This is a wonderful resource during pregnancy. I always learn a lot from the group check-in at the beginning of each class.

Carlee is the best. She is super patient, wonderful empathetic kind bedside manner and extremely knowledgeable

Dawn is absolutely amazing! We saw her for our third baby. All 3 of my children have had issues with restrictive frenulums causing weight loss, ineffective suck and milk transfer, sore nipples and so many other issues. All 3 have had frenectomies and my firstborn needed it twice. This time around, I asked our provider to recommend an IBCLC experienced working with babies with ties. She recommended Dawn to us and she was exactly what I was hoping for! I myself am an RN who previously did L&D and now work in pediatrics (newborn to teens), and also have my IBCLC. My husband and I were blown away by her care, knowledge and attention to details. She was quickly able to assess our baby's suck and latch and give us a care plan to help get him back to breastfeeding. On top of that, she was able to figure out that my flange size and type was wrong and causing chafing then helped me fit multiple types and sizes to find the perfect fit. We are so grateful to have been referred to Dawn. I have seen countless IBCLCs for my kids but Dawn has been our best experience yet. I walked in feeling hopeless (this baby has been the most difficult to feed) but left feeling confident we can make breastfeeding happen (: thank you for all your support Dawn! read more

I wasn't going to write anything but I came across this NY times article titled "What Parents Should Know About Tongue-Tie Releases" and thought about all the sleep-deprived mothers like me who almost got the laser surgery for my baby. Dawn strongly recommended a laser surgery from a dentist (located next to her office) while two ENT doctors, from Rady and Scripps, said my baby doesn't need a cut. A lactation consultant is not a doctor and should not diagnose tongue ties. A laser surgery is not only expensive but potentially dangerous. Please always get a second opinion from a specialist before jumping into the procedure. read more

Carlee is absolutely amazing! She is not only incredibly knowledgeable on all things breastfeeding but also incredibly kind, thoughtful, and caring. She helped me through so many hurtles in my breastfeeding journey and when I recommended her to my sister-in-law, she was so helpful to her too! We are forever grateful read more

Blown away by how helpful Carlee was. She did lymphatic drainage and massage on my breast for a clogged duct/mastitis, gave the most thorough eval of my daughters mouth and answered a million questions I didn't think to ask but needed to know, even as a thoroughly researched third-time-mom. I was just so impressed with everything about her, she exceeded all expectations and was the best most knowledgable LC I've met in person. Her breastfeeding technique is also laid back and simple, not overly complicated like many other traditional LC's. I wasn't even completely sure I needed a consultation before I booked it and now not only do I wish I would've done it sooner but I want another one! Couldn't recommend more & just so grateful! read more

Dawn is wonderful and was so helpful in teaching me everything I needed to know regarding breastfeeding, pumping, as well as general baby questions I had - which has been super helpful as a first time mom trying to navigate so many unknowns. Dawn did a few home visits after our little one was born, which was super convenient and one less thing to worry about! I highly recommend Mamas & Milk to get all the postpartum support you need! read more

This review is long overdue. Dawn was amazing at helping when my 7 month old's nursing was causing me severe pain that made me cringe every single time. I thought our nursing journey would be over, but she was so so helpful. Still no idea what was causing all the pain, but I think it was his latch all of a sudden changing with new teeth. She recommended some chewy tubes and after that, an amazing massage, and repositioning his nursing position, we've been able to nurse until he turned 17 months! Oh and not to mention she sized me for the correct pump flanges. I was using WAY too bit of flanges and I had no idea the pain it was causing. I highly recommend Dawn to anyone looking for breastfeeding help. read more

Carlee has been amazing to work with & I was lucky that insurance covered her visits as well (BlueShield of CA)! She provides so much valuable education and can offer various options and solutions. She is extremely reassuring and brings such a positive energy with her to visits! Thank you for your care! read more

Both Dawn and Carlee have been instrumental in helping my wife and I navigate breastfeeding. Dawn was a very helpful, dedicated and educated guide for us when dealing with breastfeeding challenges with our first son. When we had our second son, we worked with Carlee. She spent over 2 hours at our house - she was very helpful, kind, and she gave us a huge amount of relief and knowledge. We are very grateful to have both of these folks in our community! read more

