I am a lactation consultant in the maternity department and have had the pleasure of working with Stephanie Sweeney for 16 years.
Stephanie grew up in Massachusetts and went to nursing school at Quincy City Hospital School of Nursing. She began her nursing career in the Boston area in med/surg, and after 3 years moved to California and began her work in obstetrics. First at UCSF, and then settling in at Marin General Hospital where she has been for the past 40 years. Stephanie's focus has been in the postpartum area doing couplet care with families. This is where her interest in breastfeeding support was born.
In 1999 the Lactation Center opened and Stephanie was asked to start a Mom's Breastfeeding Support Group. Stephanie also did vacation coverage in lactation and after a few years started working regularly in both postpartum and lactation. Her initial training in lactation was as a Certified Lactation Educator which gave her the foundation for the topics covered in her support groups. The group runs every Thursday from 11-1230, only missing a week if there is a holiday. Most years this is only Thanksgiving.
There are educational topics that cover a wide range of themes such as Breastfeeding challenges, the emotional needs of the new mother, nighttime needs, and returning to work. There are sometimes guest speakers who cover nutrition for mom, infant massage, pelvic floor health, and maternal mental health. This group is free, and open to all mothers and their babies regardless of where you deliver your baby. It is a wonderful community service. Stephanie brings a scale and women can weigh their babies at the group. There are discussions about much more than the topic of the day. Women are encouraged to talk about whatever is on their minds, ask questions, and most importantly get support from peers. The magic of the group is the friendships that form and last long past attending the group.
In 2004 Stephanie became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. A rigorous certification that requires coursework, 2500 hours of working with breastfeeding women and an examination with recertification required every five years.
In my years working with Stephanie, I have seen the magic happen. When we used to have the group in the hospital I would plan a lactation appointment to be on a Thursday before the group for a mom who was struggling. I could then walk her down and introduce her to Stephanie and help her settle in. These moms who were not quite sure they could manage to go to a group were welcomed in by both Stephanie and the other mothers. I cannot tell you the numbers of women I have watched over the years gain confidence as a mother, make lasting friendships, support one and other, and build community. As the moms go to the group they start out as the new mom and over time become the experienced mom offering support and advice to others. Stephanie nurtures these connections, and friendships grow. Many women go to lunch together after the group, meet up on other days, take walks, or do other things together. These are vital connections on the journey through early motherhood.
I have had the pleasure of covering the group when Stephanie goes on vacation and I can see first hand how important these meetings are for the women in our community.
When I realized that 2019 was 20 years that Stephanie has been providing our community with this amazing support, I knew I needed to recognize her in some way. Stephanie is a dedicated nurse who works tirelessly for her patients and their families. The Mom's group has been an extension of her passion that has a ripple effect far beyond the weekly meeting. I am so thrilled that she is being honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.