Breastfeeding support

Helping you and your baby make a great team.

Your breast milk is made for your baby and has everything your baby needs to grow. Breast milk may even protect your baby from illnesses such as asthma, ear infections and respiratory infections.

Breastfeeding is also good for you! Mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and certain types of breast and ovarian cancers. The experience of breastfeeding can help you feel close and bond with your baby.

Experts say breast milk is all your baby needs for the first six months. Breast milk continues to be important after six months when your baby is eating other foods.

A passion for moms and babies

We are passionate about breastfeeding because of all the health — and financial — benefits for families and their communities. We offer care from certified lactation consultants and trained nurses during your stay and support after you go home.

We respect your interests and choices regarding your baby. Please let us know right away if you have a different feeding plan for your baby.

How we support your breastfeeding

Some ways we help you succeed in breastfeeding include:

Feeding your baby as soon as possible: Most babies want to eat within the first hour of birth. We will help you breast feed your baby in a good position and check for a good latch-on. Although some tenderness is normal in the beginning, pain with feedings may indicate your baby is not attached properly. Babies get the most to eat when they are well-attached.

Learning when your baby is hungry: We encourage feeding whenever your baby is hungry. We will help you learn signs that your baby is hungry, such as licking, sticking out their tongue, putting their hand to their mouth or turning their head with an open mouth looking for your breast. Most babies want to eat eight times or more in 24 hours, especially during the night. At this age, night feedings are especially important for your baby’s growth and development.

Latch and positioning: The feeding position should be comfortable for you and your baby. Our nurses and specialists can help you learn how to position and latch your baby so both of you are comfortable and your baby gets the best flow possible.

Avoiding pacifiers and bottles at first: Experts say it is best to wait to give your baby a pacifier or bottle until breastfeeding is going well (usually around 4 weeks old). You can learn a lot from paying attention to your baby’s cues, so we do not provide pacifiers for soothing a healthy newborn. Ask your nurse about other techniques to soothe your baby.

Asking for help: Your hospital stay is a great time to get support as you and your baby learn to work together as a team. Our trained providers and staff are here to help you successfully care for and feed your baby. We also have lactation consultants available Monday through Friday.

Ongoing support, close to home

Learning to breastfeed is a journey that can take weeks and even months for parents and babies to learn together. That’s why we provide ongoing breastfeeding support through a board-certified lactation consultant at our Adventist Health Women’s Clinic in both Portland and Clackamas.

Additional resources: Droplets

The Droplets website is an excellent resource for breastfeeding education. They encourage parents to take advantage of the first few hours and days after baby's birth and offer tools and support to guide you in your breastfeeding journey.

To speak with a lactation consultant or to make an appointment, please call (503) 251-6262.