfeeding.

The best approach is for parents to hire a lactation specialist early in their pregnancy so that they can help you prepare both mentally and physically. Parents don’t need to wait until your baby is born to begin thinking about breastfeeding support and education.

Some parents might be anxious about breastfeeding in public or feel like they want access to a breastfeeding expert to help both inform and support them. A lactation consultant in Oakland, CA can also help young professional parents schedule their breastfeeding efficiently so that they can return to work quicker, while others might specialize in helping with breastfeeding anxiety issues.

It is never too late to hire a certified lactation consultant in Oakland, CA. These breastfeeding consultants can also offer emotional breastfeeding support that can be valuable to those who lack family or workplace support. A lactation consultant can also be critical in identifying warning signs that might indicate more serious growth or developmental issues.

There are many documented benefits to breastfeeding, and parents often believe that it will be an easy and natural experience. Unfortunately, many parents run into issues such as low milk supply, nipple engorgement, or latching problems that can affect their baby’s health. These lactation specialists can be useful for troubleshooting, advice, or emotional support.

Certified lactation consultants can strengthen the bond between parents and their babies through breastfeeding advice, tips, and support. This might include showing parents how to help their baby latch properly, establishing feeding schedules, or dealing with sore nipples or engorgement. A lactation consultant can help new parents better understand their baby’s needs in general, and monitor the baby’s growth and development.

Lactation specialists in Oakland, CA also offer emotional support and help parents breastfeed more efficiently so that they can get back to work and allow them to better manage expectations. Many parents face issues where they cannot breastfeed in the workplace, or do not have the family support or time to ensure that their child is breastfed properly and with care. These expert consultants can also provide a significant amount of moral support, diagnose breastfeeding issues, while also solving issues such as latching, positioning, and scheduling.

Get Started
keyboard_arrow_up