The service with Dawn was productive and went well. However, my diamond engagement ring went missing after her visit. I usually leave it next to my sink, where she went to wash her hands before we got started. But there's a chance it was missing the day prior and I didn't notice. I was in a postpartum haze and dealing with my son's procedure/aftercare so I really can't be sure. I don't want to accuse her b/c I'm not 100% certain, just don't know where it could've gone, didn't have any other visitors, and never found it (thank god it was insured). I don't have any other kids that could've moved it nor a housekeeper or nanny. This occurred 2yrs ago, but just posting in case anyone else happened to have a similar experience. As far as the lactation consulting goes, it seems like she is great at what she does. read more

I had a wonderful experience with Dawn from Mamas and Milk! I was considering quitting breastfeeding due to challenges with my son's tongue tie - I met with Dawn and she gave me lots of tips and advice on how to work around this challenge as well as recommended a wonderful doctor who was able to fix his tie. She made me feel comfortable and she gave us actionable things to work on each time we met. She is a great communicator and always followed up promptly with lots of additional information. She is super encouraging and not judgmental at all. I would 100% recommended her and her team to any moms to be who want to breastfeed and learn how to make the experience successful and enjoyable for you and your baby! I'm so happy to be able to continue breastfeeding and my son is much happier too! read more

I have used Dawn twice now for severe clogged ducts and she is a lifesaver! My first time was when I was actually diagnosed with Mastitis. And most recently I could tell that I was near getting it again. She had me come to her home office the night of my frantic texts, I cannot begin to explain how much I appreciated! I showed up in tears, with one rock hard breast.. sure we weren't going to resolve things and I'd have to stop breastfeeding. She did her magic and that night my milk fully emptied successfully. She is gentle but very successful and teaches you how to resolve issues yourself. She also helped calm me when I was so distraught.. I highly recommend her! read more

Carlee is an amazing source of knowledge who helped me overcome some breastfeeding challenges within days of getting home from the hospital. She was started off by being a great listener as she looked to understand my concerns and observing how my daughter and I were currently approaching feeding. Carlee then provided a very detailed plan of care that included additional information and links to more resources online. After just two visits I felt much more confident and have been successful in my journey. Very thankful for her help! read more

Such a wonderful organization! I could not recommend more! Carlee helped me feed my son and bond with him! My son was in the NICU for a few days so I thought I would never get breastfeeding down! She was so helpful and kind! The home visits are fantastic. She even got me resized for my pump since I was using the wrong size! Amazing! read more

Carlee saved us. She was so amazing from the moment that she walked through our door!! She took to the time to watch our breastfeeding technique and educated me, while listening to all of our needs. She went above & beyond to relate and listen to our struggles, and hopes to move forward. She was very gracious and respectful to both me and my son. Attention to detail and careful consideration of every step in our process was important, and she paid close attention to it all. We learned things our own pediatrician missed and did not care to mention. We cannot thank Carlee enough for her caring charisma!! read more

I cannot begin to explain how amazing Dawn is! I am a first time mom and had no idea how hard breastfeeding could be. Dawn helped me get a referral from my doctor and did several in house and office visits. she helped with my daughters latch, identified a tongue toe and gave us tips on bottle feeding before I go back to work. We had many struggles but now she is feeding like a champ! thank you so much Dawn read more

Before Dawn, I was always taught to massage HARD and push towards the nipple to try to unclog milk ducts. She performed a breast massage on me and it helped me with my technique if a milk ducts ever became clogged again. She also explained why this technique is helpful and it made total sense! I saw and spoke to many lactation specialists over a month span as I was getting constant clogged milk ducts. One specialist recommended that I correct a lip/tongue tie issue at 8 months old, but all he really had was a bad cold virus and he couldn't breathe from his nose when nursing. I'm glad I didn't get a unnecessary procedure done and Dawn's massage technique definitely helped considerably. She was the only lactation specialist who I came across with this massage. So, thank you Dawn! read more

Mamas and Milk has a free breastfeeding group every Fri (some holiday exceptions) from 10:30-12. Such a great place to meet other moms and not have to worry about whether your baby is crying...or feeding in public...because you're there to do just that. As a first time mom, I found this to be a much needed "break" and opportunity to socialize. They also have lactation consultants on site and a scale to get a pre and post feeding weight for your baby. The LCs have given me some very helpful advice. They have pillows for feeding and a changing table too. They have other services that you can but passes for...prenatal yoga and yoga with baby...but I haven't tried yet. I'll update my review once I do. read more

