I didn’t know I needed breastfeeding support. My mom breastfed me so I assumed it would be easy. I thought getting my baby to latch on, producing a plethora of breast milk and soothing my baby just like the women do in those pastel colored hospital brochures they give you at the hospital would be. You know the ones that say things like “best for your baby” and the “ultimate bonding experience.” I thought breastfeeding would be easy.
But, it wasn’t. I needed breastfeeding support. The problem was that when I had my babies, breastfeeding wasn’t cool. Breastfeeding in public was pretty much shunned. There were no Facebook groups encouraging me and giving me tons of advice.
I breastfed all three of my babies for a collective time period of 1 year. I was not as successful as I wanted to be, but I really do believe the breast is best. We now know that if a mom can get that breastfeeding support within the first few days of birthing her baby she and her child will go on to reap the benefits of breastfeeding like a more nurturing bond between Mama and baby, less sickness during infancy and later in life and a much calmer and less cranky baby.
I hope that every Mama doesn’t share my experience. I hope that every Mama gets all the breastfeeding support she needs to breastfeed for a long, happy and confident breastfeeding journey. With that in mind, here is a list of as many places as I can find where Mamas can get breastfeeding support, advice and encouragement. Check out the list below.
Pittsburgh Black Breastfeeding Circle
Breastfeeding Center of Pittsburgh
The Midwife Center for Birth & Women’s Wellness
Lactation Center at Magee Women’s Hospital
PA Breastfeeding Referral Guide
Allegheny Country Family Support Centers
Allegheny Country Breastfeeding Coalition
Three Rivers Mother’s Milk Bank
Breastfeeding Hotline for Allegheny County – 412-687-ACHD (2243)
Most insurances now provide FREE breast pumps. Be sure to inquire with your insurer.