Lactation support for you and your baby

You are not alone!

Welcome! I’m Ellen Schwerin, MPH, IBCLC, an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, small business owner, and mom. I provide home visits in Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, El Cerrito, Alameda, Orinda, Moraga, and Lafayette, California, to families who would like caring and expert lactation and infant feeding help. I love supporting diverse families and their babies, including those in the LGBTQIA+ community.

I’m in-network with Aetna/Meritain directly, with Cigna through Wildflower Health, and other PPO insurance plans are accepted through The Lactation Network (TLN): Anthem, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Multiplan (non-Aetna), PNOA, Sutter Health, and United Health Care.

In my 13+ years of experience, I have found that parents have the most successful lactation experiences when we work together before the baby arrives, so I encourage you to contact me for a prenatal consultation (and then I’ll meet with you and your baby soon after birth). But don’t worry if your baby is already here, I want to work with you too!

You can set up a free, prospective client, 20-minute phone call if you’d like more information by clicking the Book Online button or sending me a note here. I look forward to hearing from you!

I care about your goals and issues, and, whatever they are, you can count on me to LISTEN, and provide caring, non-judgmental, professional, and evidenced-based support. I am here to give you information and support so that you can make the best decisions for you and your family. My motto is: “It’s your body, it’s your baby, it’s your choice.”

My experience

I’ve helped over 2,500 families resolve their feeding challenges and raise happy, healthy babies. About Ellen >

My approach

I believe all parents deserve quality, non-judgmental lactation support and breastfeeding/chestfeeding education in the comfort of their homes. How I work >

Testimonial Blog

“I really enjoyed working with Ellen and always looked forward to her visits. Even though it was my 3rd baby, I know that I would not be having such a positive breastfeeding journey if not for Ellen. She helped remove a lot of the anxieties and frustrations I had. Learning how to do "laid back" breastfeeding from the comfort of my own bed/couch was an absolute game changer and my baby breastfed with Ellen's support has had much better head/neck strength from the get-go from her nursing position. My body has been so much less sore/worn down from this position too. I wish I had discovered it years ago! If you are looking for lactation support - please consider working with Ellen beginning from late 3rd trimester - having that continuity of care from the first few days home from the hospital was an incredible gift. I can't recommend her enough from my experience!”- Molly ⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒

“Ouchie ouchie ouch! That was me before working with Ellen from Happy Milk. After being home from the hospital with my newborn for only a few days, I knew that I needed some additional support to make things work better for the both of us. Ellen’s housecall was incredibly helpful…Ellen taught me some great tips to improve our latch that made an immediate difference. But the best part of all is that Ellen is incredibly warm and down to earth, supportive and non-judgemental, and just a lovely person.” - Adina ⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒

“I really enjoyed our visit with Ellen. I felt like she really took her time to make sure she answered all of our questions in a warm and loving way. She is really knowledgeable and friendly. I now feel like I have a support that is invaluable during my breastfeeding journey.” - Kristin ⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒

“Shortly after giving birth my daughter got dehydrated and spent some time in the NICU. We had difficulty with the latch and left the hospital using a nipple shield feeling like this was going to be our fate for our entire breastfeeding experience. My confidence was shattered and I was so apprehensive about weaning her off the shield but Ellen was so amazing!… Over two sessions working with her we were 100% off the nipple shield and using simple methods to calm both myself and my daughter to make breastfeeding a positive experience.” - Cassie ⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒

“I was incredibly impressed with Ellen's continued follow up after our visit, asking how things were going, answering my detailed questions and concerns, offering advice, and continuing to follow up until issues were resolved. No other health provider I've interacted with or heard about offers this level of support.” - Rosie ⭒⭒⭒⭒⭒

“Quick response and easy digital paperwork. Ellen comes directly to support you in the comfort of your own home. She was amazing when I was starting to develop mastitis and could barely get out of bed. Ellen supported and guided me through two separate breastfeeding experiences. I couldn't have done it as well or as long as I did, without her. She is a wealth of knowledge <3.” - Lindsay 

“Ellen was a calm and caring voice of reason after a hectic few days in the hospital! Unlike the nurses and lactation consultants at the hospital, who are in a rush to quickly check you and get the baby latched on, meeting with Ellen at home was a calm and relaxing way to revisit the nursing positions and guidelines that I learned in the hospital and to get my lingering questions answered. Ellen is extremely professional and warm, and has a wealth of information and resources to provide new moms. I highly recommend her services.” - Josie

“We are so thankful that we were able to find Ellen. She was a wealth of knowledge for us (first-time parents). She responded quickly, came to our home, had great suggestions and great referrals for other resources. She was a godsend.” - Anna

“Your search is over. I highly recommend Ellen. We worked together from birth and breastfeeding for the first time, through going back to work, and even afterward when I was running into production issues. She is extraordinarily knowledgeable and supportive, and always had guidance that felt right for me and my baby regardless of what we were encountering over the 10 months that we worked together. The breastfeeding journey can bring both immense joy and also challenges, and with Ellen, you can look forward to celebrating many successes and having the support you and your baby need.” - Karla