I am beyond impressed and forever grateful for Julia's knowledge and willing to help me during a stressful time for a first time mom. I had given up on breastfeeding (baby to nipple) and sought Julia's help for a last ditch effort to try again, as I was exclusively pumping. Julia walked me step by step on how to get a proper latch, positions, and how to use my breast pillow correctly. She also helped me with my pump. All from the comfort of our own homes and the use of FaceTime. She was thorough and gave me so many helpful tips. I didn't feel rushed and she took her time explaining everything to me. I feel like I have a better understanding and now can breastfeed without that horrible pain of being punched in the stomach every time my son tries to latch. Julia was so sweet and I could tell she was passionate about what she does and helping moms during the rough times of being sheltered in place and not having all the resources available because of covid. Julia is truly an angel and would recommend her to everyone ! I'm actually looking forward to breastfeeding my son. Thanks again Julia !!! read more

Julia has been beyond helpful for my low milk supply issues. I called her when she's on vacation; she still took the time to provide recommendations and answer mg questions. I learnt a lot from one FaceTime session with Julia: supplements, positions, use of pillows, pumping, etc. I gained confidence with her help and my supply is slowly but surely going up. Thank you!!! read more

I am very grateful for meeting Julia. Her kindness and knowledge are above and beyond. My newborn only wanted bottles and after one Facetime with Julia I learned how to best approach her and since then - no more bottles - I am back to breastfeeding! Julia was very dedicated and helpful and she gave me amazing tips that really helped me and my baby. I highly recommend Julia to any mom who struggles with breastfeeding. Thank you Julia! read more

After having mastitis three times my doctor recommended I contact Julia and I am SO grateful that I did. I was on the verge of giving up on breastfeeding and after just one session with Julia I learned so many helpful insights and tricks. The same night we met with her, our baby not only slept for her longest stretch (7 hours) but breastfeeding immediately felt better and I've been able to breastfeed her without any issues since. Julia continues to check in regularly and is available through multiple channels (including a quick text) which makes my life so much easier knowing I can quickly reach out to her with any immediate questions. HUGE thank you to Julia and all of her help!! read more

My son was born on Christmas Eve and while he latched well in the hospital, we both struggled once we got home. He had become dehydrated and wasn't taking in the milk he needed from me. We started formula but knew we didn't want to give up on breast feeding. The trouble was that we couldn't get an appointment anywhere due to the holiday! I found Julia's card my midwife had given me and gave her a call as my last ditch effort for sanity and breast feeding. Julia not only agreed to see us but did so immediately over FaceTime! In just 10 minutes she had fixed our biggest breast feeding struggle- pain! During our video chat my son fed the most he has from the breast with Julia giving amazing tips that we are using all the time now. After he fed she walked me through how to use my breast pump and my son has not had formula since. Julia is an invaluable resource to those who are looking to breast feed. There is so little information given to pregnant mamas about breast feeding and the hospital can only tell you so much in just 48 hours. I highly recommend Julia to anyone looking for even a little direction or support with breast feeding. read more

I was referred to Julia by my pediatrician after delivering my second child. I thought nursing would be a breeze the second time around, boy was I wrong! I was having much more pain than before and was losing hope that I'd successfully be able to nurse my baby. Julia came to my house, instantly made me feel comfortable, and gave me some tools to make nursing easier that I wish I'd known the first time! It's been 6 months and I have not had a clogged duct or pain since these first few weeks. I also have had a nightmare of a time dealing with insurance to get the lactation visit covered. She has spent hours on the phone with United Healthcare, on my behalf, trying to get me reimbursed. Julia has gone above and beyond what I paid her to do and that speaks volumes of the truly kind and generous human being that she is. I couldn't recommend her more! read more

My husband and I are so grateful for Julia. We were referred to her from our pediatrician and are so glad we reached out to her. She was quick to respond and even with the pandemic, she was superb over video sessions. She was patient, thorough, and kind. She made herself available over the phone and text for any questions and support. I had damaged nipples, poor latching, and low supply. She was able to guide me through all of these concerns and made a first-time mom stay positive amidst these crazy times with a newborn. We couldn't thank her enough for the support she gave us! read more

