Fortunately, in the last few years there has been an explosion of resources for the nursing mom.   With 77% of moms trying to breastfeed, it seems that everyone is getting on the bandwagon!  

However, exercise caution.   One of the “booby traps” that we’ve identified is articles or websites that LOOK like they are supportive of breastfeeding but actually perpetuate myths and misinformation, or provide information that is not evidence-based.   Sometimes those articles pop up on super-popular parenting websites that get millions of page visits per month . . . just because you read something about breastfeeding on a popular site that has a great information in other areas (such as pregnancy, or best gear for a new baby), doesn’t mean that it has been checked out as reputable for breastfeeding!  Some websites have clear conflicts of interest.   As you can imagine, it is really hard to police the information on the web, so we are going to provide you with a start of where you can find great breastfeeding information, and will work hard to continuously develop this resource list (Let us know if you have suggestions!)   Final word of caution:  No information you find on the internet is a substitute for a consultation with an IBCLC or a breastfeeding-friendly pediatrician.

Best Breastfeeding Info & Blogs

Kellymom.com:    This is one of the most respected breastfeeding sites.   Although it does not have the most modern look you can rely on it for a vast store of evidence-based information and rest assured that there are no conflicts of interest.    A lot of breastfeeding professionals turn to this site.

Dr. Jack Newman:  This doctor is simply amazing and a leading expert.   His website has fantastic handouts that you can take with you to the pediatrician’s office, and there are great DVDs and resources on his site, which is well-organized and easy to navigate.  While you’re there, support his cause, he is an angel. 

The Motherwear Blog:   Tanya Lieberman, IBCLC, runs one of the best breastfeeding blogs on the ‘net.   If you are expecting we strongly recommend that you sign up for her blog because you will not believe what you will learn.   There are great links for breastfeeding help on the left column of her blog, and she has covered incredibly diverse topics from breastfeeding after reduction surgery to helping victims of sexual abuse breastfeed successfully, to hand expressing milk to important advocacy news.   Regular updates on the latest scientific news and product reviews (completely unbiased, which is rare) in a warm, easy to understand and  objective style.  Other outstanding blogs are Blacktating, frequently hilarious ”news and views by a woman of color,” Breastfeeding123, with a wide range of breastfeeding info and activist info, and  Mamaknowsbreast with synopses of the lates breastfeeding news in a hip, modern style.

Breastfeeding.com:   Probably one of the biggest, most trafficked breastfeeding sites.    Lots of great information, including going back to work, great videos, products etc.

Womenshealth.gov:   The Office of Women’s Health, part of the Department of Health and Human Services has some good resources, and a helpline:  800-994-9662 for breastfeeding questions.

WorkandPump.com:  This is a terrific website for moms who are planning to go back to work after having a baby, with huge amounts of great info on your rights, how to enroll your employer, pumping tips and more.  Run by yet another selfless mom who wanted to see other moms be able to succeed.

Parenting Blogs & Sites:   There are scads out there but only a few that are truly breastfeeding-friendly.   A few we like, and we expect this list to grow:  BabyGooRoo.com:    A wonderful, non-judgmental, positive parenting site with lots of great health and breastfeeding info.   Founded by a top-level breastfeeding expert but tailored to all of us sleep-deprived moms!  Sister site AmysBabies.com has great guides, bookmarks, brochures that are affordable and concise.  PhDinParenting.com posts extremely interesting, thoughtful posts, is willing to tackle tough issues, and is supportive of breastfeeding yet very pro-moms-doing-the-best-they-can-and-no-one-is-perfect, which we love. 

Finding Local Resources

Support Groups:  La Leche League   Who hasn’t heard of La Leche League?    The pioneer in the breastfeeding movement has a lot of information on it’s website, including where to find mother-to-mother support groups all over the world.  La Leche League Leaders provide help over the phone, at meetings, or even through home visits, and everything they do is provided free as a service to moms through a vast volunteer network.   If you want to find local resources such as lactation counselors or the best breastfeeding-friendly pediatricians, check with your local or state La Leche League leaders, or consider becoming a leader yourself and getting involved. 

Finding birth help:  Doulas of North America (DONA):  Since your childbirth experience impacts breastfeeding, we strongly urge you to consider hiring a doula (some of whom may be covered by health insurance).   You can search DONA for both birth doulas, who specialize in labor, and post-partum doulas, who are educated in baby care, breastfeeding, caring for mother, etc.   While “baby nurses” usually only care for the baby, post-partum doulas practically do it all!   Doulas also usually have a good handle on who the best pediatricians and lactation counselors are. 

Finding a Lactation Consultant:  International Lactation Consultants Association    ILCA is a professional association but they have a terrific search tool to find a lactation counselor in your area by zip code.  Or you can go on to Breastfeeding.com which has a zip code lookup too. 

Finding a Hospital:  Baby-Friendly Hospital:   Learn about “The Ten Steps“  that hospitals are following that have achieved the designated “baby-friendly” status, and why they are so successful in helping moms breastfeed!   Also has a list of hospitals that have already earned the designation.  While there are 3,000 maternity and birth centers in the U.S., only a small fraction–3% as of March 2009–are designated Baby-Friendly.   Since there are still so few Baby-Friendly hospitals, you may want to check if your hospital at least does not give out free formula diaper bags, which have been shown to undermine breastfeeding success–Ban the Bags has a list of birth centers & hospitals.   Best for Babes is working to raise awareness of Baby-Friendly and Ban the Bags and apply social marketing to increase those numbers!  Please support these worthwhile organizations. 

Finding an Ob/Gyn or Pediatrician:  Unfortunately, there is no website (yet!) that lists breastfeeding-friendly physicians by zip code.  A good place to start is by contacting a breastfeeding support group, a doula, or a lactation consultant and asking for recommendations of good physicians that are truly supportive of breastfeeding.   There are a very few physicians that carry the title MD, IBCLC after their name, these are the most expert in lactation science.  Doctors who use MD, FABM are committed and highly knowledgeable about breastfeeding (they are members of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine) and would be our first choice to seek out.  For more info on choosing a pediatrician or ob/gyn, see our suggestions on assembling your A-team, or Dr. Newman’s handout. 

State Breastfeeding Coalitions:   Most states have an active coalition of volunteers and experts that are leading advocacy efforts and have a wealth of information and resources.  The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition  happens to be one of the best and most active in the country.   They have great handouts for breastfeeding, an awesome resource page for working mothers, and latest breastfeeding news.

More to come soon . . . this list is not yet complete!  . . . will be adding resources by category . . . bear with us!

The information in this document is in no way intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition and is not a substitute for an in-person evaluation by a breastfeeding-friendly pediatrician or qualified, independent Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).