I met Dawn thru work and took her prenatal yoga class both when it was in Scripps Ranch and in Tierrasanta. As a yoga newbie and first time mama, the class is wonderful in so many ways. It's a way to check in with yourself and other mamas! The relaxation techniques and gentle stretching help mentally and physically prepare you for babies birthday. I took so many mantras with me like "Babies are born on their birthday" when I was anxiously waiting and "Juicy hips!" in the LDR room to help baby work his way down and thru the transition surges. My husband and I both credit Dawn, her guidance in our yoga class and all her wisdom as a huge part of why we really enjoyed and cherish our baby's birthday! If you are looking for a weekly way to connect to baby and find support this is the place to be!!! read more

Dawn is amazing! We first met Dawn when we took our Newborn Care and Breastfeeding 101 classes with her, before our baby was born. We consulted with Dawn less than a week after our little one was born due to latch issues and some complications at birth, and she got us on our path to success with breastfeeding. Since then, I've been a regular attendee of Dawn's breastfeeding support groups, and also the Mama & Baby yoga classes. Dawn is always there with a shoulder and ready ears, and is always on your side, no matter what your choice, no judgements. She has tons and tons of helpful advice and stories, and it's always a pleasure to spend time with her. read more

Dawn is absolutely amazing! I just saw her for a therapeutic breast massage and it worked wonders! She was able to unclog a few of my clogged ducts with nearly no pain. I've had several treatments with different providers, none of which were nearly as effective as Dawn's "magical hands". After having had clogged ducts for months and mastitis in both breasts, Dawn was my last resort before quitting breastfeeding. There was definite improvement after the treatment, and my breasts didn't feel like they were abused afterwards. My only regret is not finding Dawn sooner! I recommend her to anyone suffering from clogged ducts or mastitis!!! Also, I'd like to point out that she is very very well educated and is not only who to answer every question you ask her, but will also provide you with a plan of care to keep the problem from reoccurring. The calming and comfortable atmosphere of the space and Dawn's presence is extremely therapeutic and in my opinion I every helpful during the treatment :) read more

Nobody hires a doula to have their FOURTH baby, right?! Wrong. There's a reason why they say every birth & every baby is different. I naively thought it would be impossible to find someone who could make the birthing process easier or more comfortable than what I had experienced in the past. My OBGYN is fantastic, there's no reason for more outside help. Wrong again. Dawn was the answer to questions (& prayers) I never even knew I had. She's comforting, kind, caring, knowledgable, strong, and straightforward. I loved that she could walk me through things with a no-BS attitude & still convey how much she cared about both me & my baby. I cannot say enough about this woman. She supported me through going into labor, through awful contractions & a few minor complications, and is now holding my hand through the difficult weaning process as well. This is the exact type of person you want by your side during the intensely personal & emotional journey of bringing another life into the world. My family & I are thrilled that Dawn was there for us. We now wish she had been there for the first three births!!! :D read more

Dawn was so thorough and knowledgable. She explained things in such a way that made perfect sense. You can tell that she takes great pride in what she does and goes the extra mile to really understand lactation. By the way, she wasn't pushy at all. Her demeanor is so calm and disarming. We came up with a feasible plan and stuck with it. It took a while, but we finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Dawn is the best lactation consultant. I look forward to meeting pregnant women just so that I can tell them about her. read more

tl;dr - if your baby has/had tethered oral tissue, SEE DAWN! Full review: Dawn is the third and by far the BEST lactation consultant we've seen since our baby was born, and it's a mark of how awesome she is that I'm writing this review within hours of her visit. She came to see me when I asked her completely last minute, making time in her busy schedule with a day's notice. Our little one started fussing at the breast at 4 weeks (she is now 9 weeks old) and progressively got to the point where nearly every feed with her is a huge fight, leaving both of us in tears and frustrated. A prior LC referred us to get her tongue tie addressed a week ago, which we did. While it seems this was the right decision, on a follow-up visit with that LC, we were not equipped with any skills or exercise to optimize her rehabilitation and get us back on track. It felt like the other LCs we worked with weren't able to look past the snapshot of our visit - our baby would have a calm feed, or would calm down during her feed, and they didn't seem to believe me when I said that she would freak out 30 mins later when they left even while applying all the same skills; they would think we had found the "magic bullet" to her fussiness when there wasn't one. We had spent a lot of money at this point, and I think my partner had stopped believing in paid breastfeeding support. One of the first things Dawn said to me was, "I believe you. Tongue tie babies are inconsistent." I could have cried out of relief. She was honest that our work will probably take at least a month or so, but gave us so many actual exercises (that our baby likes!) to strengthen her muscles and get things on track. Her oral assessment of our baby was unbelievably thorough and well-informed. She has training in rehabilitation following oral releases, which is a very specific skillset. She also was SO empathetic. While another LC gave us a blanket ban on pacifiers except while in the car, Dawn said it was very reasonable to use a pacifier to calm her for short periods during feeds - and it's already helping get her to take the breast a little bit more. No lactation consultant has a magic fix for complex breastfeeding issues, but Dawn was the first person to empower us with tools and self-compassion to work through this with our baby. My partner and I could not be more grateful. read more