I was referred to Julia by my sons pediatrician. She was taking a break from in home services during Covid but generously offered a free appointment via FaceTime and entirely on my schedule to accommodate his next feeding. She provided very helpful suggestions and is open to more consultation. She was warm, supportive and helpful. What a resource to the community! Thank you Julia!! UPDATE: Julia continues to be my lactation consultation angel. More issues have popped up that occurred with previous child and she's been so responsive in providing me with helpful suggestions including items to purchase and things to do to find relief. She has made a TREMENDOUS difference in the first week home with my second child. I feel like I can actually be successful with breastfeeding with her support. She hops on the phone or text whenever to help me. I feel completely supported and not judged, unlike previous experiences with LCs with my first child. She is simply the best! read more

Would give 10 stars if I could. Julia is the most patient, helpful LC I've ever met. She was incredibly helpful for me as a new mom learning how to breastfeed and just survive a newborn!! She knows more than just stuff about nursing too. Julia FaceTimed me on MULTIPLE occasions to help me through latching, baby positioning, pillow positioning, and more. I've never actually met her in person because I had my babies in Covid times but she was just as, if not more, helpful. I may have given up on my 15 month journey BF if it wasn't for Julia. Don't think twice about giving her a call. read more

Julia is the absolute best person to have in your corner as you enter the world of breast feeding. I do not know how I can thank her enough for helping me through my darkest hour, guiding me as I navigated something that felt so difficult. Julia is a gift to this world and you will be so fortunate to have the chance to work with her. read more

I had a nerve wracking first few weeks with my daughter, and nursing did not come naturally to either of us. My daughter lost too much weight and I got very nervous. My pediatrician recommended Julia and I called her on a Monday and she came to my home the next day. She was kind but also honest and straightforward - she understood I was fragile but also knew we needed to get my baby to nurse well ASAP. In the coming weeks she worked with me to resolve a tongue tie issue, latch issue, supply issue, etc. She was invaluable and so so knowledgeable. I have been exclusively breastfeeding my daughter for a year now, and am so grateful for the support early on. I highly recommend Julia! read more

I am so grateful that our midwife gave us Julias contact! This is my first child so first-time breastfeeding and we have hit many bumps in the road. Julia has been more than helpful on multiple occasions in helping me walk through what to do for a clogged duct, mastitis, low milk-supply, fussiness at the breast and even a nursing strike! Whenever I text her with an issue we are having, she always gets back to me promptly and gives me as much time as I need on the phone to help walk me through it, she has even done a face-time appointment to see the baby's positioning during feedings. i would 10/10 recommend Julia for any questions or struggling you are having with breastfeeding; she is truly a Godsend. read more

When I needed help the most, Julia provided it. I can't thank her enough for all her advice and support during the first week of getting breastfeeding established. She provided actionable plans, jumped on a facetime call to coach me through getting a proper latch, and checked in frequently. Julia is extremely knowledgeable and was able to understand the problems and resolve them very quickly. I also appreciate that she explained to me what to expect in the hours and days to come. I was amazed at what she was able to do over video calls and I would say was much more helpful than an in office visit. I highly recommend Julia for lactation consulting! read more

Julia was referred to me by my pediatritian. I called her and she inmediatelly seemed willing and eager to help me. We setup an online consultation (she was away from California) for the same day, for my next feed. She was very caring and sweet but at the same time very driven and spot on on targeting the difficulties that we might have. A couple of days later she checked on me to know how things were going. Overall, an amazing experience! Very much recommend her if you have questions or doubts in your lactation journey read more

I was having so many issues with engorgement and mastitis. I called Julia to get some help and her advice was spot on. I was hating breastfeeding and almost ready to give up. Thank God for her. Her tips and tricks helped me out so much. She got on FaceTime to help me nurse my son and help me out with the best ways to feed him. I would definitely recommend Julia! read more

After giving birth and struggling with my son's slow weight gain, I called Julia for an in home consult. I was reluctant to contact a lactation consultant after attending a horrendous breastfeeding class by another lactation consultant--AKA breastfeeding Nazi and leaving in tears. Julia came to my house and was able to weigh the baby before and after his feed to see how much milk he was taking in and helped with a feeding plan. She went over a complete medical intake with me which helped reveal some of the reasons for my low milk supply (and solutions). Her consult was not cheap, but invaluable. The best part for me was the follow up. The early days of breastfeeding your brain can be in a fog, so it is great that Julia is available by phone or email after the initial consult. I've had to call her a few times for additional questions/advice and she has been very prompt with follow up. She has even taken the time to email me medical articles on issues I have been concerned with. Great job, Julia! Thanks for your help! read more

