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Resources for breastfeeding mothers

Education and Counseling

  • Breastfeeding classes, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, (831) 625-4704
  • Lactation Education Service, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, (831) 625-4987
  • La Leche League Monterey Peninsula 373-0555
  • 24 hour National La Leche League hotline 877-452-5324
  • Medela, (800) 435-8316, ext. 534
  • Mothers' Milk Bank, (408) 998-4550
  • National Breastfeeding Help line 800-994-9662  
  • W.I.C. (Women, Infants, and Children Nutritional Program). This program offers free breastfeeding education and counseling, nutrition counseling, food coupons, and breast pump loan information for qualifying women, infants, and children. (831) 757-7651 (Salinas).

Support Groups

  • Lactation Education Service, Family Birth Center. Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula offers prenatal classes and phone and outpatient consultations. Call for more information (English only). (831) 625-4987.
  • W.I.C. (Women, Infants, and Children Nutritional Program). Free breastfeeding peer support group for W.I.C. clients during and after pregnancy. (English/Spanish). (831) 757-7651 (Salinas).

Breast Pump Resources

  • Advanta Care (sales), (831) 646-0303.
  • Mums the Word (sales and rentals), (831) 375-6867.
  • Ordway Pharmacy (sales), (831) 372-8085.
  • Star Pharmacy (sales), (831) 422-9004.
  • W.I.C. (Women, Infants, and Children Nutritional Program). (Free for W.I.C. clients). (831) 393-3251 (Seaside); (831) 757-7651 (Salinas).

Books

  • The Nursing Mother's Companion, Kathleen Huggins, R.N., M.S.
  • The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, La Leche League International
  • Breastfeeding Your Baby, Sheila Kitzinger
  • Breastfeeding Success for Working Mothers, Marilyn Grams, M.D.
  • Mothering Your Nursing Toddler, Norma Jane Burngarner, La Leche League International

Guidelines to Follow

Contact your doctor and lactation consultant if you do not see the following:

  First 8 Hours 8-24 Hours Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 On
Milk Supply You may be able to express a few drops of milk. Milk should come in between the 2nd and 4th day.   Milk should be in. Breasts may be full or leak milk. Breasts should feel softer after nursing.
Baby's Activity Baby is usually wide awake in 1st hours of life. Put to breast within 1/2 hour of birth. Wake your baby. Babies may not awaken on their own to feed.   Baby should be more cooperative and less sleepy. Look for early feeding cues: rooting, lip smacking, hands to face. Note that baby swallows regularly during nursing. Breasts should feel softer after nursing.
Feeding Routine Baby may go into a deep sleep 2-4 hours after birth. Feed your baby every 1 1/2-3 hours or as often as wanted. Feedings should be at least 8 times each day; 8-12 times is average. May go 1 longer interval, up to 5 hours, between feedings (in a 24-hour period).
Breast Feeding Baby will wake up and be alert and responsive for several more hours after the initial deep sleep. Nurse at both breasts as long as baby is actively suckling and mother is comfortable. Try to nurse for 5 minutes. Some nipple tenderness may occur but should be improving by Day 6. If the breast is too firm for the baby to latch on, hand express drops of milk to soften the nipple area. Nurse more than 15 minutes every 2-3 hours for the 1st few months of life. Mother's nipple tenderness is improved or gone.
Baby's Urine Output   Baby must have at least 1 wet diaper in the 1st 24 hours. Baby must have at least 1 wet diaper every 8 hours. Wet diapers should increase to 4-6 in 24 hours. Baby's urine should be light yellow. Baby should have 6-8 wet diapers a day of colorless or light yellow urine.
Baby's Stools   Baby should have a black-green stool (meconium stool). Baby may have a 2nd very dark (meconium) stool. Baby's stools should begin changing from black-green to yellow. Baby should have 3-4 yellow, seedy stools per day.