Whether you’re expecting or your baby has already arrived, you can sign up to receive free breastfeeding counseling services or prenatal classes from Nursing Mothers Counsel today.
Anyone, anywhere, can use this number to get more information. For urgent questions, click on Request a Counselor above.
We have counselors who speak Spanish, Cantonese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, and Portuguese.
All of our services are available online or over the phone—even our classes are now available online. Sign up below to get in touch and start getting free lactation help today.
Nursing Mothers Counsel has pump rental stations throughout the Bay Area. A counselor will meet you at the rental station with the pump, everything you need to get started, and walk you through the process.
Redwood City, CA
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Cruz, CA
Our next training will be in SF Bay Area, CA. most likely in 2027. If there is enough interest, we may conduct a 2026 training.
Our Mission
Our mission is to support the personal breastfeeding and feeding goals of all parents and families by providing FREE, one-on-one lactation support and education from highly trained volunteer counselors who have nursed their own babies.
Nursing Mothers Counsel welcomes and supports all families and is committed to providing compassionate, respectful, and judgment-free support to every parent.
Every year we compile our numbers into an annual report. See below for some of the highlights from October 2023 – September 2024.
34
volunteer counselors
An NMC counselor often covers more than just lactation. Dads, grandmas, partners, siblings—they’re all a part of the equation, and our counselors are here to answer any questions you might have, milk-related or not. NMC was able to help 378 families thru classes, counseling sessions and pump rentals.
201
phone calls answered
NMC counselors answered 201 phone calls from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 7 days a week; 67% of calls were received on weekends, holidays, or after 5 p.m. when lactation centers are closed. Our reach has expanded across the U.S. and even globally to countries like Uganda, Romania, Malaysia, Kuwait, Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand and Madrid.
64
free home visits
When a phone call, text or email isn’t enough, our counselors are available (in the SF Bay and Santa Cruz Areas) to conduct visits in your own home. With today’s technology we can do virtual home visits as well!
Nursing Mothers Counsel provides lactation information to nursing parents through a help line and pre-natal breastfeeding information talks. We offer training to NMC member counselors as well as other professionals who work with and want to advise nursing mothers. We offer breast pumps for rent and supplies for sale.
“I took a breastfeeding class through NMC a week before my daughter was born. Out of all the preparation I did before she was born, this was the most valuable. And I also was able to sign up to have a counselor contact me after she was born.”
“I cannot believe this is a free service!! I’ve had amazing 1:1 counseling from 3 different volunteers with the NMC and they have helped IMMENSELY in getting my daughter to latch with limited pain. The volunteers are too notch- thorough, passionate, knowledgeable, and compassionate. I can’t thank them enough!!!”
“My daughter got used to bottle by the time we discharged from hospital. I have gone through 3 months of pumping and feeding. One day i was looking desperately for help since my nipples started to hurt a lot and my supply fell down. I was looking for someone to take a look at my pumping and tell me whats wrong. Every lactation counselor gave me appointments after few days. I reached out to NMC and was able to speak with Andrea in the next one hour. It was amazing, she was patient heard my problems and provided me emotional support along with advise on what can be done. She gave me her mobile number so i can reach her anytime. She even responds to my texts and helps me late hours.
What surprises me is they are doing it for free, where other professionals are charging hundreds of dollars with limted time and response .This is how a for women organization must be. Breastfeeding support is every mothers need since this is a skill that need to be learn with lot patience. It is very challenging for a mom in the postpartum period. I am glad i came across this great organization”
