Breastfeeding services

Breastfeeding can be challenging, but finding support shouldn’t be. Our certified lactation consultants and clinical feeding experts offer in-person and online services to help ensure your baby is fed and thriving.

Make an appointment Call 800-789-7366

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Compassionate breastfeeding support

At Penn Medicine Obstetrics and Maternity Care, we offer convenient support throughout your breastfeeding journey. Our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants® (IBCLCs) provide group classes, one-on-one appointments, and in-person and online visits. We listen to your concerns and offer personalized solutions for you and your baby.

Our lactation team does everything we can to help you breastfeed successfully, but we understand that breastfeeding doesn’t always work for you or your baby. We walk you through alternatives like pumping, weaning, introducing formula, and breast care. We also help you process the physical and emotional effects of stopping breastfeeding and make sure you and your baby transition well together.

Giving birth in a Penn Medicine medical center helps your breastfeeding journey start off right. Most of our medical centers are designated Baby-Friendly® Hospitals, supporting the bond between newborns and their parents. We encourage breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, skin-to-skin contact, and rooming with your infant when possible. Our maternity nurses also have lactation training to help you breastfeed soon after labor and delivery.

Helping you and your baby experience the benefits of breastfeeding

Human milk contains nutrients and living cells that help your baby grow and fight off illness. Choosing to nurse has been shown to decrease your baby’s risk of developing asthma, obesity, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfeeding can also quicken your recovery after childbirth, reduce your risk of developing certain cancers, and support bonding with your baby.

Penn Medicine offers comprehensive breastfeeding support to help you and your baby nurse successfully, including:

In-hospital education
Nursing supplies
One-on-one visits with certified lactation consultants
Online and in-person breastfeeding classes
Phone line for questions
Support groups

Personalized lactation consultant services at Penn Medicine

Our IBC lactation consultants help you navigate your rewarding—and sometimes difficult—breastfeeding journey. They have extensive education and training to help you overcome specific breastfeeding challenges. If breastfeeding is not right for you or your baby, our lactation consultants are able to help you find a way to feed your baby that supports both of your needs. We’re here to give you the resources and support to feed your baby confidently.

Our lactation consultants can meet with you in person, by telehealth, or by phone. We watch you breastfeed your baby, observe your baby’s latch, and offer suggestions to make you and your baby more comfortable. We may weigh your baby before and after nursing to see how much milk they get from your breast.

If pumping is part of your journey, our consultants can fit you for the correct sized pump parts and recommend equipment that works best for your needs. Whether you’re exclusively pumping, supplementing, or pumping in between feedings, our lactation consultants help you create a schedule that works for you.

Your lactation consultant can also help with:

Breastfeeding issues

Learning to breastfeed

Taking care of yourself

Breastfeeding classes and resources at Penn Medicine

A certified lactation consultant teaches our breastfeeding classes. Classes help you and your baby build a breastfeeding foundation, meet other parents, and work through common nursing issues. We also offer classes you can take online at your own pace if a regular breastfeeding class is difficult to fit into your schedule.

Prenatal class

Our prenatal breastfeeding class prepares you to breastfeed so you know what to expect when your baby is born. We also discuss the physical and emotional effects of nursing and how to care for yourself while breastfeeding. We recommend taking this class during the seventh month of pregnancy.

Postpartum class

We support new parents with managing the logistics of breastfeeding, bottle feeding, returning to work, and pumping and storing milk. Through this class, we help you figure it out so you can continue feeding your baby in a way that works best for you. Babies are welcome to attend this class with you.

Support groups

Find encouragement and get to know other breastfeeding parents at one of our online or in-person support groups. Joining a breastfeeding support group is a great way to learn and share nursing tips, gain confidence in breastfeeding, and form new relationships.

Penn Parenting Resource Center

At the Penn Parenting Resource Center, we offer expert guidance in breastfeeding support, childbirth classes, and parenting education. Specially qualified educators and IBCLCs help you overcome breastfeeding and parenting challenges with one-on-one support and interactive courses.

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