GINA STERCHI
Gina Sterchi RN, BSN, PHN, IBCLC
Hi, I'm Gina...
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While breastfeeding is natural, that doesn't make it easy! It is a learned skill. A dance. When something interferes with the rhythm, that's where I come in. I can help choreograph the sequence of steps for Your dance to help You meet Your breastfeeding goals!
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I breastfed my 4 children and my first were even twins! Many times I suffered through physical and emotional challenges, while working as a breastfeeding mom. I discovered a need for seeking breastfeeding solutions with each baby! Here I was, a maternity nurse and I needed help?! Yes, yes I did. I experienced rounds of engorgement and mastitis, latent ductal yeast right from the start with my middle child, experienced sharp pain of blebs, lumps that didn't go away, hospitalized for a time and surgery, all while breastfeeding! I had to work with a Lactation Consultant numerous times. Then the desire to educate myself about lactation challenges spurred my passion to help other moms in their breastfeeding journey.
I’m proud of the hard work I put in to acquire the formal education, clinical skills and certification to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2012 and I stay up-to-date through continuing education via conferences, classes, conferring with trusted colleagues and learning from the families I have the pleasure of working with. My professional background includes earning a Bachelors Degree in Nursing at CSUS in 2001 and earning my license as a Registered Nurse and Public Health Nurse. I absolutely love my career as a Maternal-Newborn RN for the last 2 decades and continue to serve patients in the Folsom area. I feel I can now fluently speak baby after so many years providing lactation support for a local hospital and clinic, helping babies and moms in the first days after birth.
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It is my mission, both personally and professionally, and my sincerest hope for each family I meet, to offer encouragement, support, and empower new moms while providing practical evidence-based tools to guide you in your individual lactation experience.
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When inviting someone to care for you and your baby, especially in such an intimate and physical setting, it is important to feel confident that the provider considers your health and safety a top priority. With that in mind, I am BLS, ACLS, NRP certified (includes Infant, Child and Adult CPR) and I have fingerprints and background check on file with CA DOJ and Federal FBI. May verify provider licensure at https://www.rn.ca.gov/online/verify.shtml