From my wife, Brittany: "As a first time mom, I really thought breastfeeding was going to come naturally, but I was wrong. I had an extreme amount of pain and a friend referred me to Dawn. I thought I had a clogged duct, but it turned out to be an abscess and mastitis. My breast was so clogged that she was unable to hand-express any milk from my breast and immediately sent me to my OB for antibiotics. I ended up going to the ER over the weekend to have the abscess drained (this was more painful than childbirth). Dawn was with me throughout the entire process. After a couple weeks my wound finally healed and I was able to start nursing my baby on that side with Dawn's assistance. "At my first appointment with Dawn, she noticed my baby had possible torticollis (my pediatrician hadn't noticed this until I brought it up). At my second appointment, I said that my pediatrician was concerned about my son's weight. Dawn found that he was lip-tied and tongue-tied. The tongue-tie grew back after we were sent to get it "snipped" by a specialist! (My pediatrician assumed the tongue-tie was fixed because she had sent us to this specialist). Dawn suggested we get his tongue-tie removed with a procedure using a laser. Although I was hesitant, the procedure not only removed my son's tongue-tie, but cured his reflux! My son is now 6 months old, exclusively breastfed, and thriving. I owe my breastfeeding success to Dawn. Throughout this physical and emotional experience, she was always there with a positive attitude and reassurance that we were going to get through this together." read more

I met with Carly today to discuss my issues about weaning my son off the nipple shield and sufficient supply. She is very knowledgeable and has such a calm demeanor. I felt very comfortable asking her questions. She gave me tips on how to adjust our nursing position. I was amazed at how more natural it felt and comfortable I was after making her suggested adjustments. I even tried a new position with her. She also put my mind at ease that my baby was doing well despite despite being a smaller baby. I had been going crazy trying to supplement my baby's feedings with expressed breastmilk 3x a day per my pediatrician's recommendation since my baby is in a low percentile for weight. Turns out my baby is taking in enough milk and there's no need to supplement. She taught me that there is a misconception that supplementation will increase how much the baby will take in, but the baby will take in the same volume during a 24-hour period regardless of supplementation. I'm so happy to have worked with Carly. It was money well spent since breastmilk is my little guys sole source of nutrition right now. If any issues come up I wouldn't hesitate to meet with her again. read more

2 weeks before my son was born I took the breastfeeding 101 class with Dawn which was super informative and helpful. Then I went into labor had my baby, and listened to the hospital staff instead of what I learned in class. (Most advice was the same but a couple positioning tricks we learned in class would have helped me avoid the bad latch my little one had - relax and lean back, hold baby at 45 degree angle instead of 90). So fast forward 7 days postpartum. Im almost crying when baby latches on one particular side because the nipple was cracked and bleeding. My husband tod me to call Dawn and she came that night!! (bravely made the trek downtown on a Saturday night) She made a couple of adjustments and voila, latch fixed. It was good to have her come in and identify the issue because all the LCs and Nurses in the hospital said he had a great latch, so I was convinced its just supposed to feel like that until I had blood on my bra. Dawn was super helpful and worth the money! Moral of the story (1) take her class and do it! Don't let nurses and other LCs tell you to do it differently (2) don't wait until you're crying to call Dawn! read more

I have worked with Dawn and she knows what she is talking about. Her calm demeanor makes her easy to talk to and approachable. I have learned so much about breastfeeding from her, knowledge I wouldn't be able to get from anywhere else. She has classes, appointments and support groups where she wants mamas and babies to succeed. Dawn is wonderful and I would recommend her to anyone. read more

Dawn was amazing! My sister referred to her as an "angel" and I have to agree. Within 10 minutes of arriving my nursing pain went from excruciating to very tolerable and I have a plan to get to zero pain. I was reluctant to use a lactation consultant as this was my third baby and I nursed my first two for 2 years each with no problems. I figured I knew what I was doing and didn't need help. When all medication and other treatment failed to work for me after 5 weeks of the worst pain I ever experienced I decided it was worth a shot. I really wish I had called Dawn on day one. Please learn from my painful and costly mistake (medications for infections cost me upward of $300) and call Dawn first! You won't be sorry. She is a lovely person and very knowledgable and she makes you feel really comfortable. Thanks Dawn!! read more

