Breastfeeding Support

Breastfeeding Support at UVM Health

Leading health organizations agree that breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for your baby. But breastfeeding isn’t always easy or possible. Many new parents need help getting started and continuing breastfeeding.

At University of Vermont Health, our teams are committed to providing the highest level of breastfeeding support. We provide personalized education, assistance and encouragement to help you meet your breastfeeding goals.

Why Choose UVM Health?

As leading pregnancy and childbirth experts in the region, we offer:

Experienced professionals: Our obstetric teams include physicians, midwives, advanced practice providers and nurses who provide breastfeeding support. Many have received specialized training to become certified lactation consultants and international board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLC).
One-on-one support: We provide one-on-one care in the hospital to help you get a strong start breastfeeding. After you go home, we continue to support you. Digital health visits and home visits may be available, depending upon your location. We also offer a number of support groups and classes for breastfeeding.
Donor breast milk: Some UVM Health locations offer pasteurized milk from healthy human donors for newborns who need supplementation. This resource ensures your baby receives the nutrition they need and all the benefits of breast milk, without interruption.

Why Is Breastfeeding Important?

Experts recommend that babies receive breast milk exclusively during their first six months, when possible. Breastfeeding is also recommended as you introduce solid foods up to age one, and for as long as you and your baby wish.

Breast milk is tailored nutrition for your baby that changes to meet their nutritional needs. The antibodies in breast milk help your baby fight infections and prevent future illnesses.

Breastfed babies have lower risks of many health conditions, including:

Asthma
Ear infections
Obesity
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Type 1 diabetes

Breastfeeding is also beneficial for you. Parents who breastfeed have lower rates of breast and ovarian cancer, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Home Health & Hospice

Family Care at Home

We provide expert and compassionate at-home care and support services to pregnant people and new parents, as well as physical therapy and other supportive care for children and families in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.

An occupational therapist walks through a door and smiles at a pediatric patient.

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What to Expect

Our breastfeeding services start during pregnancy and continue after delivery, for as long as you need. They include:

Breastfeeding Education and Preparation

Breastfeeding education is an important part of your prenatal care that helps you prepare and lets you know what to expect. Your obstetric provider will talk to you about breastfeeding and breast pumps and provide information about breastfeeding classes.

Our lactation consultants also offer visits before delivery to talk about breastfeeding. This service is especially helpful if you’ve had problems breastfeeding in the past.

Breastfeeding Support in the Hospital

If you choose to breastfeed, we help you get started as soon as possible after delivery. Strategies we use include:

Encouraging skin-to-skin contact immediately after delivery, which helps promote your milk supply
Positioning your baby during breastfeeding so they can achieve a good latch
Feeding or pumping eight to 12 times per day

Our lactation consultants can also help with specific challenges, such as breastfeeding:

After a cesarean section (C-section)
When your baby is in the NICU
More than one baby

Breastfeeding Support at Home

After you go home, we are still here to support you. We can connect you with breastfeeding support through with outpatient lactation support, such as your pediatrician, home health services, or local and national organizations.

Addressing Breastfeeding Concerns

We find that most breastfeeding concerns are temporary. But having a trusted expert at your side to see you through a particular challenge can make all the difference. Common breastfeeding issues include:

Breast concerns, including pain, lumps, swelling and redness — with or without a fever
Breast engorgement that lasts more than 24 hours
Latching difficulties
Painful or cracked nipples
Slow infant weight gain
Undersupply or oversupply of milk

Breastfeeding Support at Work

Many parents want to continue breastfeeding after they return to work. Our lactation consultants can help you master pumping and storing milk. We can also help you establish a schedule that combines breastfeeding and bottle-feeding using breast milk.

Patient Resources

University of Vermont Health Classes & Support Groups: Offers compassionate, expert guidance to help new and expectant parents feel confident and supported on their feeding journey
Bright Future Lactation Resource Center: Information, handouts and articles about breastfeeding
La Leche League: Helps parents, families and communities to breastfeed, chestfeed and human milk feed their babies through parent-to-parent support
La Leche of New York: Helps people worldwide to breastfeed through support, encouragement, information and education
La Leche of Vermont: A volunteer organization that provides breastfeeding information and support to those who want to breastfeed their infants
New York Statewide Breastfeeding Coalition: The NYSBC is an organization made up of lactation consultants, health care providers, regional breastfeeding coalitions and the major statewide maternal and child health organizations
Vermont Local Breastfeeding Resources: A collection of support group, online classes, resources and education