Congratulation on the birth of your child ... truly a life changing experience!

From this point forward you'll make many choices about the care and nurturing of your newborn, including the choice to breastfeed. By choosing to breastfeed, you will be providing your baby with the purest, most beneficial nutrition possible - your very own breast milk.

Follow the links below to learn more about all the benefits and how-to's of breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding Education

Breastfeeding Benefits: Benefits to Baby, Benefits to Mother, Benefits to Society, A Special Time

Breastfeeding Basics: Buy-Ahead Breastfeeding Supplies such as Hydrogel Nipple Pads, Nursing Bras, Lanolin Nipple Ointment, and more. Also body changes and leaking milk.

When and How to Start Breastfeeding: Topics covered include Latching On, Breast Milk Composition, Let Down, Supply and Demand, Positioning,Ways to Increase Your Comfort Level, Breast Discomfort, How Often and How Long to Breastfeed, Your Baby's Feeding Cues.

Breastfeeding in Public: Breastfed babies are exceptionally portable and easy to comfort no matter where your busy schedule takes you. Yet many women worry about breastfeeding in public.

Why You Need a Breast Pump: There are a variety of reasons women choose to pump their breasts, including ...

Breast Pumping: One of the most important elements in breast pumping is the pump itself. It must be effective and comfortable and keep pace with your milk supply. It's also important that the pump mimics your baby's suckling at the breast.

Working and Breastfeeding: Many women pump when they go back to work because they want to provide the best nutrition possible for their babies even though they cannot physically be with them.

Hand Expression: Hand expression can take several attempts to learn, so practice before you go back to work. Before beginning hand expression, wash your hands and have a clean container ready for milk collection.

Breast Milk Study: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed and cleared the claim that the patented silicone diaphragm used in the Ameda HygieniKit milk collection system creates a barrier that protects collected breast milk.

Milk Storage: Storing your milk in the same container you collect it in is very convenient. It saves time, minimizes waste of your precious milk, and reduces the risk of contamination. Hard-sided containers, whether glass or plastic, work best to protect your milk.

Questions and Concerns: Topics covered include: Inverted Nipples, Engorgement, Sore Nipples, Plugged Ducts, Breast Infection, Increasing you Milk Supply, and many more.

Engorgement and Sore Nipples: While breastfeeding can be a big change for a new mother, it is not normal for breastfeeding to hurt. Any pain that is experienced during the initial stages of breastfeeding can usually be attributed to one of two problems - Sore Nipples or Engorgement.

Is My Baby Getting Enough Breast Milk?: A new mothers biggest concern is about how much and how often her baby should breastfeed. Here are some guidelines to help you know if your baby is getting enough breast milk with each breastfeeding session.

How Do I Choose a Breast Pump?: Not all breastfeeding mothers will need to use a breast pump. However, if a mother and her baby will be separated for more than a few hours, or the baby or the mother is hospitalized, then using a breast pump will be very important.

In depth Breastfeeding Education - Brochure Form (.pdf)

How do I manage breastfeeding and working?: There are several breastfeeding variations for you to consider as you return to work. Evaluate your workload and your breastfeeding goals. Your situation and your feelings may change over time. There is no right or wrong variation of breastfeeding. Do what works best for you and your baby.

How can dads help with breastfeeding?: You are undoubtedly feeling a great deal of pride, joy and delight at the birth of your baby. There can also be some resentment, fear, insecurity and feelings of being overwhelmed. A new baby is a lot of responsibility, now and for the next couple of decades! Soon you will be feeling like a pro and very comfortable with your new role. Although you cannot breastfeed your baby, you play a key role in the success of breastfeeding your baby.

What should a breastfeeding mother eat?: Mothers often have questions about which foods are important to eat and which foods should be avoided during breastfeeding. The content of human milk varies only slightly among mothers regardless of what they do or do not eat. In a diet that is continually inadequate, the mother may have reduced stamina and minor illnesses; however, the milk will remain of good quality. No special diets or foods are necessary, but mothers should try to eat a balanced, varied diet to remain healthy, vigorous and energetic.

What breastfeeding information should I know before my baby is born?: Today more mothers are choosing to breastfeed their babies because breast milk is the perfect food for babies. It is easy to digest and gives the baby protection from many allergies and infectious diseases. Breastfeeding helps the baby develop a sense of trust and security. Mothers find breastfeeding very satisfying and in addition gain personal health benefits such as lower incidence of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis later in life. The whole family will find that breastfeeding saves time, money and energy, making it easier for the mother to be active and care for the needs of other family members.

How do I use a breast pump and store my breast milk?: Expressing breast milk with frequency is the key to stimulating and maintaining a good milk supply. Your pumping routine should simulate your baby's feeding schedule as closely as possible. If you are pumping while at work, you will need to express your milk when your baby would usually feed if you were together. If you are the mother of a premature or hospitalized infant, you will need to pump every 3-4 hours (even at night time) until your baby is ready to begin breastfeeding. Check with your baby's health care provider to see if there are any special instructions.

Questions mothers ask about breastfeeding: Until the 1930's, breastfeeding was almost universally practiced. At that time, infant formula, made from modified cow's milk, was developed and became a symbol of an affluent and technological society. This led to a dramatic decline in breastfeeding. Since the 1960's, studies have repeatedly proven the benefits of breastfeeding and the superiority of human milk over infant formula. With the support of physicians, nurses, dieticians and other medical professionals, as well as parents, breastfeeding has enjoyed a resurgence to again be the preferred way to feed a baby.

How do I hold my baby while breastfeeding?: Although breastfeeding is natural, there is a learning process for both you and your baby. Allow yourself several weeks to perfect these techniques. If at any time you feel unsure you are feeding your baby correctly, seek the help of a Board Certified Lactation Consultant or other knowledgeable health care provider. Correct positioning and latch-on can prevent many of the common problems mothers encounter when starting to breastfeed. You will most likely find that once breastfeeding is fully established, it can be one of the most rewarding experiences of new motherhood.

How does jaundice affect breastfeeding?: In the first few days of life, more than half of all full-term babies and approximately 80 percent of premature infants develop jaundice, a yellowish discoloration of the eyes and skin. Jaundice usually isn't a reason for alarm and doesn't cause discomfort for your baby. Often it disappears without any special treatment within seven to ten days. If treatment is needed, it is easy and painless and your baby's symptoms will subside quickly.

Can I still breastfeed my premature baby?: Giving birth to a baby prematurely can be an especially stressful time for new parents. You are undoubtedly experiencing some worry and uncertainty. While extra medical care is necessary, and the physicians and nurses are essential to your baby's recovery, you have a very important role also. Choosing to provide breast milk to your premature baby is one of the most important things that you can do.

Thrush - What is it and what can I do about it?: While sore nipples may occur in the beginning of a mother's breastfeeding experience, it is not normal for a mother to suddenly begin experiencing painful nipples after a period of pain-free breastfeeding. If all other causes have been ruled out, such as improper positioning or latch-on, a thrush infection should be considered as the possible cause of irritation and pain.