Best Bay Area New Parent Resource Centers
Expecting a child is one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking event a person will ever experience. Luckily for Bay Area residents there are wonderful resource centers available where new or expectant parents can take classes to prepare, meet other families, and interact with trained professionals who can take a lot of the guesswork out of those first few intimidating months.
Day One Centers in San Francisco, Palo Alto, and Walnut Creek
Day One brings together highly recommended lactation consultants, prenatal and antenatal classes, carefully selected baby products, as well as a strong support community for parents. In exchange for a membership fee new moms and dads are welcome to attend any number of classes and support groups.
The Day One stores are open to non-members and offer a large array of lactation supplies including pump rentals. The San Francisco store is home to Nancy Held, the most often recommended lactation consultant in the Bay Area.
Blossom Birth Center in Palo Alto
For parents who are unwilling to sign up for a membership in order to have access to classes and support groups, Palo Alto also offers another amazing resource center. Blossom Birth presents an impressive array of pre and post-partum classes, Yoga, support groups, and is the only center in the area to offer certification in infant CPR.
Maternal Connections at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View
The Maternal Connections website isn't much to look at, but the physical store more than makes up for the lack of online glitz. Aside from offering a full array of pumping supplies – pumps for purchase and rent – the small store is the best place on the Peninsula to be fitted for and to purchase large sized nursing bras.
Maternal Connections is also a great lactation resource for moms needing a little help getting things started. Helpful lactation consultants and support groups can make the process a little easier and the ones on staff here know exactly what they are doing.
Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City
Sequoia Hospital, recognized for its incredible Labor & Delivery services, offers a nice range of pre and post-natal classes for families residing a bit further up the Peninsula. Consider the Sibling Prep class to help older brothers or sisters learn a bit about caring for a baby.
The Sequoia lactation consultants are also very well regarded and often come highly recommended.
The Public Library
All of the resources listed above offer a lending library as one of their resources for families, but for the most part the books and videos that are available can also be found at most of the Bay Area's public libraries. Before you head out to your local bookstore to buy a book of parenting advice consider visiting your neighborhood library to see if they might have the answers you're looking for. Who knows, somewhere in the stacks you might meet another young mom looking for help with a similar issue.