I'm Dr. Vogel's patient and a week after delivering my second son via C-section I showed up with raw nipples to see Dr. V. She suggested seeing Julia, and I can't say enough good things about her! Julia is like a bundle of comfort, great advice, recommendations, understanding and solutions you can't find anywhere else. It's one thing to read up and watch videos but it's totally different having her show you how to make it work. I breastfed my first born for 2 months and hated every second of it. With this one, I'm loving the experience! I know my son is getting the best nutrition! I owe so much to Julia, thank you so much for your time and experience. read more

If you are having issues with nursing you newborn, and you need someone caring, warm, knowledgeable, experienced, communicative and licensed to come to your home and help you, CALL JULIA! She is an angel! She immediately diagnosed a functional tongue tie in my newborn that a pediatric ENT confirmed, she gave me good ENT referrals, she calls and texts promptly, she gave me tips and tricks on how to pump, nurse, massage out blocked ducts, etc. She is a godsend, and I wish every maternity ward could clone her so new moms could benefit from her advice and guidance. She's the best! read more

I used to live in California and had known of Julia Denniston for years. When it came time for me to deliver my baby and embark on the journey of breast feeding, I was overseas as a military wife in rural Japan, with limited access to outstanding health care. Julia went out of her way to FaceTime with me (different time zone-accommodating and all) to coach me through several problems I was having. I had no idea what problems I would face (pain, engorgement, etc.) before having the baby and when the time came, I was a nervous wreck. She calmed me down and was consistent and reassuring with her tips. Can't recommend Julia highly enough! read more

I can't say enough amazing things about Julia. The absolute sweetest and most helpful consultant we could have hoped for. She was so quick to respond! As a result of COVID we had to do our session via FaceTime, but didn't feel that this impacted the results I saw. Julia was thorough, genuine and her experience shows through all of her useful tips and tricks (she's a breastfeeding whisperer!). I've already referred her to fellow moms in my family and would highly recommend anyone looking for a lactation consultant, to give her a call. Starting off breastfeeding can come with so many challenges and be so painful at times, it was just reassuring to have someone to ask questions and get feedback/guidance that made an immediate impact. Thank you so much Julia. (*I've never left a yelp review...for anything!.. but she is that incredible!) read more

This review is long overdue...Julia is kind, supportive, and extremely helpful! I called her in October and she immediately answered. No need to wait for a call back or make an appointment. At the time, I was struggling with weaning my child. Julia gave me many tips, all of which worked. She provided the support I needed and couldn't find otherwise. For the next two weeks, she continued to check on me and provide additional support and guidance. If your a breastfeeding mama and you're in need of help, I would not hesitate to call Julia! read more

I did not personally get to use Julia's services but wanted to write her a review on her excellent customer service! I was referred to her by my Pediatrician, I left Julia a voicemail right after we left our appointment. Within a few hours I received a text message from her stating that she will be out of town for a few weeks so she will not be able to help me out personally. She apologized that she had to send me a text as she was just getting off of a plane ride. She also wrote in her text four different referrals for other lactation consultants around the area where I lived! Julia definitely did not have to take the time to write me a text or even respond to my message as she was out of town for vacation. From this text alone, I can tell she is a very kind person who cares about her clients. Thanks to her and her referrals I was able to book someone the following day on a Sunday! read more

Julia's knowledge and experience, immediately put you at ease with whatever your breastfeeding issues might be. Being a 2nd time Mom- I thought I would not need the support breastfeeding this time around. However- each breastfeeding journey can have its own challenges and Julia was able to help identify and provide a plan for me to be successful. Due to COVID the consultation had to happen virtually but she was so accommodating with your schedule and she thoughtfully checked in. She is an incredibly kind individual who truly cares about mothers and their well being. I feel extremely grateful to have been referred to Julia! read more

As a first-time mom, I credit Julia Denniston 100% with my success in being able to breast-feed my baby exclusively for her first six months of life. I have heard all kinds of horror stories about how difficult breast-feeding is... And I was very nervous to take on the challenge. Even though I was committed to making it work, I knew it would be a little bit more challenging than just using formula. Julia was instrumental in educating me on all aspects of breast-feeding, pumping, etc. she was always quick to answer all of my last-minute panic ridden phone calls related to pump dysfunction, breast feeding technique, and excess production of milk. She made me feel very comfortable while guiding me through the process. I could not recommend Julia highly enough! read more

