Thousands of Truckee/North Lake Tahoe women know Cindy Bansen as the woman who eased them into motherhood, the one whose calm voice and knowledge about breastfeeding gave them the confidence to be better mothers.
A strong believer in breastfeeding, prenatal, and postpartum care, Bansen spearheaded the move toward Tahoe Forest Hospital’s certification as a Baby-Friendly USA facility in 2010, a global initiative launched by UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Bansen’s personal experience of needing help after the birth of her first child — who was premature and jaundiced — made her realize that it takes so much to be a good mom.
Today, snug at home, Cindy sits in her quiet house with Max the cat curled up on the kitchen counter, while a fostered momma dachshund mix and pups rest behind a closed door. There is rarely an empty nest at the Bansen home.
Cindy retired from nursing at Tahoe Forest Hospital in April 2015, where she worked for over 26 years. Her son Paul moved to Santa Cruz after he graduated from UC Santa Cruz, and her daughter Helen is a senior at UC Davis. Her husband Pete is the Fire Chief at the Squaw Valley Fire Department.
What inspired you to specialize in lactation counseling?
After my second child came along, I talked the Home Health Services Manager into letting me do postpartum follow-ups for new moms. I wanted to support people who had jaundiced babies and in doing this I realized moms were not learning about breastfeeding. I needed to learn more because it’s not that simple. I trained with home health services for several years making follow-up phone calls and home visits. In 2001, I got my lactation certification.
What was involved in getting certified?
The starting phase is a 40-hour course. I had been taking continuing education about lactation all along. Then in 2009, I sat before an international board after completing 2000 hours of lactation counseling and 90 hours of credits. I took an exam and am now an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
What does a lactation counselor actually do?
A typical scenario would involve a new mom who is at home, day three postpartum, and she’s experiencing pain with breastfeeding. The baby isn’t latching on properly and is not getting enough nutrients. I would go to the house, check the baby’s latch and help mom decrease the pain by making corrections. It’s reassurance for the mom that the baby is getting enough.
Where did you study nursing?
I went to Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences, part of the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. That’s where I grew up. My mom was an OB [obstetrics] nurse and I really have a huge affection for babies. I worked in OB at Penrose-St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs for 10 years, then I met Pete through mutual friends. He was offered a job at Squaw Valley and we came out together to check it out. We moved to Truckee in 1988.
Did you get a job here in OB right away?
Yes, but not full time. I cleaned houses for a while and worked nights in OB, then worked up to full time. I eventually moved into home health services, then returned to OB in 2008 and transitioned straight back into lactation counseling.
Are there a lot of you in the world?
No. You have to really want to do it. It’s a passion. The exciting part for the hospital about being Baby-Friendly is that over 80 percent of our mommies breastfeed when they leave the hospital and we provide support afterwards.
In 2011, you were named Nurse of the Year by Tahoe Forest Hospital.
I think that was mainly because of the Baby-Friendly Initiative. I put a lot into it, but you don’t do that by yourself.
Now that you’re retired, what else are you doing?
I contract with the hospital to teach prenatal classes for breastfeeding, and I do some private lactation counseling. I teach Baby and Me classes at the Family Resource Center of Truckee. I’ve trained Spanish-speaking peer counselors in breastfeeding through the Nevada County Women, Infants and Children program. These women helped me culturally and they, in turn, helped the clients. Research supports that you need a peer, someone you can call on any old time and not wait for Monday. Women need to be there for each other. I also foster for the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe. At church, I operate the sound for the worship, and I babysit. It’s a lot of fun.
There’s lots of giving in your life.
Well, you have to give. That’s what life’s all about.
Any other hobbies?
Hiking and walking are favorites because I can’t really run anymore (Bansen sustained neck and back injuries as a passerby in the downtown Truckee explosion in 1993). I like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, being home and reading. I like to spend time with my husband. That’s a luxury, too.
