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Human milk is the most natural form of nourishment for your baby. Breastfeeding, also called chestfeeding, offers many health benefits for babies and parents and helps sustain the bond initially formed during pregnancy.

At the Family Birth Center, our team offers expert guidance and resources to support your family to the fullest extent, from your child's birth through the end of your breastfeeding or chestfeeding journey.

Prenatal Guidance for Expectant Parents Who Choose to Breastfeed or Chestfeed

Planning Ahead 

We offer prenatal classes for expectant parents who plan to breastfeed or chestfeed, where you and your partner or a support person can learn the benefits and what to expect.

Breastfeeding and Chestfeeding Resources for Expectant Parents

Postpartum Breastfeeding and Chestfeeding Guidance at Your Bedside

Getting Started

At the Family Birth Center, your entire care team is specially trained to help you and your newborn get a healthy start to breastfeeding. As a Baby-Friendly designated birth facility, our team is committed to supporting the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)-endorsed Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.

Additionally, certified lactation consultants are readily available to offer expert support during your hospital stay. Our team, which provides the same guidance as that of private lactation consultants, helps you:

  • Recognize and follow your baby's feeding cues
  • Find comfortable feeding positions for you and your baby
  • Learn to help your baby latch on
  • Learn to manage your breast pump
  • Learn to manage breastfeeding difficulties for baby and mother
  • Understand how your diet affects nutrients in your breast milk

Resources for Breastfeeding and Chestfeeding Parents

Expert Guidance to Support Your Breastfeeding or Chestfeeding Journey

Baby Bistro Breastfeeding Support Group

At the Family Birth Center, breastfeeding support continues beyond your hospital stay. We offer a free weekly support group for breastfeeding parents. New members are always welcome.

Join Our Baby Bistro Breastfeeding and Chestfeeding Support Group

Lactation Support Warm Line

Additionally, our lactation consultants remain accessible to answer your questions by phone. Leave a message on our warm line and a certified lactation consultant will call back to discuss your questions and concerns. 

Call us at 773-702-8885

Prenatal Breastfeeding and Chestfeeding Resources

Take advantage of opportunities to learn as much as you can and plan ahead as you prepare to welcome your little one.

Help yourself prepare to feed your baby on day one by learning and reviewing the basics of lactation, position and latch.

Classes

Breastfeeding Your Infant
Choose from live and self-paced options offered by the Family Birth Center.

Online and Mobile Resources

Breastfeeding/chestfeeding basics:

Learn to latch:

Mobile Milk:

Sign up to receive educational tips via text message.

Set yourself up for breastfeeding/chestfeeding success by planning ahead.

Find birth and postpartum doulas who are accessible to all:

First, contact your insurance company or look up your plan on their website to find out what is covered.

Tips to understand your coverage and navigate the process for obtaining supplies and services:

If your insurance coverage is through Illinois Medicaid, you only qualify for one pump every five years. If you do qualify, they will ship your pump to you a few weeks prior to your due date.  

If you deliver early or don’t get your pump in time, the University of Chicago Medicine can distribute a pump to you at the hospital via Neb Medical. 

 

Before you start maternity leave, discuss the accommodations you’ll need for lactation support when you return to work and/or school. And learn your rights in Illinois.

Postpartum Resources for Breastfeeding and Chestfeeding Parents

Our Baby Bistro support group and warm line offer direct access to our experienced team of certified lactation consultants.

Learn more about other helpful resources for parents who choose to breastfeed or chestfeed.

 

Also, check your insurance plan website for contracted lactation consultants. 

 

Lactation providers who serve the South Side: 

If you would like to order donor milk but face financial hardship, inquire about financial assistance options.

Make your own DIY hands-free pumping bra

Make a pumping plan, including goal volumes, milk storage guidelines, etc.:

Discuss your right to pumping accommodations at work and school:

Request an accommodations letter from your healthcare provider.

Help your childcare providers feed your child human milk by sharing information about supportive practices and proper handling of human milk:

Online Communities

Virtual support groups for BIPOC families:

Social media groups:

Apps and Mobile learning 

Pregnancy Apps

Feeding and Diaper Tracking Apps 

Baby Tracker in What to Expect App 

Huckleberry 

Baby Tracker Newborn Log

Lactation Apps

Breastfeeding Solutions: Troubleshooting common problems

Mommy Meds

Breastfeeding and COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy: What to know if you're pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding

Some people have questions about if COVID-19 can be passed to a baby from breastfeeding.

A lot is still unknown about how COVID-19 is spread. Person-to-person spread is believed to happen mainly from respiratory droplets passed on when an infected person coughs or sneezes. This is like how influenza (the flu) and other respiratory pathogens spread.

In some studies on COVID-19 and another coronavirus infection called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), the virus has not been found in breast milk. However, we do not know if the COVID-19 virus can be passed in breast milk.

Breast milk gives protection against many illnesses. There are rare times when breastfeeding or feeding expressed breast milk is not recommended.

CDC does not have specific guidelines for breastfeeding when infected with a similar viruses such as SARS-CoV or Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV).

CDC recommends people with the flu keep breastfeeding or feeding expressed breast milk to their baby while taking precautions not to spread the virus to the infant.

These are CDC Breastfeeding Guidelines for people with COVID-19 or who are being tested for COVID-19.

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most babies. A lot is still unknown about COVID-19. The decision to start or if to keep breastfeeding must be made by the person who will be breastfeeding along with their family and doctor.

A person who is positive for COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19 and is being tested for the virus must take all precautions to keep from spreading the virus to their baby. Precautions include washing hands before touching your baby and wearing a face mask if possible, when feeding at the breast.

When expressing breast milk with a manual or electric breast pump:

  • Wash hands before touching any pump or bottle parts.
  • Follow recommendations for proper pump cleaning after each use.

If you can, have someone who is not sick and is feeling well feed the baby.