Breastfeeding
How to get the support you need to succeed.
You might think that you don’t need to worry about breastfeeding until after the baby comes, but don’t wait. You may or may not have a lactation consultant at your disposal when you give birth, so learn what you can now from mother to mother support. Find friends who have already breastfed successfully and learn from them.
Mother-to-mother support
It helps to prepare for breastfeeding by being around breastfeeding mothers, and learning about breastfeeding basics. You can find a community of other pregnant and new mothers at meetings and online discussions of La Leche Leache, Attachment Parenting International (now Nurturings), Holistic Moms, and Mocha Moms. La Leche League and other organizations have online directories to help you find mother-to-mother support nearby.
- Find a LLL Leader in the US
- Find a CinnaMoms support group.
- Find a Breastfeeding USA Counselor
- Find your state, local, tribal, or cultural Breastfeeding Coalition
- Find a peer counselor with WIC. See the online directory of state agencies.
- The US Department of Women’s Health offers online breastfeeding resources.
Helplines
The InfantRisk Center is a worldwide call line for questions about breastfeeding and medications. The center, founded by Dr. Tom Hale, provides up-to-date evidence-based information on the use of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Infant Risk Center
806–352–2519
Monday through Friday 8:00 to 3:00 PM (CST)
For helplines in Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom, see Kellymom.
Lactation consultation
If you want to talk to a lactation consultant, ask your birth attendant for a recommendation. If you’re giving birth at a Baby Friendly hospital, you will have breastfeeding support built in.
The International Lactation Consultant Association offers an online tool for helping you to find a professional Lactation Consultant in your area.
The National Association of Professional and Peer Lactation Supporters of Color has a provider’s directory.
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Baby Cafe is an organization that coordinates a network of breastfeeding drop-in centers and other services to support breastfeeding mothers. It’s unique because moms don’t have to wait for help, but can drop-in, be in the company of other breastfeeding moms, and have questions answered by a professional.
Helpful websites
In addition to the websites of the organizations above, here are some other helpful breastfeeding websites:
- The top go-to website for reliable breastfeeding information is Kellymom.
- Nancy Morhbacher is a seminal lactation consultant, author and entrepreneur, who wrote The Breastfeeding Answer Book.
- BreastfeedingBasics is the stellar website from lactation consultant, Anne Smith
- Jack Newman, MD, is a renowned Canadian physician specializing in breastfeeding support and advocacy.
- William Sears, MD, is an American pediatrician well known for breastfeeding advocacy.
- The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) is an independent nonprofit coalition of more than 50 nationally influential professional, educational, and governmental organizations that share a common mission to drive collaborative efforts for policy and practices that create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States.
- World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) protects, promotes, and supports breastfeeding worldwide.
Breastfeeding Books
Have a few basic breastfeeding books to read while you’re pregnant and refer to when you’re breastfeeding.
- The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International is the classic book on breastfeeding by the world’s experts. Read this book and have it on hand.
- The Breastfeeding Answer Book: Pocket Guide Edition by Nancy Mohrbacher is a great book to have on hand for reassurance and answers once you are breastfeeding.
- The Black Woman’s Guide to Breastfeeding by Katherine Barber makes an important contribution to breastfeeding in addressing the unique circumstances of black breastfeeding moms.
- Nursing Mother, Working Mother by Gale Pryor and Kathleen Huggins is the best book on breastfeeding and working.
Breastfeeding in public
Don’t be intimidated by nursing in public. Whose public is it after all? Most people do not care and you can wear discreet clothing or put a baby blanket over your shoulder. Or, you can be indiscreet. Breastfeeding in public is legal in all federal locations and all states have laws that specifically allow women to breastfeed in any public or private location.
Breastmilk has monetary value
Your breastmilk has innumerable benefits to you and your baby in protecting you both from disease and will save you money in healthcare costs. But, it also has a tangible financial value. In the first six months, you produce about 25 ounces of breastmilk each day. If you sold that 25 ounces to a milk bank for $5 an ounce, you would receive $125 for a day’s worth of breastmilk. Based on that value, in a month you produce $3,750 in breastmilk and incidentally save your family $150 in formula costs. If you exclusively breastfeed for six months, you produce $22,500 in breastmilk and save your family nearly $1000 in formula costs. Bravo!
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