Skip to main content
Make It Yours

Plan Ahead 
for Baby

Nursing is natural, and it’s healthy for you and your baby. Breast & chest feeding is not always easy, but It’s Worth It! With a little planning and support you can do it.

A female physician holding an infant while his mother is right next to them with a Breastfeeding magazine on the table infront of them

Plan Ahead

Set Yourself and Your Baby Up for Success

​​Plan for your success, make it yours and set goals for your breast & chest feeding journey with our Make a Plan Checklist. This checklist helps you keep track of the people and resources who will support you. Share it with your team so that everyone knows how to help you best.
 

Download the Checklist

Preparing for My Baby’s Birth

Form a plan

Talk with my partner, family, friends, and healthcare provider about my plan to breast or chest feed, and for how long.

Classes

Attend a prenatal breast & chest feeding class.

Skin-to-skin contact

Have my baby skin-to-skin right after birth.

1st hour feedings

Breast or chest feed my baby in the first hour after birth.

Rooming-in

Room-in with baby in the hospital.

Talk with providers

Speak with a nurse or lactation consultant at the hospital.

Find community support

Ask about hospital and community based support groups available to me before leaving the hospital.

Find personal support

Identify two people to call on for advice and support.

Get help with chores

Identify specific family or friends who can help with laundry, housecleaning, groceries, errands, care of any older children, and meal preparation.

Take care of yourself

Sleep or rest when the baby sleeps. Drink plenty of water and have snacks at the ready. Tell someone if you feel overwhelmed.

Support every step of the way

What to Expect After Your Baby is Born

Bonding with Baby

Learn about the benefits of skin-to-skin contact and rooming-in to create a good bond with your baby from the start. These are also key habits to support successful breastfeeding.

Bond with Baby

Back to Work or School Planning

Discover helpful tips and information that you need to know if you’re going back to school while lactating. We’re here to help make your transition as easy as possible.

Create a New Routine

Community Support

We will help you locate community support from healthcare and child care providers in your area. Find resources to share with professionals as well as with family, friends, workplace leaders and school officials.

Get Support

It's the best form of nutrition for my babies, and I want it to provide them with a good start from the beginning.

Helpful Resources
Ready, Set, Baby!

Ready, Set, Baby! is a breastfeeding website to help you get ready for baby. You can learn about breastfeeding, what to expect and how to plan for your success. It's easy to find answers to your questions, and you can share it with other family and support people.

Visit Ready Set Baby