I am so glad my pediatrician referred me to Julia! I had just gotten home from the hospital a couple days prior and I was so exhausted and overwhelmed with trying to figure out how to nurse and pump. Julia was able to come over the day I needed assistance and was full of excellent knowledge and tips and tricks. It was exactly what I needed. I called her a few other times when I had blocked ducts and again recently when I felt my milk supply was getting low. She has helped me to exclusively breastfeed for 8 months. I would highly recommend her! read more

Julia Denniston visited us in the hospital at Alta Bates on the last day of our stay to help us with our breastfeeding issues. We were struggling with my milk not having come in yet and the baby having trouble with latching. She was extremely knowledgeable and spent the necessary time with us to troubleshoot and figure out a solution with us. Several nurses, our midwife, and another lactation counselor all had tried to help us and gave us all sorts of advice and hands-on attempts, but it wasn't until she showed up that our baby was able to latch on properly for the first time. Given how helpful she was in the hospital, we scheduled a home visit with her the following week through her private consultation services (at an hourly rate). Things were going better, but they certainly could still use improvement. Julia was prompt, organized, and efficient. She showed up right on schedule, brought her own baby scale and had all the potential equipment that we might need on hand. She helped us troubleshoot what other factors might be contributing to the difficulties (e.g. found out one of my medications could be a cause of my initial low milk supply) and how to address each of them (starting on Fenugreek). Then we went through an entire breastfeeding session where she helped us with positioning and techniques. Julia was constantly talking throughout the session, sharing her wealth of information and even covering potential questions we might encounter in the future (e.g. green breastmilk is normal if you have a lot of spinach). By the time we were done, we were assured that we were on the right track, how to proceed, had all our questions answered, and had experienced the smoothest breastfeeding session up to that point. Julia followed up with an email to me, my midwife, and our baby's pediatrician that described the issues we were having, a lactation care plan, and a follow-up phone call 24 hours later. Julia provided the perfect balance of warmth and thoroughness, not being pushy (unlike some of the "lactation Nazis" I've heard about). We are eternally grateful that we found her and would highly recommend her to anyone that needs some (or lots of ) help with getting started with breastfeeding or is experiencing any frustrating with breastfeeding, she'll fix it! She is just amazing. read more

Julia is SO SO SO wonderful, helpful, sweet, and knowledgable. After leaving the hospital and having supplement and pump after each feeding I was hitting my breaking point. She came in and gave us the tools we needed to relax and build up my milk supply. Now I'm exclusively breast feeding, pumping only when I want a supply in the fridge, and every one is sleeping more! She follows up the day after the session by phone call and is available for questions via text and email. I can't say enough good things about her! read more

If I could give Julia 10 stars, I would. She is amazing! She came to my home on a Sunday when I was desperate and in need of serious lactation help. She got me on a lactation plan (which included breast milk and formula) that has helped my milk production tremendously! She is so knowledgeable, warm and caring. She followed up each visit with a letter to me and my pediatrician about the plan we discussed at each visit and she even diagnosed a short frenulum in need of snipping (you would know what it is if your newborn has it because your nipples would be RAW!). Our pediatrician didnt even diagnose it (!) and she supports Julia's decisions 100%. I would recommend her to any of my friends in the east bay with newborns and in need of lactation consultation. read more

Julia came to my rescue right after I had my baby and she was unable to latch. She literally dropped everything and showed up at my house after our little one had cried for 12 hours because she was unable to eat . She proceeded to help us through the next 8 weeks as we graduated from different ways to feed her (syringe, nipple shields, pumping and bottles). She was encouraging and always answered my questions (which there were many!). I'm thrilled that we kept with it and my little one gained all of her weight back quickly and is thriving. We exclusively breastfeed now and I never had to give her formula. I can't recommend Julia enough for anyone that is trying to get the hang of breastfeeding as she gave me the confidence and support I needed at a really tough time. read more

Julia helped me about 2.1/2 years ago. Don't know why I haven't written this review earlier... By the end of week 1 of breastfeeding I was ready to give up - my son wasn't latching well, and I was in a ton of pain (cracked, bleeding nipples, etc). I was dreading each feeding... Long story short, I called Julia on a Saturday, and she was able to come within just a few hours. Within just one visit she made a big difference, and I continued breastfeeding for 16 months. I highly recommend her to anyone who is in need of help when it comes to breastfeeding. read more

Julia was a true life saver. She helped me with both of my babies. I was in pain and ready to give up on nursing but one meeting with Julia turned things around. I am so glad I called her as she showed me the proper technique and how nursing could be pain free. If you are having trouble she can provide help. She is so kind and knowledgeable - I highly recommend. read more