I met Dawn at the Babies in Bloom Baby Expo and was immediately impressed by her warmth and knowledge on the topic of breastfeeding. As a first time mom, I was hoping to have some resources in place for when I had questions about breastfeeding my baby. Through the expo, I learned of her free breastfeeding class at BRU Mira Mesa. It was so informative I was tempted to take it twice just to make sure I had all of the information. I strongly recommend it for you and your partner so that they can support you as you and baby get the hang of nursing. I attended her prenatal yoga class once and also enjoyed it. I love that Dawn takes time for everyone to share their difficulties and she addresses them all. Her ability to make a group setting feel so personal is truly impressive. This also shows through in her breastfeeding support group on Fridays in Poway. It's a bit of a travel for me and baby to get there but it's worth the trip. It's a small, informal setting (very yoga-like) and the women who come are so helpful and kind. Even though we haven't had any major BF issues, I continue to keep it tentatively on my friday agenda just for the camaraderie. If you have time afterward, she teaches a mamas and babies yoga class right when the support group ends. I strongly recommend Dawn for all of the above so I'm sure she'd also be an excellent doula. Maybe for my next baby? :) Thanks for being awesome, Dawn! I'm shooting for six months (and then one year) on my BF journey and I know who I'm coming to when the roadblocks come. read more

Dawn is great to work with, she knows her stuff! Prenatal yoga, lactation consulting, birth education, doula, you name it!

I can honestly say i do not know what I would have done with Dawn Dickerson when my baby was born. This was my first baby and I wanted to breastfeed but knew very little. I went to her for one private class prior to having the baby. When the baby was born i was not producing enough milk, and the nurses at the hospital were not helpful. Dawn came to the hospital to give me advice and help me through this difficult time, and also helped me to disregard the BAD advice I got from the nursing staff. Dawn also came to my home once I got home with the baby to help me once again and give me advice. She was always there when I needed advice, always answered my calls promptly and with empathy and good advice. My baby is now 7 months old and I am breastfeeding without any problems. I dont know if I would have made it this far without her advice. I highly recommend Dawn. read more

Dawn is a fabulous IBCLC who has provided me with so much help over the past few years over a range of topics and issues. She's been a voice of reassurance when I attended one of her support groups with my 7 day old son, and just needed to do a weight check, has answered frantic questions over text for me, all the way through giving me advice and support about breastfeeding through pregnancy, tandem nursing, gently night weaning and more. I had the opportunity to sit through one of her breastfeeding classes for new parents as an observer when I was doing my own lactation training and her class was wonderful. She's non judgemental and really has the ability to meet moms where they are at. In my own personal experience, not all IBCLCs are the same, and I have no hesitation recommending Dawn when any of my friends or clients need extra support. I love her calm relaxed nature and gentle manner with new moms. read more

I took Dawn's Breastfeeding 101 class a few weeks before my daughter was "due" and LOVED every minute of it. I saved all of the material and read over it in the weeks coming up to her birth. You see, I had a breast reduction six years ago and knew that I could possibly run into issues feeding my newborn so I wanted to be prepared as possible. I was sooooo glad I took the class. It gave me the confidence to tell the nurses and the lactation consultants at the hospital that I knew what I was doing and that I'd get the help I needed outside of the hospital if and when I needed it. I did need it, desperately, and just days after being released from the hospital, my husband and I took our newborn daughter to see Dawn where we weighed her, checked her latch, fed her, and weighed her again. We concluded that my daughter was gaining just fine and that I was doing a wonderful job feeding her. Days later, my daughter seemed insatiable and I made the decision to feed her formula via a supplemental nursing system to get her through until my supply caught up with her demand. Dawn continued to help us monitor her weight gain over the first couple weeks. We now are exclusively breastfeeding and our daughter turns six months old on the 14th. We are so grateful for her help and support in those early stressful moments of our daughter's life. read more

Dawn is great! This review is for her prenatal yoga class (and I know I will use her for lactation consulting, if needed). Dawn has a very soothing and cool demeanor - she truly knows how to have a person relax and how to have a person smile. Her yoga classes are very calming! I learned stretches that I now do at home. Also, she is incredibly knowledgeable. It is apparent Dawn has a deep passion for anything labor and baby related. She is happy to talk about such subjects, as well as so educated in them. Take her class - to learn yoga and to learn baby-stuff!! read more