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.
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:
Sign up to receive educational tips via text message.
Set yourself up for breastfeeding/chestfeeding success by planning ahead.
- Create a breastfeeding/chestfeeding plan to share with your birth team.
- Plan for co-lactation or lactation by non-gestational carriers.
Find birth and postpartum doulas who are accessible to all:
- Sokana Collective, offering a sliding scale for birth, postpartum and basic lactation support
- Chicago Volunteer Doulas
- Chicago Birth Works
- Project Hope, for residents of Chicago's West Side between ages 12 to 25
- Find perinatal support services and programs in Illinois
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:
- How to Get a Breast Pump Through Insurance
- Order a Breast Pump and Supplies Online Through Insurance
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:
- LaShanna Kimmons
- Kendra Shelby
- St. Bernard Bosom Buddies: Mondays at 11 a.m. Call for an appointment.
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.:
- Going Back to School or Work
- Pumping Strategies for Working Parents
- Pumping Resources
- Paced Bottle Feeding Technique for Breastfed/Chestfed Babies
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:
- Where Black Moms Can Turn for Breastfeeding Help
- Milky Mommas
- Chicago Breastfeeding Mommas
- Birthing and Breast or Chestfeeding Trans People and Allies Facebook Group
Apps and Mobile learning
Pregnancy Apps
- Text4baby: Tips and reminders via text message
- Baby Center: Weekly information and community-building
- Mobile Milk: Educational tips via text message
Feeding and Diaper Tracking Apps
Baby Tracker in What to Expect App
Lactation Apps
Breastfeeding Solutions: Troubleshooting common problems
Mommy Meds
Breastfeeding and COVID-19
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.
