Finding Support and Information << Breastfeeding Home << womenshealth.gov

Finding Support and Information

Home > Breastfeeding Home > Finding Support and Information

Once you have started to breastfeed, keep trying! There are many people who can support you in your effort to give your baby the best start. Some may already have been helping you during your pregnancy and birth.

Who Can Help?

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) – Also called a "lactation consultant," this person is a credentialed breastfeeding professional with the highest level of knowledge and skill in breastfeeding support. IBCLCs are experienced in helping mothers to breastfeed comfortably by helping with positioning, latch, and a wide range of breastfeeding concerns. Many IBCLCs also are nurses, doctors, speech therapists, dieticians, or other kinds of health professionals. Ask your hospital or birthing center for the name of a lactation consultant who can help you. For more information, you can visit the "Find a Lactation Consultant" Directory.

Breastfeeding Peer Counselor or Educator – A breastfeeding counselor who can teach others about the benefits of breastfeeding and help women with basic breastfeeding challenges and questions. A "peer" means a person has breastfed her own baby and is available to help other mothers. You can find a peer counselor with the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program or mother-to-mother support group meetings from La Leche League. You can also contact the National Breastfeeding Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 and speak directly with a breastfeeding peer counselors. Some breastfeeding educators have letters after their names like CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor) or CBE (Certified Breastfeeding Educator). These are not the same as IBCLCs but still can be quite helpful.

Doula (DOO-la) – A woman who is professionally trained and experienced in giving social support to birthing families during pregnancy, labor, and birth and at home during the first few days or weeks after birth. Doulas help women physically and emotionally, and those who are trained in breastfeeding can help you be more successful with breastfeeding after birth.

Pediatrician – A medical doctor who focuses on treating babies, children and teens.

OB/GYN or Obstetrician/Gynecologist – A medical doctor who focuses on treating women's reproductive health issues before, during and after pregnancy.

Certified Nurse-Midwife – A health professional who provides care to women during pregnancy, labor and birth. Midwives can also provide breastfeeding advice.

Additional Resources

Publications

Ask Womenshealth.gov Your Breastfeeding Questions — This information sheet gives information on the Womenshealth.gov Breastfeeding Helpline, a service to support women and their choices for feeding their infants.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=ask

Breastfeeding — This web site briefly describes the benefits of breastfeeding, what to do if you have trouble breastfeeding, and links to information from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development about breastfeeding.

http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/

Breastfeeding Community-Based Demonstration Projects — This site lists the breastfeeding community demonstration projects that were created for the National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign. These organizatons and hospitals offer education about breastfeeding and support for women who are breastfeeding.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/owh/campaigns/community.cfm

Fathers Can Support Breastfeeding — This brochure is designed to promote breastfeeding among African American fathers. It discusses why fathers should encourage breastfeeding and how fathers can be a part of the breastfeeding team.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Fathers/FathersCanSupportBF-brochure2.pdf

Fathers Supporting Breastfeeding - Video — The video tells the story of Jason, a young, urban (soon-to-be) father who learns about the benefits of breastfeeding as he and his partner, Reena, near the end of her pregnancy and approach the birth of their baby. Their story addresses the issues and concerns that many couples face when making the decision to breastfeed their baby.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Fathers/SupportingBreastfeeding.HTM

Fathers Supporting Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding Your Baby - Making the Decision Together — This publications was designed to promote breastfeeding in the African American community. It discusses the following topics: Breastfeeding as a joint decision, breastfed babies are best fed, how breast milk is made, talking to each other about breastfeeding, and possible concerns you may have.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Fathers/MakingtheDecision-brochure.pdf

WIC Learning Center — This Internet site contains educational materials, such as journal articles and policy statements, and provides links to additional breastfeeding resources for more information.

http://www.nal.usda.gov/wicworks/Learning_Center/

WIC Nutrition Coordinators and Breastfeeding Coordinators Organized by FNS Region — This internet site provides contact information for local and regional WIC Nutrition Coordinators and Breastfeeding Coordinators.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Contacts/coor.HTM

Find a Lactation Consultant (Copyright © ILCA) — This on-line resource explains the role of the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in maternal and child health. It lists reasons why a mother may need to consult an IBCLC and links to a searchable on-line directory of IBCLCs in the United States.

http://www.ilca.org/falc.html

Frequently Asked Questions on: Mother-to-Mother Support for Breastfeeding (Copyright © Linkages Project) — This publication provides information on the importance of mother-to-mother support in breastfeeding and gives suggestions on how to begin a support group on your own.

http://www.linkagesproject.org/media/publications/frequently%20asked%20questions//MTMS_FAQ_update04-04.pdf...

Got Mom... (Copyright © ACNM) — GotMom.org was created by the American College of Nurse-Midwives to provide breastfeeding information and resources for mothers and families. It contains information on why breast milk is best, dispels common misunderstandings about breastfeeding, and it provides a list of resources that can help women and families with breastfeeding.

http://www.gotmom.org/

La Leche League Groups in the USA and Territories (Copyright © LLLI) — Many local La Leche League groups and areas in the United States provide meeting information on the Web. The links on this site contain information on LLL meetings and Leaders in these places.

http://www.lalecheleague.org/WebUS.html

Workplace Breastfeeding Support (Copyright © U.S. Breastfeeding Committee) — This publication explains why it is beneficial for employers to develop a breastfeeding support program. It also gives information on how to start an effective program and establish a breastfeeding policy.

http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/Issue-Papers/Workplace.pdf

Organizations

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Content last updated February 27, 2009.

Breastfeeding: Best for baby. Best for mom.