Community Support
Community support is available to you right here in Connecticut. This includes your healthcare providers, family, friends, workplace, school, and a variety of local support organizations and resources. Having good support can help you meet your infant feeding goals.
Who Can Help You?
Many people say that getting support from their healthcare providers helped them meet their goals.
They should be able to connect you with appropriate lactation support. Depending on their education and experience, they should be able to provide encouragement and validation. They should also be able to connect you with a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Lactation Counselor (CLC) or a peer counselor to assist you with questions, concerns or difficulties that are beyond their education and training.
Learn More about Different Lactation Support Providers
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding. Many IBCLCs are also doctors, nurses, or dietitians. Certified Lactation Counselors have at least 40 hours of training but may not have the same education and background as an IBCLC. Breastfeeding Peer Counselors have personal experience with lactation along with specific training. IBCLCs, CLCs and Peers all work together to provide you with the support you need.
Breastfeeding Peer Counselors are people in your community who are currently breastfeeding their baby, or have breast or chest fed their baby in the past. They have received specific training to support you in meeting your feeding goals.
The Connecticut Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides breast & chest feeding information. The Connecticut WIC Program operates a breastfeeding peer counseling program in 7 of its 9 local agencies. WIC peer counselors are current or past WIC participants that have experience in breastfeeding and are trained using a Federally developed curriculum, to provide peer support to WIC participants that want to provide their milk to their babies. WIC peer counselors also work with WIC Nutritionists and WIC IBCLC when participants need clinical support for feeding challenges.
Find your circle of support.
Share your feeding choice with family and friends, and work together to come up with a plan that works for you. How will they help take care of you and your new baby? Be mindful of the first few days after you leave the hospital. Decide who will help with housework, meals, and caring for your other children while you focus on feeding and getting to know your new baby.
You can use the Make It Yours Checklist to assist you in making a good plan.
Breastfeeding is the best way to provide nourishment to your new baby. It might not be easy at first so give your partner plenty of encouragement and support.
Newborns breastfeed throughout the day and night about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. They are not on a schedule and love to eat often.
Most babies lose weight in the first week of life, this is normal. If your baby is feeding often, they will regain their birth weight by 14 days. Provide mom with water and healthy foods. Keeps snacks like a peanut butter sandwich, granola bars, and nuts close.
If your partner is pumping their milk, help out by washing and sanitizing pump parts and bottles. Dads need support during the postpartum period as well. Check out additional resources for fathers.
Learn More about Support for Fathers
Download WIC's Guides for Fathers
Before you give birth, talk to human resources, your supervisor, or student services to learn about any worksite lactation policies.
You can use the It’s Your Journey Checklist to help ensure that your employer or school are included in your support network.
Download the Checklist
Be aware of federal and state worksite and anti-discrimination laws that protect you and your right to breastfeed/chestfeed or pump milk when at work.
Many people say that getting support from their healthcare providers helped them meet their goals.
They should be able to connect you with appropriate lactation support. Depending on their education and experience, they should be able to provide encouragement and validation. They should also be able to connect you with a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Lactation Counselor (CLC) or a peer counselor to assist you with questions, concerns or difficulties that are beyond their education and training.
Learn More about Different Lactation Support Providers
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding. Many IBCLCs are also doctors, nurses, or dietitians. Certified Lactation Counselors have at least 40 hours of training but may not have the same education and background as an IBCLC. Breastfeeding Peer Counselors have personal experience with lactation along with specific training. IBCLCs, CLCs and Peers all work together to provide you with the support you need.
Breastfeeding Peer Counselors are people in your community who are currently breastfeeding their baby, or have breast or chest fed their baby in the past. They have received specific training to support you in meeting your feeding goals.
The Connecticut Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides breast & chest feeding information. The Connecticut WIC Program operates a breastfeeding peer counseling program in 7 of its 9 local agencies. WIC peer counselors are current or past WIC participants that have experience in breastfeeding and are trained using a Federally developed curriculum, to provide peer support to WIC participants that want to provide their milk to their babies. WIC peer counselors also work with WIC Nutritionists and WIC IBCLC when participants need clinical support for feeding challenges.
Find your circle of support.
Share your feeding choice with family and friends, and work together to come up with a plan that works for you. How will they help take care of you and your new baby? Be mindful of the first few days after you leave the hospital. Decide who will help with housework, meals, and caring for your other children while you focus on feeding and getting to know your new baby.
You can use the Make It Yours Checklist to assist you in making a good plan.
Breastfeeding is the best way to provide nourishment to your new baby. It might not be easy at first so give your partner plenty of encouragement and support.
Newborns breastfeed throughout the day and night about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. They are not on a schedule and love to eat often.
Most babies lose weight in the first week of life, this is normal. If your baby is feeding often, they will regain their birth weight by 14 days. Provide mom with water and healthy foods. Keeps snacks like a peanut butter sandwich, granola bars, and nuts close.
If your partner is pumping their milk, help out by washing and sanitizing pump parts and bottles. Dads need support during the postpartum period as well. Check out additional resources for fathers.
Learn More about Support for Fathers
Download WIC's Guides for Fathers
Before you give birth, talk to human resources, your supervisor, or student services to learn about any worksite lactation policies.
You can use the It’s Your Journey Checklist to help ensure that your employer or school are included in your support network.
Download the Checklist
Be aware of federal and state worksite and anti-discrimination laws that protect you and your right to breastfeed/chestfeed or pump milk when at work.
I talked about it with my providers, and they gave me lots of great advice. I met with a lactation consultant when I was having those struggles the first time around… I had support from my husband as well.
What are your rights?
Breastfeeding in Public
Feeding your baby is a natural activity and does not need to be hidden when you’re out in public. In fact, Connecticut law protects your right to breastfeed in public! It might help to practice at home with different clothes and positions, to build your confidence. If you prefer more privacy, you can always drape a light blanket over your baby. Do what's most comfortable for you. Learn more about your rights from the CT Breastfeeding Coalition.
Start early, get pumping and hand expressing right after delivery, get proper rest, get the lactation support. Utilize family to help support doing other things around the house so [you] can concentrate on breastfeeding.
Resources are available to help you
Community Resources
Counselors are available through monthly in-person group meetings throughout the state, active Facebook chat, and phone or email.
Eligible participants receive breast or chest feeding and nutrition education, plus supplemental foods.
Monthly in-person group support meetings throughout the state, virtual monthly Facebook meetings, non-emergency phone helpline and online resources. Assistance available in Spanish.
Free program for HUSKY members. Helps make appointments and provides transportation. Services also include assistance with housing, referrals to WIC, breast pumps and baby supplies.
(ext. 2025)
Reaching Our Brothers Everywhere (ROBE)
Breastfeeding support resources for fathers.
Health Providers & Professionals - Breastfeeding Allies. Order free materials below.
Many local hospitals in CT offer their own resources for nursing families support groups, education and community provider referrals.
It doesn't always look like the way we want it to look like. But me being there and providing a judgment-free zone for them is what is going to really make the most impact.
Become a Breastfeeding Ally
Share "It's Worth It"
Resources
You can help by sharing the “It’s Worth It” Materials with families you see. All materials are free and can be ordered from the CT Department of Public Health by completing this order form.
Email or fax form to:
Marilyn Lonczak
DPH Breastfeeding Coordinator
Fax: 860-509-8391
Email: marilyn.lonczak@ct.gov