Breastfeeding Support

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Did you know that breastfeeding has proven, significant health benefits over infant formula for both infants and mothers?

Breastfeeding is the best choice for infant feeding because:

• it is the perfect first food for babies' growth and brain development;
• it protects your baby against diarrhea, constipation, allergies, asthma, cancer, diabetes, ear infections, tooth decay, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDs);
• it is convenient and environmentally sound;
• it even provides health benefits for mom!

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first 6 months of baby's life, and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired.

Sonoma County Breastfeeding Resource Guide (English) (Spanish) (pdf)
This guide, provided by the Sonoma County Breastfeeding Coalition, contains contact information for a variety of breastfeeding support services and programs. These resources are for you if:

• You need advice or have questions about breastfeeding your baby.
• You are having problems breastfeeding your baby and would like someone to help you.
• You would like to rent or buy a breast pump or other nursing supplies.
• You would like information on classes about breastfeeding or support groups for breastfeeding mothers.

Breastfeeding Clinics/Support Groups (English/Spanish) (pdf)
Source: Sonoma County Department of Health Services.

Breastfeeding Picture Guide
Source: March of Dimes.

Breastfeeding: Strategies for Success
Source: March of Dimes.

Secrets of Baby Behavior
This blog from UC Davis Human Lactation Center is a great resource for professionals and parents, providing practical information for better understanding babies' cues and messages. Research-based, the advice and tips enable parents and care providers to better understand babies' needs for appropriate feeding, sleep and care.

Lactivists of Sonoma County
Lactivists are women helping women by educating and empowering women to provide children with all the benefits of breastfeeding. Affiliated with the Sonoma County Breastfeeding Coaltion, this group works to increase the public's awareness of all the benefits of breastfeeding by participating in community events. Meetings are the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month. Email SonomaLactivists@yahoo.com for more information, or visit the Facebook page.

Breastfeeding in the Workplace

Breastfeeding Works for Working Mothers (English) (Spanish) (pdf)
Are you returning to work, and want to continue to breastfeed your baby? This brochure, provided by the Sonoma County Breastfeeding Coalition, contains advice for nursing mothers on the issues surrounding returning to the workplace while breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding Works in the Workplace (pdf)
This brochure is the companion piece to "Breastfeeding Works for Working Mothers." It explains the benefits of having nursing mothers return to work while breastfeeding, and provides employers with guidelines for accommodating nursing mothers.

Breastfeeding Support in the Workplace (pdf)
Developed by the United States Breastfeeding Committee, this 6-page issue paper explains the benefits of breastfeeding support in the workplace, and outlines simple, effective strategies employers can use to develop a support program tailored to the company.

Lactation Accommodation: Expressing Milk? California Labor Code Expressly Gives You Rights!
The California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) website provides information about lactation accommodations that employers must provide, and clear instructions on how to file a report or claim with the DLSE Bureau of Field Enforcement.

Break Time to Express Milk (pdf)
California Labor Code section 1030 requires employers to provide adequate break time for nursing mothers to express milk.

Break Time for Nursing Mothers under the Fair Labor Standards Act (pdf)
This US Department of Labor fact sheet explains the break time requirement for nursing mothers that was established by the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" that was signed in to law on March 23, 2010.

Breastfeeding in the News

The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding
On January 20, 2011, Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin released The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding.

Healthy People 2020 Objectives Combat the Barriers to Breastfeeding
Source: United States Breastfeeding Committee.

Healthy People 2020 Objectives: Maternal, Infant, and Child Health
Scroll down to "MICH-21: Increase the proportion of infants who are breastfed."
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Breastfeeding Data and Reports

A Report on California Breastfeeding and Hospital Performance - Sonoma County (pdf)
Hospital polices have an enormous impact on a mother's initiation of breastfeeding. This report is from the California WIC Association. It compares local hospitals in terms of their numbers of new moms who exclusively breastfeed while in the hospital, which is an important indicator of future breastfeeding success.

California Breastfeeding Statistics
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Related Links

California Breastfeeding Coalition

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Breastfeeding

La Leche League

WomensHealth.gov

United States Breastfeeding Committee