Breastfeeding Resources
Breastfeeding can be extremely beneficial for both parent and child. Several notable health organizations encourage and provide support for breastfeeding, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [pdf], and the World Health Organization.
On this page:
- Benefits and Guidance
- Breastfeeding Help Lines
- Addressing Health Concerns
- Lactation Consultants
- Other Milk Sources and Support Services
- Book Recommendations
Benefits and Guidance
- Your Guide to Breastfeeding [pdf] — Extremely comprehensive guide provided by the Office of Women’s Health; includes information on returning to work, breastfeeding in special circumstances (multiple babies, adoption, etc.) and more.
- Breastfeeding Guide for Moms: Your Questions Answered [pdf] — Provided by WIC, this resource is a quick guide to several topics relevant to breastfeeding.
- Global Health Media Breastfeeding Videos — These videos cover a range of lactation topics and are available in several languages.
- Breastfeeding 101 Resources — The Breastfeeding Center of Pittsburgh provides information on a range of lactation topics. These materials are written by certified lactation consultants and other medical professionals.
- International Breastfeeding Center — Provides information and literature on a range of topics related to lactation, as well as videos that demonstrate breastfeeding under specific circumstances. The resources from this organization are available in several languages.
- Le Leche League International Webinar Library — Offers a library of webinars on breastfeeding topics.
Breastfeeding Help Lines
- PA WIC Breastfeeding Warm Line: 855-427-5666
- Allegheny County Breastfeeding Help Line 412-697-2243 (8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET, M-F)
- PA Department of Health Healthy Baby Line: 800-986-BABY or 800-986-2229
- National Women’s Health Information Center (peer counselors): 800-994-9662
Lactation Consultants
If you deliver your baby in a hospital, they will likely have lactation consultants available onsite and offer services after delivery. If you are looking for assistance
independent of the hospital, some options are listed below. Your child’s pediatrician may also have lactation consultants available..
- Breastfeeding Center of Pittsburgh — visits and consultations, coordinated care with the baby’s pediatrician, prenatal breastfeeding, and Working and Breastfeeding
classes along with additional support as needed; 412-246-4726 - Heritage Valley Sewickley — board certified lactation consultant available by appointment; Chippewa location, 724-773-6842; Beaver location, 724-773-4797
- Western Pennsylvania Hospital — lactation consultations available at 412-578-7030
- Lactation Consulting at UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics — 412-692-6000; ask for a lactation consultant visit
- Lactation Center at UPMC Magee — telephone assistance for mothers once home, and specially scheduled in-person or virtual outpatient consultations; available to any mother, regardless of whether they delivered at Magee
- Healthy Start Center for Urban Breastfeeding — 412-247-1000; must be enrolled in Healthy Start
Addressing Health Concerns
It is important to seek the care of a medical professional for any health concerns, including the concerns listed below. These resources are meant to raise awareness of different health concerns related breastfeeding, not to give advice in any way.
- Mastitis is an infection that develops in the breast tissue. It can be painful and cause swelling, inflammation and redness.
- Cleveland Clinic — Mastitis — Information on the symptoms, treatment and management of mastitis.
- La Leche League International — Mastitis — Care plan for mastitis and other engorgement conditions.
- Mayo Clinic — Mastitis — Recommendations for adjusting breast feeding techniques while experiencing mastitis.
- Weaning is the process of switching a baby’s diet from breast milk to other foods and drinks. For more information, please read Weaning Information by the CDC.
- Weaning: How To by La Leche League International — How to wean babies under one year and older children.
- Starting Solid Foods — Guide from Boston Children’s Hospital [pdf] — Information from the American Academy of Pediatrics on how to safely start babies on solid foods.
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development on Weaning — General guidance on the process of weaning infants up to 6 months of age.
- Hyperlactation is breast milk oversupply.
- Breastfeeding and Medications — Some medications can enter your milk supply, so it is important to know what is safe and what is not if you are providing milk for your child.
- Breastfeeding and Alcohol
- Nutrition While Breastfeeding
Other Milk Sources and Support Services
- Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank — This organization accepts donations of unused breast milk and donates it to medically fragile babies who will greatly benefit from the boost to their immune system.
- WIC — The Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children provides nutrition services, breastfeeding support, health care and social service referrals, and healthy foods. Families must have income at 185% of the poverty level to receive services.
- CMU Pantry — Available to CMU undergraduate and graduate students, the CMU Pantry provides diapers, baby wipes, diaper rash ointment/cream, baby shampoo and infant formula to students families who need it.
- La Leche League — This international organization was created by parents to help people meet their feeding goals. It provides information and support to parents who want to nurture their children and feed them human milk.
- Allegheny County Breastfeeding Coalition — The mission of this coalition is to encourage and help normalize human milk feeding in every community across Allegheny County.
Book Recommendations
These books were recommend by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
- Sweet Sleep: Nighttime and Naptime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family (also available as e-audio on Hoopla)
- American Academy of Pediatrics New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding
- Better Breastfeeding: A Doctor's Guide to Nursing Without Pain and Frustration
- The Nursing Mother's Companion: The Breastfeeding Book Mothers Trust, From Pregnancy Through Weaning (also available as an e-book on OverDrive/Libby and as an e-audio on Hoopla)