Breastfeeding Staff Resources and ListServ
- Breastfeeding Home
- Benefits for Babies, Moms, Families & Communities
- Going Back to School & Work
- Medications & Recreational Drugs
- Diabetes & Obesity Relationship to
Breastfeeding - Family Support
- Frequently Asked Questions
- IHS Best Practice Breastfeeding Site Contacts:
Suzan Murphy
1-877-868-9473
(1-877-TOTWISE)
Jenny Chee, Chinle, Arizona
Brenda Cook, Anchorage, Alaska - Breastfeeding Listserv
- Breastfeeding Links
- Staff Resources
Breastfeeding ListServ
Go to the Breastdeeding ListServ
- To subscribe: Next to 'List Functions' click on Subscribe
- Default mail application will come up
- Fill in your name to submit request
Supporting the Choice to Breastfeed
Employee care
Many of our employees are mothers who return to work. Supporting their choice to continue to breastfeed means:
- Less sick time/leave taken for illness and lowering health care costs, since breastfed babies are less likely to be ill
- Reduced turnover; employees are more likely to return to work after the birth of a child if they can maintain breastfeeding while working
- Improved productivity, loyalty, employee satisfaction and morale
For more information, see the new I.H.S. Circular (WORD 55k), and see the section of this web page on Going Back to Work or School
Patient care
Education Materials
The following files are word documents. Please edit to fit your local needs.
- Breastfeeding is natural, but not always easy (WORD 354k)
- Sore nipples (WORD 25k)
- Engorgement (WORD 36k)
- Milk Supply (WORD 25k)
- Going back to work or school (WORD 25k)
Easy Guide to Breastfeeding for American Indians and Alaska Natives
Click on the title above and then click on “Browse Catalogue” choice. Scroll down to pregnancy, the Easy Guide at the end. 100 can be ordered at a time. Delivery takes about 2 weeks.
For free copies of the Close to the Heart video/dvd and posters, email suzan.murphy@ihs.gov or call 1-877-868-9473.
Managing Breastfeeding With Near-Term Infants (WORD - 42KB)
The following is a sample Policy and Procedure for managing care of breastfeeding newborns and their mothers:
OB Unit Sample Policy (PDF 2MB)
PCC Template Ideas (PDF)
Job description ideas – templates
- Breastfeeding Support Technician (WORD 38k)
- Breastfeeding Support Coordinator (PDF 2MB)
Need More Ideas?
Use Uptodate – at the I.H.S. web site - You will find current practitioner information about meds, breastfeeding facts and management
Local resources that may have breastfeeding support information and materials include:
- WIC – WIC sites have extensive breastfeeding support information for families. Check with your local/tribal/county/state programs
- State, county and city health departments - Try a web search for “breastfeeding coalitions” in your area, or - take a look at other “breastfeeding coalitions” web pages, like:
- Hospitals/clinics - Call your local medical facilities, ask for breastfeeding support staff or lactation consultants
- IBCLCs (International Board Certified Lactation Consultants) - Look at the ILCA (International Lactation Consultant Association) web site (www.ilca.org) Type in your zip code and get all the nearby IBCLCs. Be sure to establish business first, such as payment. Not all IBCLCs are able to provide free information.
- La Leche League - There may be a local LLL Chapter in your area that can offer support. If not, call 1-800-LALECHE , then press 8.
- For questions about mothers taking medication while breastfeeding, use:
- Uptodate at the www.ihs.gov
- The medication section of this web page
- Your local poison control hotlines and clinic pharmacy
- Thomas Hale’s Medications and Mother’s Milk, is a desk resource that is user friendly, reasonable (~$25), and regularly updated source
National resources of information and materials (For more details, see Links section)
- www.4women.gov
- www.lalecheleague.org
- www.aap.org
- Indian Health Services
- Breastfeeding Hotline 1-877-868-9473 – staffed 24/7. If no answer, leave a message and calls are returned within 12 hours.
Need more program ideas?
Check with the following Best Practice links for how they are making breastfeeding support work in their areas:
- Jenny Chee, Chinle Arizona jenny.chee@ihs.gov
- Brenda Cook, Anchorage, Alaska bcook@SouthcentralFoundation.com
Need to keep track?
Collecting data about infant feeding choice can be done on RPMS. For more information, click on the Infant Feeding Practice Collection Tool file below:
Infant feeding practice collection tool (WORD 65k)