Family Health

Breastfeeding Resources: Local & Beyond

Breastfeeding may be simple and natural, but every expecting or new family needs straight information and accurate help to get started. With books, videos, baby clubs and Internet websites, blogs and listservs, families have many sources to turn to on breastfeeding.

Not all of that information is useful, appropriate or even accurate. Staff from the Breastfeeding Support Services Program at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has put together the following list of reliable breastfeeding resources.

Local Lactation Consultants
International Board Certified Lactation Consultants are the health professionals for breastfeeding. They can be found at hospitals, public health departments and in doctors’ offices.

Most hospitals that deliver babies in Central Kentucky have lactation consultants on staff. To find an IBCLC, contact your hospital, your local health department, the International Lactation Consultant Association (www.ilca.org) or the Kentucky Breastfeeding Resource Guide at (www.kybreastfeeding.com/ResourceGuide.html)
Prenatal Breastfeeding Classes
Area hospitals that deliver babies generally offer breastfeeding “how to” classes through their childbirth education programs. Contact your hospital to get a schedule. Prenatal breastfeeding classes are also offered monthly in Lexington at Baby Moon (335-5949), Babies R Us (263-8598), and the Health Department (288-2348).

Breastfeeding Support Groups
Mother-to-mother support groups give expecting or new moms an opportunity to meet other mothers and chat about the challenges and rewards of breastfeeding and parenting. Meetings are free and open to families throughout Central Kentucky.

  • La Leche League: Offers a daytime meeting the fourth Monday of each month at Baby Moon, 2891 Richmond Road, Lexington. Free. Info: 559-8488 or www.baby-moon.org. For other groups in Kentucky, visit www.lllofkytn.org/find-a-leader or phone 1-800-La-Leche
  • Mindful Moms of Lexington: Meets the first Saturday of each month, also at Baby Moon. Not for breastfeeding only, Mindful Minds offers a supportive atmosphere and a closed Facebook group.

Hens and Chicks: Meets every Thursday afternoon at Baby Moon. Also not for breastfeedig only, the group offers a supportive atmosphere for first-time moms of babies 4 months and younger.

The Internet

  • Kentucky Breastfeeding Resource Guide (covers the entire state): www.kybreastfeeding.com/ResourceGuide.html
  • Lactation Improvement Network of Kentucky (LINK) http://breastfeedkentucky.com
  • La Leche League International: www.lalecheleague.org
  • American Academy of Pediatrics breastfeeding information: www.healthychildren.org/English/agestages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/default.aspx
  • www.breastfeeding.com
  • www.kellymom.com
  • www.secretsofbabybehavior.com

To Your Phone
www.text4baby.org (free messages texted to you during pregnancy and motherhood).
The iTunes Store also offers helpful apps on breastfeeding.
Doraine Bailey, MA, IBCLC, is the Breastfeeding Support Services Program Coordinator at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. Contact her at (859) 288-2348 or at dorainef.bailey@ky.gov.