Published on February 10, 2025

Author: Robin Kaplan, M.Ed, IBCLC, FNC

At the San Diego Breastfeeding Center, we are dedicated to providing compassionate and expert care for families during their chest/breastfeeding journeys. It is with heavy hearts and sincere regret that we share an important update about our services.

Due to ongoing delays from TriWest in countersigning our contract, we are no longer able to provide insurance-covered appointments to Tricare families. This decision was not made lightly. We held out as long as we possibly could, hoping to avoid any gap in care. 

We deeply understand how difficult and frustrating this situation is for our military families, and we remain committed to supporting them through this transition.

Introducing SDBFC’s Low-Cost Clinic 

To help bridge this gap, we’ve added a low-cost clinic option for Tricare families. This affordable clinic is also available to families with insurance we do not accept, such as Kaiser, HMOs other than UCSD Managed Care, or MediCal, who may be unable to afford the cost of our one-on-one consultations.

Unlike our free support group, this clinic offers guidance from an IBCLC to provide a more in-depth and skilled assessment, as well as an individualized plan of care. 

These 90-minute sessions cost $49 and include:

• Oral exams (when needed)

• Weighted feeds

• Individualized care for latch, positioning, pain, and milk supply

Group size is limited to three families to ensure personalized attention.

Free Friday Support Group

We also continue to offer our free weekly support group led by Valori Sharp, our experienced lactation educator. This group provides general advice and weight checks in a supportive community setting.

Thank You for Your Understanding and Support

We are always looking for thoughtful ways to adapt and continue providing quality lactation care at accessible prices for our local San Diego families. The introduction of our new low-cost clinic has not only provided a much-needed solution for Tricare families but has also opened the door for many other local families with insurance we do not accept. 

Your family’s health and well-being remain our top priority, and we are proud to find creative solutions to support you.  We remain dedicated to serving you and advocating for better healthcare access for all families.

Due to their complex nature, all bottle feeding, pumping flange fittings, and functional nutrition appointments will only be available as private one-on-one consultations.

About SDBFC

The San Diego Breastfeeding Center was established in 2009 by Robin Kaplan, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Functional Nutritionist, and parent.  Her vision was to create a judgment-free, inclusive support system for families navigating infant feeding challenges.  SDBFC is committed to providing high-quality lactation and functional nutrition consultations to parents in San Diego and beyond. Explore our postpartum, prenatal, and functional nutrition consultations, take a breastfeeding class or attend a workshop.

About the Author

Robin Kaplan has been an IBCLC since 2009, the same year that she opened up the San Diego Breastfeeding Center.  Robin was the founding host of the Boob Group podcast and published her first book, Latch: a Handbook for Breastfeeding with Confidence at Every Stage in 2018.  Melding her passions for supporting lactating parents and holistic health, Robin finished her Functional Nutrition Certification in 2023. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her two teenage boys, hiking, traveling, weaving, cooking, and searching for the best chai latte.