Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Peters Christina Tenorio
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
We (Teresa Peters and Christina Tenorio) are the founders of the Pasadena Breastfeeding Center. We met while working at a community hospital in Pasadena and discovered a shared desire to positively impact the world, one family at a time. Both of us have extensive experience in perinatal health, teaching childbirth preparation, CPR, baby care classes, Mommy & Me, and hosting breastfeeding support groups. During our years at the hospital, we also worked together on the maternity floor assisting new breastfeeding couples, and served as the primary lactation consultants at the hospital-based breastfeeding center.
Unfortunately, changes due to the advent of COVID-19 led the hospital to permanently close our department. At first, we were stunned—we’d spent decades helping local families and couldn’t believe those services would no longer be available. But we quickly realized that WE could become that resource, and seized the opportunity to open Pasadena Breastfeeding Center.
Today, we provide in-home and telehealth lactation consultations that include infant feeding evaluations. Once a week, we provide free breastfeeding support groups to make it easier for parents to connect. We’ve also built strong relationships with many LA-based obstetricians, pediatricians, doulas, occupational therapists, pediatric dentists, and ear-nose-and-throat doctors to provide families with comprehensive support.
We believe in informed decision-making for parents—so we create a safe, confidential space where they can cultivate an experience that’s authentic to them. Our goal is to help families thrive.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a business in the middle of a pandemic was a crazy idea, so we set realistic goals for our first year. Building relationships with local health providers was a key objective for us. We visited local OB-GYNs and pediatricians to introduce our services and we were well-received. Our efforts paid off as we began receiving more referrals as our reputation gained strength.
Thanks to COVID-19, in-person visits were also challenging at first, as some families were hesitant to invite unfamiliar individuals into their homes. In response, we developed business policies with our mutual safety in mind, taking every precaution to stay healthy and protect our patients’ health. To this day, we continue to wear masks and gloves, use antimicrobial hand sanitizer, and thoroughly clean our equipment after each use. We also ensure that we’re current with all our vaccinations. It’s imperative for us to maintain a trustworthy and safe environment when entering someone’s home.
Another hurdle was accepting insurance—a difficulty we were eager to overcome to lessen the financial impact on the families we served. Initially, we offered a document called a “superbill” to self-pay families, which they could submit to their insurance companies for reimbursement. Ultimately, we partnered with The Lactation Network, which made our services much more accessible through our patients’ PPO insurance. This resulted in a full booking calendar, as insurance companies offered coverage for up to seven visits, which greatly benefited our clients.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Pasadena Breastfeeding Center?
The Pasadena Breastfeeding Center is unique thanks to our combined experience of more than 45 years working with perinatal families (before and after birth) and decades of experience as International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs). That depth of expertise can’t be overstated. We’re lifelong learners, which means we’re committed to adding to our knowledge by staying on top of emerging research and training so we can offer the best evidence-based care.
We also understand that no two families are exactly alike—so consultations shouldn’t be, either. Definitions of breastfeeding and parenting styles vary greatly from family to family, and we work hard to hone our cultural sensitivity as well as our emotional intelligence. We don’t rush through appointments or offer canned advice, but listen actively, ask open-ended questions, and customize our guidance based on families’ needs and preferences. This approach yields the best experience for everyone involved—and nothing delights us more when parents return to us during subsequent pregnancies or recommend us to their friends and family. We’re so proud of the bonds we’ve made.
Another distinguishing factor is Pasadena Breastfeeding Center’s deep connection to the San Gabriel Valley and the Greater LA community. We know this area intimately and have built relationships with clients and healthcare providers from all walks of life. The clinicians we refer to have been thoroughly vetted, and vice versa. Patients can have confidence not only in these relationships, but also how much we love Los Angeles County and want to see its families flourish.
Lastly, as for what people should know about our services: While we offer support before, during, and after childbirth, most people tend to contact us once the baby is born. During a typical lactation consultation, we take the baby’s weight before and after breastfeeding, assess their overall tone and oral structures, and perform a breast exam. We also discuss the family’s birth story and review the health history of the birthing parent and the child. Next, we review their goals develop a plan of care. If necessary, we give referrals to other health professionals and schedule follow-up lactation consultations to make sure we’re staying on top of changes and emerging challenges. Through all of this, we aim to offer detailed information and help parents set realistic expectations in uplifting and affirming ways.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
For professional training, a lot of credit for becoming an IBCLC goes to the University of California, San Diego. They have an outstanding program that lays the groundwork for interns who sit for the IBLCE exam and seek to become lactation consultants. UCSD instills a mindset of evidence-based practice, which has helped us excel in our field.
Huntington Hospital’s pre-pandemic perinatal services also deepened our expertise and advanced our education. We had opportunities to work in the neonatal intensive care unit, the maternity unit, and the outpatient center. We gained valuable insights into the functioning of healthcare systems and how to identify and respond to the needs of families. Even though as a large medical center, Huntington prioritized integrity by advocating for breastfeeding parents and babies.
We also want to give a big shoutout to our own families. First and foremost, our children have taught us to love and respect the breastfeeding journey. Noe Tenorio, Christina’s husband, has been a strong supporter of our business, encouraging us as we held our early business meetings at the Tenorio dining room table. Teresa’s daughter, Emily Peters, was an invaluable resource in the overall design, copy, and functionality of our website, as well as much of our early social media efforts. Her creative eye and digital expertise made a huge difference, and we are truly thankful for her contributions.
We’re also thankful for the physicians who regularly refer their patients to us—their endorsement is deeply appreciated. And of course, we are endlessly grateful for the hundreds of families who have trusted us to enter their homes, hold their babies, and help them breastfeed. We would be nothing without them!
Pricing:
- In-person Lactation Consultation $250.00
- Follow-up Lactation Consultation $175.00
- Telehealth Consultation $150.00
- Breastfeeding Support Group FREE
- With approval, services can be covered by insurance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pasadenabreastfeedingcenter.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pasadenabreastfeedingcenter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pasadenabreastfeedingcenter
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pasadena-breastfeeding-center-pasadena
Image Credits
Teresa Peters
